Job Posting for Communications Manager at Downingtown Area School District

JobID: 5139

Position Type:
Communications/Communications Manager

Date Posted:
5/16/2024

Location:
Downingtown, PA

Date Available:
07/01/2024

Closing Date:
05/30/2024

Position: Communications Manager (JobID 5139)
Location: District Administration Building
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Are you passionate about helping ALL students learn in a collaborative environment? If so, we may have the career for you! Downingtown Area School District is excited to announce an opening for a Communications Manager. This position will be located at the district administration building, and is a full-time, permanent contract.

At DASD, we are committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence in education. As a diverse district, we continually seek ways to strengthen our educational environment. We believe that we can best promote excellence by recruiting and retaining a diverse group of staff who bring various backgrounds and perspectives. Our ability to create and maintain a climate of respect is critical to attaining the best teaching and learning environment.

At Downingtown Area School District we value our employees. We seek to hire new staff who:

Communicate openly to build relationships and trust
Partner with team members to see the TEAM succeed
Demonstrate a growth mindset and seek ongoing opportunities for growth
Embrace and support a safe and inclusive environment
Eagerly and enthusiastically support student learning
Strive to be kind and reflective
Focus on the solution and put people first
Lead by example!

If you want to be part of our “Downingtown Proud” team - please apply! Help us with our mission to educate all students to meet the rigorous challenges of a global society.

Job Summary: Supports overall district communications, public relations, media relations, marketing, print, and electronic publications. This position assists the Director of Communications with other communications and community relations as assigned. The position has a high level of autonomy and must work with the administrative teams across the organization. The position interacts with all levels of district staff, the media, parents/guardians, students and community members.

Qualifications: To successfully perform this position, a person must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The qualification requirements listed below represent minimum levels of educational achievement, training, skills, and/or ability necessary.

Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or related field.
Three to five years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, and news writing. Expert knowledge and technical experience in English, journalism, public relations, photography, and graphic design/desktop publishing.
Excellent grammatical and language skills to communicate to audiences at all educational levels. Ability to write, proofread, edit, and prepare written communications, including speeches, reports, business correspondence, news releases, and articles.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Public speaking skills, including the ability to effectively present information to, and respond to questions from groups of supervisors, administrators, staff, and the public. Ability to calm irate customers and respond to complaints from customers, agencies, vendors, and community members.
Ability to remain calm in a crisis situation and provide effective solutions to challenging situations.
Effective interpersonal skills to interface diplomatically with other administrators, teachers, parents, Board members, support staff, colleagues, and outside professional contacts.
Ability to apply mathematical concepts, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Proficiency in the use of technology for individual and system management, communication, research, video production, and content management. Proficiency in presentation technology to enhance small and large group information and demonstration sessions.
Must successfully complete and maintain compliance with all federal and state background and criminal record check requirements
- Click here for more information about required clearances
Candidate must adhere to all local, state, federal, and school code requirements for employment

Duties & Responsibilities: (Abbreviated - Please review the attached Job Description for more details on this specific opportunity)

Supports district-wide communications plan and messaging strategy to broaden awareness and to strengthen DASD's brand identity and reputation across key internal and external stakeholder audiences
Collaborates with Director of Communications and executive leadership to support district initiatives
Assists with development and distribution of crisis communications
Develops and maintains positive professional relationships with various members of the media
Supports district branding and develops strategic messaging
Develops and distributes consistent and timely communications to internal and external audiences through various communications mediums
Supports the maintenance of the district school websites
Develops communications and marketing materials, including: proposals, flyers, letters, press releases, email marketing campaigns, graphic design, annual reports, presentations, photographs, videos and speeches
Assists executive leadership in developing presentations, speeches, and other important district messages
Manages organizational social media pages, utilizing the platform to engage stakeholders and build trust in the district
Develops strategic partnerships with community agencies and key stakeholder groups
Provides copy editing for all DASD district-level communications
Supervises and directs work of Public Relations Assistant
Serves as back-up in Director’s absence

Salary 2024-2025:
Starting rate $81,381 - $97,657 annually

Placement upon salary scale is dependent upon years of experience in similar position and will be prorated based upon start date.

