Community Relations Specialist jobs in Utah

Work Calendar: 242

FTE: 1.0 (40 Hours per Week)

Contract Status: Contract

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations

Starting Wage: $60,273 annually

Salary Schedule/Lane: 42/M

Benefits: Eligible

Anticipated Start Date: 07/01/2024

Priority Screen Date: 06/03/2024

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Positions Available: 1

Position Open Until Filled

JOB SUMMARY

The Marketing and Graphics Specialist is tasked with leading and implementing simultaneous marketing campaigns for Board, superintendent, and district priorities using multiple platforms to tell the district’s story to our target audiences. This position ensures all external communications reflect district branding, including website, social media graphics, and visual design for district newsletters, print documents, presentation templates, etc. The Marketing and Graphics Specialist oversees and creates content for district social media platforms, maintains a social media content calendar that balances the district’s messaging priorities, and crafts well-designed graphics and templates for both online and offline use. This position runs social media ad campaigns to help push district messaging to a broader audience and collects and uses data, including social media analytics, to measure communication efforts, develop new ideas, or course-correct, as needed. The Marketing and Graphics Specialist collaborates with district departments and other staff members to generate content for use on social media, school, and district websites, internal and external newsletters, and other district platforms. This position requires a combination of office and field work and requires an adaptable schedule that often extends before and after traditional office hours and occasionally requires work beyond 40 hours to meet deadlines for projects or to attend special events.

The purpose of the Communications and Community Relations Department (the department) is to build trust among parents, elected officials, decision-makers, and community members and to engage these stakeholders in support of our schools by providing useful, helpful, and accurate information and by sharing good news happening in our district. The department works to support the goals in the Board of Education’s strategic plan for student achievement by maintaining positive relationships with students, families, community members, elected officials, and community leaders; by working to elevate the public’s perception of our school district as a valuable partner and as a team of influential educational experts; and by building trust in the transparency and integrity of our systems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

All positions require selected candidates to be fingerprinted and successfully pass a criminal background check.  Additional minimum required qualifications for this position are:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, or related field
2. Experience in creating and executing marketing/branding campaigns from start to finish; tailoring content to different communication platforms, public relations tools, and media options to reach the desired target audience; using data, including social media analytics to measure the success of communication efforts and drive messaging strategy on multiple platforms
3. Persuasive and engaging writing ability across multiple formats, including email marketing, social media copy, newsletters, speechwriting, copy for text messages and robocalls, op-eds, and press releases; advanced writing and proofreading skills, including technical writing, story writing, and web posting
4. Experience and proficiency in MS Office, Adobe Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom), Facebook, Instagram, X, and other software programs and social media accounts
5. Experience in graphic design, video creation for social media, and desktop publishing; knowledge of digital design practices and print layout requirements
6. Speak, read, write, and present professionally; analyze and interpret written and verbal communications in English
7. Valid driver’s license with evidence of insurability and reliable personal transportation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

These are examples of skills and experience that the best-qualified candidates may have.  Not having one or all of them does not disqualify any candidate from consideration.

1. Experience working in a K-12 education or public education institution
2. Master's degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field
3. Minimum of five (5) years of marketing, media relations, digital, or communications experience with a proven track record of managing multiple complex projects and finishing tasks on deadline
4. Advanced communication skills; ability to convey information and ideas clearly, and concisely, and to break down complex concepts into digestible ideas for a general audience (both orally and in writing)
5. Experience navigating political, diplomatic, and culturally sensitive issues; adept listening skills; creativity; and strong attention to detail
6. Superior understanding of public relations/communications strategies with demonstrated customer service and business-to-business communication acumen
7. Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and explaining complex concepts in Spanish or another non-English language spoken by families in the Salt Lake City School District

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develop, lead, and implement marketing campaigns for Board, superintendent, and district priority initiatives
2. Craft and tell the district's story across digital, print, and in-person platforms to enhance the district’s image and reputation; leverage various communications platforms to reach the right target audience(s)
3. Create well-designed graphics and templates for both online and offline use; ensure all external communications reflect district branding, including website, social media graphics, and visual design for district newsletters, print documents, presentation templates, etc.
4. Manage and create engaging content (including videos, reels, photos, graphics, copy, etc.) for district social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.), school and district websites, internal and external newsletters, and other district platforms; tailor content on different communication platforms, public relations tools, and media options to reach the desired target audience
5. Design, implement, and measure social media ad campaigns; maintain a social media content calendar that balances the district’s messaging priorities; manage district social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.), and other social media accounts; monitor social media inquiries to respond to constituent concerns with promptness, consistency, care, and tact
6. Collect and manage data to measure the success of communication efforts; use a data-centric approach to develop new ideas, or course-correct, and identify new, innovative opportunities to promote the district and its programs to target audiences and media outlets
7. Identify new, creative ways to amplify the district’s work, achieve the district’s messaging goals, and engage with district stakeholders by staying current on news and social media discussions related to public education in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and the state of Utah
8. Build successful partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the department and district goals; maintain familiarity with the structure of local government entities and neighborhood community councils; network and be proactive in recommending community members with whom the district should connect
9. Regularly attend Board of Education meetings; develop the confidence and trust of district administrators and senior leadership
10. Support, promote, document, and attend district and school events
11. Produce rapid-response content to address critical issues or concerns and assist with crisis communications, including drafting messages to families, recording phone messages, updating website information, and updating district and school social media accounts
12. Provide training to administrators and other district employees on digital technologies, communications best practices, and social media
13. Assist with in-person and virtual event planning and implementation, including communications, generating on-site content, logistics, facilitation, and administrative tasks
14. Process requests for district employee business cards and other branded print collateral
15. Maintain an orderly, accessible electronic storage system for school and district logos and branding files
16. Show initiative and resourcefulness (anticipate needs, bring your own ideas, leverage available resources and relationships, etc.) to gather and analyze information, identify, and resolve complex issues, and develop alternative approaches and ideas improve department and district practices surrounding communications efforts
17. Work under limited supervision, use time-management and prioritization strategies, adapt to changing work priorities, and work with frequent interruptions to meet deadlines
18. Support a team environment by collaborating with the department and other work units to effectively perform the duties of the position
19. Speak, read, write, analyze, understand, and follow written and verbal communication in English including grammar and punctuation; listen to, and understand information and ideas presented verbally or in writing
20. Represent the program in a professional manner using workplace etiquette
21. Maintain regular and predictable attendance to fulfill job requirements
22. Perform other related duties as assigned as related to the implementation of the district’s communications strategy and strategic plan for student achievement

EMPLOYEE SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting up to 30 pounds, carrying, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and significant fine finger dexterity. The job requires 60% sitting, 20% walking, and 20% standing. The job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.

The Salt Lake City School District is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, and its services, programs, and activities.  To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resource Services – Salt Lake City School District (slcschools.org) or call 801-578-8340.

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Non-Discrimination Statement

No district employee or student shall be subjected to discrimination in employment or any district program or activity on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The district is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunity in its programs, services, and employment including its policies, complaint processes, program accessibility, district facility use, accommodations and other Equal Employment Opportunity matters. The district also provides equal access to district facilities for all youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code, including scouting groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries and complaints regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: Tina Hatch, Compliance, and Investigations/Title IX Coordinator, 440 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, (801) 578-8340 You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, Denver, CO, (303) 844-5695.