Director of Brand Communication

POSITION TITLE:   Director of Brand Communications

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Certified Administrator

REPORTS TO:  Chief Data Officer

In today's world, data plays a crucial role in decision-making, interactions, and operations. It can elevate students' plans, pathways, and passions to ensure they are future-ready. To this end, the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) seeks an innovative and visionary Director of Brand Communications. This person is responsible for compellingly and understandably communicating the insights derived from data to humans and across multiple platforms. This role requires skills such as interpreting and analyzing data, creating a narrative that explains what the data is saying, and developing multimedia visualizations. You must transform complex insights and visualizations into appealing and impactful data stories to excel. You should also understand how people process facts and narratives differently and be able to structure your findings as a data narrative using storyboarding.  This role demands excellent communication, necessitating an analytical and creative mind.  With its sizable workforce of nearly 3,000 employees and a student population of 15,000 individuals, CRCSD requires a leader who can devise and execute future-focused strategies to optimize operations and steer the organization toward greater outcomes. The ideal candidate for the position should have a robust data, analytics, marketing, brand development, and communications background to fulfill the role's demands effectively.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct analyses to help Cedar Rapids School District stakeholders answer questions and investigate problems of practice.

• Engage audiences to transform them from passive listeners to active participants.

• Provide context and bridge the gap between what the data tells them and what the audience needs to understand. 

• Make data relatable and relevant to the audience, relying on a fundamental aspect of human nature: emotion.

• Tell the narrative that is being uncovered by data analysis through multimedia.

• Understand public education’s challenges and how integrating AI capabilities can help lead to solutions.

• Communicate during crises and emergencies.

• Build a solid and cohesive team. 

• Lead cross-functional teams in identifying and prioritizing key areas that drive significant benefit.

• Oversee a CRCSD’s overall communication and marketing strategy.

• Drive enrollment by increasing community engagement through communication, marketing, and branding.

• Develop the structure of the CRCSD’s marketing and public relations departments.

• Coordinate communications, marketing, and brand efforts with the CRCSD’s goals.

• Develop public relations and internal relations benchmarks and goals.

• Create public and internal relations strategies.

• Develop and publish informational or brand-enhancing content.

• Foster relationships with media, community, parents, and staff members.

• Coordinate public events.

• Other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor. 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS/APTITUDES

• Knowledge of the use of AI and its potential applications within an educational environment.

• Knowledge of machine learning methods and algorithms.

• Knowledge of Google Analytics, Google Ads, and SEO.

• Knowledge of Crisis Communication

• Strong research, investigative, and reporting skills are required.

• Strong knowledge of compliance and regulatory laws relevant to Cedar Rapids Community School District.

• Proficiency in data product tools.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with superb attention to detail and a problem-solving attitude

• Commitment to contributing to the education, safety, and security of all Cedar Rapids Community School District students and staff.

• Ability to relate to others positively and professionally.

• Ability to perform under pressure

• Ability to contribute positively to the productivity of teams.

• Effective oral and written communication.

• Excellent grammar, spelling, punctuation, and related communication skills, including proofreading, editing, and creating original documents.

• Ability to organize and manage details in an orderly and thorough manner.

• Willingness to assume responsibility and to be accountable for decisions.

• Willingness to adjust to a flexible work schedule.

• Capacity to represent the District professionally, including confidentiality, collegiality, and the ability to obtain and utilize additional training, if necessary.

• Ability to problem solve independently and with others, take initiative, and work independently without supervision.

• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations, policies, and guidelines.

• Works with exceptional trust and integrity.

• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and quality initiatives.

• Demonstrate commitment to closing the achievement gap and ensuring students transition successfully to post-secondary endeavors.

• Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Ability to work irregular hours depending on circumstances.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION, LICENSE and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree or higher is required.

• Certifications in Google Analytics and Google Ads are preferred.

• Greater than five years experience preferred.

SALARY: $110,000 - 120,000

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and implement ideas contained in technical documents, reports, regulations, etc.  Ability to effectively write reports and communications to administrators, colleagues, parents, students and staff.   Ability to effectively present information orally and respond to questions from administrators, teachers, staff and students.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to use spreadsheets and reporting documents that assist with the computation of data.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve problems effectively.  Ability to interpret and implement a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, colleagues, community members, staff and students.  Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication.  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle and/or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk and hear.  The employee will frequently use hands and fingers to type/word process, file documents, manipulate papers, and use a copying machine. The employee frequently must squat, stoop or kneel, reach above the head and forward 0 -24 inches and on occasion up to 36 inches.   The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp items.  The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk while performing the duties of this job.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 0 - 12 feet and occasionally up to 20 feet, such as office materials, desks, chairs, and boxes.  The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as tables and carts.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while working with computers, written materials, reports, assessment data, etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is often quiet but may become loud in large group settings.  The position requires the commitment of professional working hours that will require the employee to arrive and leave as directed and may require the employee to extend beyond a typical 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workday. The employee will usually work in indoor temperatures but will be required to work occasionally in outdoor environments.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER  

The Cedar Rapids Community School district is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.

Federal law obligates an employer to provide reasonable accommodation for the known disabilities of applicants, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the employer.  If you or someone you know requires accommodation in the hiring process, contact the Chief Human Resource Officer at 319-558-2747.