Marketing & Communications Manager

Marketing & Communications Manager

Background

LEARN (learncharter.org) is a Network of college preparatory elementary schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. Our schools provide a rigorous educational program that is built upon an intimate understanding of each student’s individual learning style and academic needs. We are guided by five core values which include: high expectations; mutual respect; the development of a safe and nurturing environment; active family involvement; and the positive development of the Whole Child.

Founded in 2001, creates measurable, transformational change in the lives of its students. We currently educate 4,000 students, a majority low-income, minority student population (88% and 98%, respectively), across 10 campuses in Chicago and Lake County, IL. LEARN will replicate its model in its expansion to Ward 8 in Washington D.C in Fall 2021. LEARN alumni graduate college at 2x the rate of their peers, exceeding city, state and national averages. Our college graduation rate is 8 points above the national average for all students regardless of socio-economic status or ethnicity. We are proud to be closing the achievement gap.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial and proven marketing professional with excellent written, verbal and project management skills to join our team as a Marketing & Communications Manager. This individual will report to the Chief of Advancement and External Affairs and will play a critical role in planning, developing and delivering marketing content that will generate greater brand awareness, increase digital traffic, and support LEARN’s ambitious new strategic plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategy and Planning

• Develop communication plans, strategies and campaigns for a variety of internal and external stakeholders including staff, media, families, board of directors and donors

Brand Stewardship & Message Development

• Define the tone, messages and voice for each of LEARN’s audiences
• Steward the brand internally and externally
• Build brand ambassador plan and strategy
• Train social media ambassadors and other key LEARN members as ambassadors to speak and write about LEARN
• Assist CEO and LEARN leadership on key messages for speeches

External Communications & Public Relations

• Serve as the main contact for all media inquiries, and pitch exciting and timely stories to the media
• Create a plan for collecting and disseminating regional stories of impact:
• Help staff identify powerful stories
• Calendarize and track events that will be interesting to press and external audiences
• Create a repository for stories to use in social content, LEARN blog, and other external and internal communications
• Create a public relations plan that tells these stories to key audiences

• Maintain and optimize LEARN’s owned media including:
• LEARN website & blog
• LEARN social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube

• Lead production of LEARN’s media assets including photos, video and multimedia
• Partner with digital marketing agency on advertising initiatives, including google advertising, Facebook advertising, landing page creation, and email marketing
• Develop, produce and update internal and external LEARN marketing collateral in print and electronic form, including newsletter, brochures, flyers, billboards, banners, etc.
• Manage other creative consultants and vendors as needed

Event Support

• Lead an event volunteer team in planning and executing key network-level events, including the LEARN All Staff Kickoff Event
• Provide support for other events by improving messaging and assisting in execution

Internal Communications

• Write, edit and send internal emails to LEARN staff across 11 schools, including a monthly staff newsletter, important updates from senior leadership, crisis communications, organizational responses to world events, and other updates
• Maintain LEARN Intranet
• Engage staff on the Facebook Private Facebook group with stories, celebrations and announcements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications or relevant field
• Minimum of 3 years of prior experience in marketing and/or communications in a fast-paced work environment
• Exceptional writing and communication skills
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with children, families, professionals and other personnel from a wide range of cultural, social and economic backgrounds;
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, adhering to strict timelines
• High degree of initiative and independent judgment
• Detail oriented and highly organized

Required Competencies:

• Mission & Culture Fit – Believes that all students can achieve college success and exhibits an unwavering determination to do whatever it takes to help LEARN students achieve their goals.
• Entrepreneurial – Exudes a self-starter mentality and workstyle. Independently owns departmental work streams and projects and takes initiative to solve organizational issues proactively.
• Collaboration – Initiates, builds, and manages cohesive partnerships and professional relationships both internally and externally.
• Communication with Stakeholders – Gears communications towards the target audience and is able to influence stakeholders in the interest of meeting organizational goals and values. Communicates at a high level in both written and verbal form with a focus on customer service and relationships.
• Organization & Project Management – Keeps track of upcoming, ongoing, and past work product. Quickly adjusts to shifting priorities and deadlines and can juggle multiple and varied projects simultaneously. Develops realistic action plans and utilizes team effectively to achieve department goals.
• Data Analysis & Analytical Thinking – Ability to build and create data, analyze statistics, identify trends and make balanced, objective recommendations in a proactive manner to achieve maximum results.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Chicago, IL 60612: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Experience:

• Marketing: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location:

• One location

Work Remotely:

• No

Work Location: One location