Schedule:
7 hours per day based upon district-approved calendar
260 days per year

Summary of Benefits:

Select Health Benefits a la carte - Only pay for what you need

Medical Coverage through IBX - PPO plans only
- No Primary Care Physician necessary
- No referrals required
- IBC has extensive local and national networks
Prescription Coverage through CVS/Caremark
Dental Coverage - Delta Dental Active PPO
- Allows use of in-network and out-of-network providers
Vision Coverage - Vision Benefits of America (VBA)

Eligibility - No Waiting Period
All employees may enroll in the district’s health benefit plans effective with their date of hire into the benefit eligible position.

Eligible Dependents
A legally married spouse as defined by PA law and children up to age 26 may enroll in the District’s health benefit plans.

New Hires or Newly Eligible
You have 31 days from the date that you are benefit eligible to make your elections. If you do not make elections during this time, you will only be enrolled into any benefit that is provided by the District at no cost to you.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Benefit eligible employees have the opportunity to elect to participate in a Flexible Spending Account. DASD offers both a Healthcare Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account. This benefit allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for out of pocket eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Support for the Whole You

Fitness Program
- Receive $150 back when you complete 120 workouts at an approved fitness facility within 365 days. www.ibx.com/reimbursements
Nutritional Counseling
- Up to 6 free visits per calendar year with a registered dietitian.
Employee Assistance Program
- Health Advocate is a free, confidential program that offers EAP Work/Life benefits to help you address difficulties in your life by providing short term assistance with personal, family, and work issues. In addition, it simplifies the navigation of the health care system by helping you find the right doctors, resolving billing and insurance claim issues, explaining benefit coverages, helping your parents or in-laws with the complexities of Medicare, and much more!
Telemedicine
- The telemedicine benefit through SwiftMD is offered to ALL DASD employees at no cost to you. The telemedicine benefit allows for consultations with US board-certified doctors over the phone or online, from your home, office, or on the road. These physicians can diagnose, recommend treatment, and submit prescriptions to your pharmacy of choice.

Retirement - Member of State Pension System (PSERS)
As a PSERS member, you'll join with over a half million fellow public school employees who are also members. You'll contribute to your own personal PSERS retirement account and have a safe and secure benefit payment(s) from one of the largest public retirement plans in the nation.

Student Loan Forgiveness
All DASD employees are eligible to apply for loan forgiveness through the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Find out more here: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
DASD provides group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage at no cost to you. The plan includes double indemnity for accidental death and dismemberment.

Optional Life Insurance
You may also purchase additional life insurance as a supplement to the company paid benefit.

Income Protection Benefits
DASD provides income protection insurance at no cost to you. This provides income if you are disabled and unable to work. The benefit begins on the 61st day of disability or illness or the exhaustion of your sick days, whichever is later. Pays 60% of your basic monthly pay, up to $10,000 per month

Life Benefit
Pays 3x your basic annual salary up to maximum of $800,000

Executive Flexible Benefits Plan
You are provided a reimbursement account, equivalent to 2.5% of your annual base salary, up to a maximum of $2,500. You can use this money to fund your share of employee contributions for healthcare coverage and/or other eligible expenses.

Insurance Waiver
You may waive coverage for yourself and eligible dependents under the district’s health insurance plan and receive a payment representing a portion of the premium, which the district would have paid. Depending upon coverage waived, administrators are eligible to receive up to $2,200 annually.

Tuition Reimbursement
100% of tuition for all graduate or doctoral courses, if grade of ‘B’ or better is attained. Cap $15,000/yr

TSA CONTRIBUTION

Up to 3% of salary

Paid Time Off

12 sick days annually
3 personal days annually
20 vacation days annually; 1 additional day per year to a max of 30 days after 10 years as an administrator; can accrue up to a maximum of 50 days
Vacation payout for unused days - up to 10 days annually
19 paid holidays per year

Retiree Benefits

Health Insurance: Can purchase insurance for retiree and spouse until the lesser of 10 years or age 65 for medical, prescription, dental and vision. Health contributions will be the greater of the DASD Act 93 contribution or co-pay equal to PSERS premium assistance. To qualify, employee must be age 55 or have 35 years of service, retired under PSERS and have worked as a DASD administrator for 10 years.
Life Insurance
2.5 times annual salary until lesser of 10 years or age 65
Personal Days Payout
Sick Days Payout

Salary Increases

Based on performance; up to 3% per year

Merit Pay

Based on completion of 2 goals; up to 1% per year

EOE

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