Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

As a member of the brand team, the marketing & communications manager plays a critical role in conveying KIPP DC’s brand and message through the development and implementation of marketing and communications strategy and execution. The marketing & communications manager is the liaison between partner teams, academic leadership teams, school leaders, and other KIPP DC stakeholders to create compelling campaigns that build brand loyalty and awareness with KIPP DC students, staff, families, and the community at large. They also serve as the lead writer for projects that help elevate and protect KIPP DC’s brand, including: marketing collateral, award applications, family communications pieces, PowerPoints, internal communication touchpoints, community stakeholder updates, and more. The marketing & communications manager will work closely with members of KIPP DC’s external affairs, talent, operations, and school-based teams. The marketing & communications manager is an exempt position and will report to the director of marketing and communications.

The ideal candidate is an enterprising, forward-thinking, and detailed oriented individual. They should care deeply about furthering KIPP DC’s mission and brand through exceptional written communication, thrive in a fast-paced work environment, and value building relationships across our network of schools. Additionally, possessing the capacity to think strategically coupled with the ability to excel operationally is critical for success in this role. They have an appreciation for brevity and value feedback and collaboration to achieve exceptional written communication.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Marketing and Communications Strategy and Execution (60%)

• Build brand loyalty and awareness by developing and implementing effective communication strategies
• Meet with partner teams, academic leadership teams, school leaders, and other KIPP DC stakeholders to establish project scopes for writing projects and marketing campaigns
• Create and execute strong writing project plans and marketing campaigns to divide responsibilities, establish clear decision-making, and execute feedback and review loops
• Plan and manage the design, content, and production of marketing materials (one-pagers, brochures, etc.)
• Oversee each phase of established projects to ensure deadlines are met
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and analytical data to track effectiveness of communications tactics
• Devise blog strategy to externally portray what makes KIPP DC’s school communities and value proposition unique to prospective students, families, and team members
• Lead the collection of information for awards applications for KIPP DC staff and stakeholders
• Conduct excellent interactions and communications (phone calls, emails, meetings, etc.) with all internal and external stakeholders (authorizers, partner teams, community members, etc.)

Copywriting and Editing (30%)

• Develop collateral and communication that is fresh, powerful, and action-oriented
• Work collaboratively with the team and internal partners to help shape ideas or initial thoughts into bigger ideas and clear prose
• Create communication of all kinds, from internal emails and one pagers to award applications and video scripts
• Bring ideas to life visually by working closely with Creative Services Manager and other stakeholders
• Write copy consistent with guidelines and our brand’s tone of voice
• Review and give guidance on copy and presentations developed by partner teams to ensure consistency

Communications & Marketing Team Responsibilities (10%)

• Serve as thought partner and reviewer/editor for teammates and partners across the organization
• Develop and maintain operational systems to manage complex projects and report progress across to key stakeholders.
• Partner with members of the communications and marketing team to keep KIPP DC’s website accurate and up-to-date
• Participate in KIPP DC headquarters and external affairs-related activities, including staff meetings, professional development conferences and retreats, fundraising events, and other public relations opportunities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3-5 years of communications, campaign management, and/or copywriting experience required
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or 2-3 years of project management experience within a medium/large organization preferred
• Excellent writing, grammar, and proofreading skills
• A demonstrated ability to write for many different mediums – print marketing pieces, blog posts, speeches, SEO, and more
• An instinct for choosing mediums (narrative writing, infographics, video, etc.) to best communicate human-centered stories and complex data in a compelling way
• Outstanding project management and organizational skills, and extraordinary attention to detail
• Mastery of Microsoft suite (PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, etc.), Google suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.), digital marketing platforms (Mailchimp, WordPress, etc.), and traditional CRMs for communications
• Mastery of digital marketing analytical platforms (Google Analytics, HubSpot, etc.)
• Proficient in use of project management systems (Freedcamp, Monday.com, etc.)
• Comfortable with taking criticism and guidance from peers and manager
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines without constant supervision
• Results-oriented team player dedicated to getting the job done
• Flexibility, tenacity, high-quality work, resourcefulness, teamwork, and a sense of humor
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence, initiative, and leadership skills
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP DC’s mission
• Experience with managing feedback loops and stakeholder engagement preferred
• Willingness to travel between our campuses and attend occasional weekend and evening events at our schools and external venues

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits:

KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:

• The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $78,777-$93,782. When it comes to compensation, at KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. We look at compensation benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector to determine our starting salaries. ****

• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.

• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.

• Currently, individuals in this role have up to 15 paid time off days, up to 10 paid sick days, and 12 paid holidays. This is subject to change and your exact schedule will be shared in your offer letter.

• As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. Schools operate in person and our students and families rely on us for in-person support, and this position will regularly provide on-site support to school teams, frequently partner with other headquarters teams, or regularly work in multiple locations. Because of the nature of the work, this role allows for occasional flexibility. This role will have approximately 20% flexibility to work remotely.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.

KIPP DC requires all staff to provide proof that they have had all doses of a primary COVID vaccine or obtain approval for exemption for medical or religious reasons before beginning employment. New hires who have not received all doses of a primary vaccine or who are waiting approval for exemption will not be able to begin employment.

All KIPP DC staff are strongly encouraged to stay up to date on their vaccinations. The ** CDC currently defines being up to date** on the COVID vaccine as having had all doses of a primary vaccine and as having received a booster, if eligible.