Chief Communications and Engagement Officer

Chief Communications And Engagement Officer

As the District's public voice, the Chief Communications And Engagement Officer will serve as the primary spokesperson, facilitating and managing crisis and emergency communications, and leading a multi-faceted team comprising of theater and production services, public information, family and community engagement, ROTV broadcasting, podcasts and social media outreach management. The Chief Communications Officer will promote positive public relations between the school district and the community and prepare and provides information to allstakeholders about the internal and external activities, goals, endeavors and policies of the school district. The Chief Communications Officer is responsible for developing and implementing integrated communication strategies for informing, engaging, educating, and empowering stakeholders. The Chief Communications Officer will report to the Senior Chief Strategy Officer.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as designated spokesperson, primary media contact and public information officer implementing the district's vision and strategy aligned with established goals, priorities and the Vision 2030
• Ensures accuracy, clarity, coherence, accessibility and confidence with all school and community relations
• Oversees all public-facing communications channels including press releases, media advisories, speeches (talking points), briefings, websites, social media, newsletters and multimedia content (videos, photographs, reels, podcasts, etc.)
• Prepares and delivers statements and presentations to the media, elected officials, and diverse stakeholders (internal and external)
• Coordinates the management of the district's consolidated and primary calendar of events
• Manages and procures all technical resources supporting the Communications Department's functions, and evaluates vendor, resource and/or product performance
• Develops and oversees the Communications Department's annual budget and the ROTV studios budget for productivity and efficiency
• Supervises the department's professional team directing and advising their performance, projects, scope of work and outputs
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Communications Department functions ensuring reliability, coherence and connectivity
• Leads crisis and emergency communications planning and execution, and develops internal and external standard operating procedures regarding effective communication and public information cascading
• Oversees the district's media presence, branding and messaging consistency across all materials, publications and platforms
• Manages the district's legal compliance mandates (to include, but not limited to, FOIA, FERPPA, etc.) and acts accordingly pursuant to district policy and state/federal laws and regulations
• Establishes positive, open and proactive media relationships, curating and pitching district "stories", and features to media partners and stakeholders
• Monitors, measures and quantifies the district's media presence/coverage across all mediums through analytics and metrics, and develops strategy to ensure favorable public sentiment
• Serves as the primary contact and liaison between external media sources and contacts responding to requests for information, data, incident reporting for media outlets, and other requestors
• Promotes, coordinates, assists in the planning and implementation of internal and external signature events, ceremonies and recognition programs for an array of purposes (to include, but not limited to, the Richland One Hall of Fame, Academic All-Stars, etc.)
• Coordinates the proofing, editing, etc. of high-profile district publications (to include, but not limited to, Commencement Publications, Summer School Catalogs, Legislative Platforms, etc.)
• Provides briefings to the Board and Superintendent regarding weekly Communication Reports
• Coordinates the School Board Spotlight recognition portion of the School Board Meetings
• Coordinates the school messenger communications providing notices of school closings, announcements, and other relevant information to parents and stakeholders
• Works with the district departments providing advisement, guidance and training about marketing, imaging and communications in support of programs and services within those departments
• Maintains the District's website providing time-sensitive information and other information relevant for the district's public perception and information cascading

Minimum Education and Training: Requires a Master's degree in English, journalism, communications, public relations/public information or a related field and a minimum of three years' experience.