Chief Communications Officer - Communications and Community Engagement

Chief Communications Officer - Communications and Community Engagement JobID: 102484

Position Type:

Executive Officers/Chief Communications Officer

Date Posted:

5/8/2026

Location:

Instructional Support Center

Job Code: Chief Communications Officer - 020144 Standard Hours: 40 Department: Communications and Community Engagement - 282676 Empl Class: NA   Job Description: Show/Hide

License and Certification Qualifications:

• Must hold or be eligible for a valid Georgia Educator's Certificate in Educational Leadership and/or Support Personnel License issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Education Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required. Equivalent professional experience and demonstrated senior leadership in communications, public relations, or a related discipline will be considered.
• Advanced degree preferred. Equivalent professional experience at the senior leadership level will be considered.

Experience Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, brand strategy, or a related discipline, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role required
• Demonstrated record of leading communications for complex, mission-driven organizations serving diverse stakeholder audiences required
• Experience building and managing communications teams and multi-platform content programs required
• Background in public education, nonprofit, or comparable institutional environments preferred
• Working knowledge of broadcast, video production, and digital media platforms required

Skills Qualifications:

• Ability to develop and execute a strategic communications program that serves both internal staff and the broader public.
• Sound judgment in advising senior leadership on public affairs, media strategy, and community relations.
• Proficiency in digital communications platforms, content management systems, social media, SEO, analytics, and AI-assisted content production.
• Ability to build working relationships with press, civic organizations, elected officials, and community groups representing varied backgrounds and interests.
• Organizational management skills including team leadership, budget administration, and cross-departmental coordination.
• Capacity to manage crisis communications with sound judgment, maintaining accuracy and institutional confidence under pressure.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and communications that reach families across language and cultural difference.
• Clear and effective oral communication skills across a range of public and professional settings.
• GCPS seeks a communications leader with the experience and judgment to build programs, not simply administer them. The preferred candidate will have a record of initiating and sustaining communications work in environments where public trust is earned through consistency and follow-through. Specific attributes of interest include: A record of building communications programs from early stages, including establishing infrastructure, processes, and team capacity. Working knowledge across the communications function: brand, crisis, digital, video and broadcast, and community engagement. Experience reaching audiences across cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic difference. The professional confidence to offer candid counsel to senior leadership and to hold a position under scrutiny. Familiarity with data and analytics as tools for evaluating communications effectiveness and informing strategic decisions. A disposition toward innovation and process improvement within the constraints of a public institution.

Primary Responsibilities:

Direct the communications and community engagement program for Gwinnett County Public Schools. The Chief Communications Officer reports to the Superintendent and is accountable for the district's public standing, institutional messaging, media relations, digital presence, and broadcast operations. The Chief Communications Officer oversees all internal and external communications and is responsible for ensuring the district communicates with consistency, accuracy, and purpose across every audience it serves.

Strategic Communications and Brand

• Develop and maintain an integrated communications strategy for GCPS, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms, departments, and audiences.

• Advise the Superintendent on communications matters including public affairs, media strategy, community perception, and crisis preparedness.

• Establish and maintain district communications standards, brand guidelines, and messaging frameworks for use by schools, departments, and divisions.

• Position GCPS as a credible and visible voice in public education at the local, state, and national level.

• Media Relations and Public Affairs

• Direct the district's media relations program and maintain working relationships with local, regional, and national press.

• Oversee responses to media inquiries, ensuring all communications are timely, accurate, and aligned with district messaging.

• Coordinate crisis communications with district and school leadership to ensure a coherent response during sensitive or time-critical situations.

• Provide media training to district and school leaders to support consistent public communication across the organization.

• Maintain engagement with government stakeholders to support the district's legislative and public policy communications.

• Digital Strategy, Broadcast and Content

• Oversee the district website, social media platforms, email communications, and digital content to ensure an accessible and current online presence.

• Coordinate communications functions of the district's broadcast studio, ensuring content reflects district priorities and reaches intended audiences.

• Direct the integration of AI-assisted content tools, workflow automation, and analytics to improve the efficiency and reach of district communications.

• Oversee production of video, multimedia, and broadcast content in support of district communications and community engagement objectives.

• Community and Family Engagement

• Direct community and family engagement strategies that account for the linguistic and cultural diversity of the GCPS community, ensuring families receive accurate and accessible communications.

• Maintain relationships with community, government, and civic stakeholders in support of the district's mission and strategic priorities.

• Superintendent and Board Support

• Prepare communications, presentations, talking points, and messaging for the Superintendent and Board of Education on district matters.

• Monitor issues affecting GCPS and the public education landscape and provide recommendations to inform leadership communications.

• Identify opportunities to advance the visibility of the Superintendent and Board as advocates for public education.

• Work with division and department directors to ensure a consistent communications approach is implemented across all areas of the district.

• Provide direction to department directors on key communications priorities and ensure timely, accurate responses on district matters.

• Contribute to Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives in coordination with district leadership.

• Team and Resource Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead the communications and engagement team, maintaining clear standards for quality, accountability, and professional development.

• Manage the department budget, ensuring resources are allocated in support of district communications priorities.

• Provide ongoing direction to directors and team members on communications standards, key initiatives, and organizational expectations.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.