Summary
Wayland is an independent, coed college preparatory school for boarding and day students (grades 9-post-graduate), founded in 1855. The school’s rich, rigorous academic program features exceptionally small classes, capstone projects at every grade, an active STEAM program, and an array of AP offerings. The diverse and welcoming school community brings together students from across the United States and more than 25 other countries in an intimate learning environment, with a student-faculty ratio of 7:1. Wayland’s historic campus is located in the heart of the Midwest in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin—just 40 miles from Madison and 60 miles from Milwaukee.
Essential Functions
The Marketing Specialist is responsible for writing/creating engaging content for marketing to prospective families and donors through the use of a variety of mediums, with a focus on storytelling and recruitment. This position reports to the Director of Marketing and Communications, with opportunities to collaborate with faculty and staff on projects related to marketing the Academy.
Responsibilities essential to this function include:
- Research and write content for magazine articles, news briefs/media releases, donor solicitation/appeals, stewardship pieces, email communications, electronic newsletters, publications, scripts, and general public relations
- Research and write engaging, accurate, and persuasive copy that speaks to targeted, key constituencies, including compelling and creative narratives that communicate the tell the Wayland story
- Develop and write comprehensive, strategic print and digital pieces to effectively promote school initiatives, including those that are customized to individual constituents
- Long- and short-form copywriting for digital and print
- Create and maintain an editorial calendar; generate ideas based on industry trends and school initiatives
- Photograph and capture video footage of faculty/staff, classroom activities, student activities, campus stills, and events (athletic and otherwise)
- Maintain and post on our social media channels
- Manage our parent newsletters and select email workflows within HubSpot
- In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communications, create and maintain a press release calendar; write and disseminate press releases and community newsletter pieces on a regular basis
- Interview and tell the stories of our community (alumni, faculty, staff, students, and donors)
- Copy edit, fact-check, and proofread to ensure consistency and accuracy
- Short-form video editing for social media and the web
- Some basic layout work within InDesign and HubSpot
- Work a flexible schedule, which may sometimes include working evenings and weekends
Wayland Academy expects all staff to be fully engaged in the school's life and mission on campus. To that end, the employee is encouraged to take meals in the dining hall, participate in Wayland Academy community events, and is expected to be a positive role model for students.
Competencies
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member
- Is resourceful and understands basic marketing principles
- Motivated, flexible, and collaborative with strong team-building skills
- Highly organized, passionate, and able to motivate others.
- Excellent writing, editing, and public speaking skills
- Ability to creatively compose video and photo content
- Capable of prioritizing and managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
- Exercises an understanding of and supports the mission and vision of Wayland Academy
- Displays enthusiasm and dedication to contributing to our healthy learning community, energetically supporting colleagues, sharing ideas and resources, and being there for others
- Exercises confidentiality regarding student, parent, or administrative information
- Maintains an accepting and supportive attitude that encourages diverse perspectives and productive risk-taking to challenge students to think and explore opportunities that allow them to become their best
- Ability to immerse themselves in the Wayland Academy community and culture with the outcome of clear understanding of and connection to Academy students, families, alumni, and stakeholders
- Authentically conveys compassion for students and colleagues, with a high level of cultural competency
- Ability to pivot writing styles based on the format, message, audience, and purpose
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position may occasionally supervise students or student groups.
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally work in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
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 walk, stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Regular and predictable on-site attendance is an essential job function and a prerequisite to perform other functions of the job.
Travel Required
- Overnight out-of-state travel for school related business may be assigned.
- Unless otherwise explicitly agreed upon by the Head of School, the employee must have a valid driver’s license, three years of U.S. driving experience upon hire, and maintain the motor vehicle records standards as set forth by the employee handbook.
Required Education and Experience
- Associate degree (marketing, communications, journalism, or English preferred)
- At least one year of marketing and professional writing experience, or equivalent comparable experience
- Experience writing for marketing, advertising, public relations, and publications
- Demonstrated excellent writing and editing skills with a focus on correct grammar and syntax
- Experience working with social media
- Excellent research, interviewing, and communications skills
- High level of creativity, attention to detail, and project management skills
- Creative thinker who enjoys storytelling through a variety of media
- Photography and videography experience (including editing)
- Experience with brand writing
- Proficiency with Associated Press style
- Ability to craft value propositions and CTOs in succinct, easy-to-understand terms
- Ability to pivot writing styles based on the format, message, audience, and purpose
- Familiar with Hubspot and Finalsite composer (or other Content Management System [CMS])
- Intermediate-level proficiency within Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.), Canva, and Microsoft Office Suite (Office 365, including: Outlook, OneDrive, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Excel)
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s or other advanced degree (marketing, communications, journalism, or English preferred)
- Experience working in education (independent boarding school experience preferred)
- 2 years of marketing and professional writing experience
Work Authorization
- Employee must be authorized to work in the United States of America.
- Employee must provide identification documentation, provide a list of all states/countries of residence over the past seven years, and pass a comprehensive consumer background check (criminal, department of motor vehicle, credit, and others as needed) prior to employment.
Affirmative Action/EEO statement
Wayland Academy is committed to a workplace free of discrimination. Wayland Academy cannot and will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sex stereotyping, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status), national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or retaliation. In addition, Wayland Academy will not tolerate any type of harassment, either sexual or nonsexual, of any employee or applicant for employment.
Other Duties
Employee may have reasonable duties and responsibilities assigned to him/her by the Head of School or primary supervisors that is deemed in his/her sole discretion to be desirable to the smooth functioning of the Wayland Academy programs.