Communications Manager

Yellowstone Schools

 

Communications Manager

 

Department: Advancement

 

Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer

 

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree
5+ years experience in communications and marketing,  including public relations, advertising, graphic design, and stakeholder communications; nonprofit, development, and school experience a plus.

 

Job Category: Exempt

 

Travel: Regular local travel required

 

Position Type: Professional

 

Calendar: 12-month

 

Organizational Overview

Rooted in the Christian faith, Yellowstone Schools educates more than 400 majority Black children in PK3 through 8th grade. Located in Houston’s historic Third Ward, Yellowstone is committed to partnering with students and families, regardless of financial means; providing life-changing experiences and an excellent education; developing faith and character; and preparing scholars for life.

Yellowstone Schools is comprised of Yellowstone Academy—a private, Christian school serving PK3 through 5th grade—and Yellowstone College Prep, a tuition-free charter school growing to serve 6th through 12th grade. As a public entity, College Prep complies with all federal and state laws.

 

Primary Responsibilities

The Communications Manager creates and manages external and internal communications for Yellowstone Schools, including but not limited to stakeholder messaging, fundraising materials, emergency communications, and grant proposals. The purpose of this position is to establish cohesive messaging across all channels, engage stakeholder groups, and fund Yellowstone Schools’ mission while maintaining brand standards and building awareness. This position is responsible for creating clear, meaningful, timely, and informative communications across the school, Greater Third Ward, donor community, and city.

 

Essential Duties:

 

• Write and edit effective digital and print content, including grant proposals, newsletters, websites, school administrator memorandums, stakeholder communications, social media, and events
• Maintain current roster of private foundations by upholding deadlines, drafting grant requests, creating polished proposals, and submitting grant reports
• Grow current grantor base by researching new funding opportunities and developing updated narratives and statements of need based on mission and organizational priorities
• Write compelling fundraising appeals based on industry best practices
• Design and create internal and external print and digital materials, and/or coordinate creation and design with an outside vendor
• Update social media accounts and websites with relevant content and posts
• Photograph and video school events and classroom activities for marketing and fundraising purposes
• Maintain an up-to-date list of students with opt-out preferences regarding media
• Manage the print process from obtaining bids to working with printer and mail house
• Create and order business cards, letterhead, name badges, and other printed and promotional materials
• Other duties as assigned

 

Competencies & Attributes:

• Self-motivated,  self-directed, and a quick learner
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic setting; meets internal and external deadlines
• Excellent communicator; excels in delivering ideas, concepts, and information verbally, in writing, and graphically
• Highly competent with Adobe Acrobat, Google G-Suite, Microsoft Office Suite,  mass email and social media platforms, and Monday.com
• Possesses the social awareness and finesse to navigate current racial, socioeconomic, and political climates
• Practices sound judgment and demonstrates cultural competency  in communicating with diverse audiences
• Exhibits emotional intelligence, with the interpersonal skills to develop and sustain impactful relationships with an array of diverse constituencies
• An eye for photography and design
• Collaborates with advancement team members to meet shared objectives
• Ability to be “on-call” and highly responsive during emergencies
• Ability to work some nights and weekends

 

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

The work environment can be very active and deal with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts. 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. The employee will primarily work in a traditional climate-controlled office environment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasionally, the employee may work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold; specifically for events. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Yellowstone Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a SIMPLE IRA program with employer matching, supplemental life and short-term disability insurance, and paid sick leave. 

 

Application Process

To apply for this position, please complete an online application which can be accessed through the “employment” tab on the Yellowstone website at www.yellowstoneschools.org. Yellowstone will notify candidates if they are selected for the next round of the application process. This process will include participating in a comprehensive interview process and teaching a sample lesson on campus. 

 

Yellowstone Academy (DBA Yellowstone Schools)  is a non-denominational Christian school and all employees must be professing Christians.  Yellowstone does not refuse to hire and does not release any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the individual’s race, color, sex, or national or ethnic origin.  Nor does Yellowstone Schools limit, segregate, or classify its employees or applicants for employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status as an employee because of the individual’s race, color, sex, and/or national/ethnic origin.