Director, Press Secretary

Position Overview

The mission of the Office of External Affairs is to improve outcomes for every student in DC Public Schools by fostering strong connections between and among schools, families, the greater DC community, and other stakeholders.

Through effective communication, meaningful family and community engagement, and collaborative partnerships, we shine a light on the inspiring stories of the students and schools within DCPS and work to ensure our district is an inclusive environment in which all voices are heard.

All our work is designed to accelerate student success by :

• Building and sustaining relationships between and among DCPS, families, communities, and partners that increase trust;
• Increasing transparency and access to information, resources, and DCPS leadership and staff;
• Building capacity in schools and Central Office to enhance communication with staff, families and communities to improve student outcomes; and
• Ensuring DCPS’s stakeholders are well-informed about our priorities and our successes, and have context about our challenges.

Communications Divisions / Teams

Strategic Communications : Builds and executes communications systems to ensure clear, specific, and strategic communications to stakeholders.

Supports district-wide branding and marketing through photography, graphic design, logo creation, social media and newsletter engagement, and more.

Works cross-functionally to understand district priorities and strategies and apply them to messaging.Stays closely aware of progress of projects, high-level initiatives, and emerging issues across the organization and proactively helps to adjust communications approach based on changes in direction, priorities, and resources.

Operations Communications : Develops and leads overall school-based communications strategy with clear and specific guidelines.

Approves and writes school-based communications on issues including facilities, building modernizations, health, school climate, and other crisis communications.

Leads the implementation of school-operations communications, including a districtwide process of approved communications.

Identifies key ways to turn crisis communications into opportunities to reverse existing narratives about DC Public Schools.

Works across several Central Office teams to manage crisis communications, often outside of the school day.

Press : Manages reactive and proactive engagement with local and national media stories to share the stories of DCPS students, staff and schools.

Devises media outreach strategies to support strategic communications objectives. Supports crisis communications work by ensuring media are accurately reporting on developments within the DCPS community.

Prepares and supports school leaders and staff to represent DC Public Schools in media.Ensure that key messaging, talking points, and other media materials align with priorities and guidelines set by the Executive Office of the Mayor.

The Press Secretary will promote DCPS’ mission across local and national media markets in a proactive and transparent way.

The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable of the education sector and thematic issues impacting DCPS. The position requires a team player that thrives in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment.

The Press Secretary is responsible for strategy, planning, and implementation of all DCPS’ press work, ensuring that this work is effective and clearly aligned with DCPS' goals and values.

The Director, Press Secretary will report to the Chief, External Affairs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and / or skills required.

Other duties may be assigned.

Leads the development of creative and effective media strategies, implementation planning, and day-to-day press operations in collaboration with the Deputy Chief, Communications.

Proactively identifies and cultivates new opportunities to publicize DCPS’ programs, activities, research, staff, and student accomplishments through local, national, specialty / trade, and international news media.

Establishes and maintains effective and collaborative working relationships with reporters, producers, and DCPS Central Services and school-based staff.

and DC government officials.

Writes press releases, advisories, op-eds, statements, talking points, and related materials.

Responds to media inquiries, schedules interviews and speaking engagements, and prepares briefing documents and memos to assist the Chancellor and other organizational spokespersons.

Monitors media mentions, compiles daily clips, pitches stories, and coordinates and staffs press events / media opportunities, often outside of the school day.

Serves as the district's Public Information Officer (PIO), representing DCPS across DC Government.

Prepares and staffs organizational spokespersons for media interviews and speaking engagements, as needed.

Implements successful operational and project management methods across the department, including metrics gathering and project evaluation.

Supervises a direct report, who assists in local media outreach, manages press lists, prepares press materials, and builds relationships with schools, staff, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or communicatios and five to seven years of related work experience.
• Master's degree in journalism or communications, or equivalent experience including supervisory experience, preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• A strategic and creative ability to frame ideas, develop stories, and synthesize data and complex policy issues in a way that appeals to the news media and a wide variety of audiences.
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communications skills. Must be a strong, fast writer.
• Flexibility to work outside of typical business hours.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and work under pressure when facing extremely short deadlines.
• Experience monitoring, analyzing, and responding in real-time to news coverage.
• Strong leadership and cross-collaboration skills.
• Existing relationships with education reporters locally and nationally is a plus.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST : We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE : We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY : We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE : We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK : We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY : We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.
26 days ago