Summary
Description
Apply online at WPS.ORG
8 hours per day, 260 days per year
Minimum salary $64,383 per year
Salary commensurate based on education and experience
SUMMARY: This position helps shape how WPS schools and the district connect with current families, staff, and leaders by leading clear, creative, audience-centered communications, strengthening school communications capacity, and producing Board of Education reports and presentations. This is a hands-on creative communications role that independently writes, designs, publishes, and produces digital and multimedia content while also coaching others to communicate more effectively. The manager works as a peer to the Content and Campaigns Manager under the Director’s strategic direction, priorities, and approval standards.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
*Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field; or equivalent relevant education and professional experience. At least three years of relevant communications experience; final requirements subject to HR confirmation.
*Preferred background in K–12 or public-sector communications experience; BOE/executive production; communications consulting or training; urgent messaging; intern supervision; motion graphics; CMS administration, digital-publishing troubleshooting, and basic HTML/CSS familiarity; multilingual communications experience. Spanish proficiency is an asset.
*Portfolio demonstrating strong communications work across writing, digital publishing, visual content, and competent
routine design. Work samples should show the ability to turn information into clear, engaging communications for real
audiences. Demonstrated judgment, organization, stakeholder collaboration, and discretion with sensitive information.
*Demonstrated audience empathy and ability to translate complex or institutional information into clear, useful
communication; strong relationship-building, facilitation, coaching, curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills.
*Working production capability in front-end website editing, Canva, Adobe creative software, direct messaging, social
publishing, photography, and basic video capture and editing. Experience with project management software and basic
analytics collecting and reporting. Relevant tools include Finalsite, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat,
Monday.com (or similar), and Google Analytics (or similar). We recognize that strong communications professionals bring
different combinations of strengths. Candidates do not need advanced proficiency in every listed discipline at hire;
demonstrated communications ability, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and build skills in areas such as video, web,
design, analytics, or emerging tools are highly valued.
*Ability to produce independently, coach school communicators, apply accessibility standards, interpret basic metrics,
manage competing deadlines, and recognize when escalation is required. Comfort moving between creative production,
consultation, training, and operational communications as priorities change.
*Demonstrated learning orientation and willingness to build capability across new tools and disciplines, cross-train with teammates, experiment responsibly with AI-assisted workflows, and adapt as district priorities and communications practices evolve.
*Experience working with diverse cultures and backgrounds desired
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
School communications support
•Serve as a trusted communications partner to principals and school teams, leading scalable support through monthly touchpoints, resources, training, office hours, targeted coaching, and selective visits based on need and district priorities.
•Coach school communicators on messaging, audience needs, writing, social and web practices, visual communication, content planning, and use of district tools. Design and facilitate practical workshops, training, and resources that build school-level communications capacity.
•Conduct school communications audits three times annually for accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, brand consistency, and usefulness. Use findings to prioritize coaching and improvement, document progress, and coordinate targeted corrective support where needed.
•Create templates, toolkits, and guidance for school websites, social media, calendars, and announcements. Schools retain responsibility for routine local publishing and factual accuracy.
Family, staff, and leadership communications
•Write, edit, and distribute clear communications through approved email, text, and other direct channels. Verify information and coordinate audiences, timing, and approvals.
•Translate complex, institutional, or operational information into audience-centered communications that anticipate questions, reduce confusion, and help families and staff understand what matters and what action to take.
•Lead the communications implementation of significant district changes and initiatives by developing explainers, FAQs, announcements, talking points, leader tools, and related materials. Coordinate translation and accessible formats through approved resources.
•Participate in shared creative planning for major district priorities and campaigns, especially enrollment/retention, CTE/pathways, and other family-facing initiatives. Design, create, and deploy school and family materials with principals, counselors, program leaders, and the Content and Campaigns Manager.
•Support school and family listening through surveys, pulse checks, feedback tools, and other approved mechanisms; identify recurring questions or barriers and use those insights to recommend communications improvements.
Board of Education production
•Own recurring BOE reports and presentations, including story queues, schedules, source gathering, writing, design, revisions, and delivery. Turn source material into accurate, concise, visually engaging stories and presentations; verify facts with responsible staff and obtain final Director approval.
•Maintain organized assets, templates, and production instructions; cross-train the Content and Campaigns Manager as the manager-level backup.
Content creation and collaboration
•Independently create a broad range of routine communications products, including writing, graphics, presentations, web and social content, photography, short-form video, campaign materials, and school/family toolkits. Originate ideas, contribute audience insight and creative concepts in shared planning sessions, and coordinate content reuse across channels.
•Apply district voice, brand, accessibility, and student-information standards. Use approved AI tools, templates, and emerging workflows to accelerate ideation and routine production while applying professional judgment, verifying assisted output, refining design and copy, and protecting confidential information.
Responsibilities and qualifications
Urgent communications and crisis readiness
•Execute routine urgent school, family, and staff messages within approved protocols. Verify information with authorized leaders and coordinate timing across channels.
•During significant crises, execute the school, family, and staff communications lane under Director direction. Escalate sensitive or high-risk matters promptly; maintain procedures, backup access, and readiness through cross-training and exercises.
•Serve as backup for assigned public web and social communications within established protocols.
Project management reporting and intern oversight
•Share inbox and intake coverage; record requests and ideas; manage owned projects, deadlines, dependencies, approvals, and completion. Flag capacity conflicts and recommend adjustments to the Director.
•Report assigned metrics, school-support participation, audit findings, and stakeholder feedback; identify patterns and recommend practical improvements to content, tools, training, or support.
•Supervise communications interns through onboarding, assignments, coaching, and quality review under Director-approved priorities.
Decision authority
Make routine decisions within approved plans and standards. Obtain Director approval for executive communications, final BOE packages, significant crisis messages, materially changed districtwide messaging, and other high-risk work. Perform related duties consistent with department priorities as assigned.
*Work includes computer-based production, creative/content production, school visits, district travel, and approved evening/weekend assignments. Performance measures include accuracy, timely BOE delivery, content quality and usefulness, stakeholder feedback, monthly school touchpoints, three annual audit cycles, corrective support, reliable project management, and demonstrated growth in role capabilities. The Director sets targets within available capacity.
