Assistant Director of Communications, Internal Strategy at The Pingry School

Smuccpa; Short Hills (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plans with employer matching

Tuition remission for employees' children

Access to wellness resources

Job summary

A prestigious K-12 educational institution in New Jersey is seeking an Assistant Director of Communications, Internal Strategy. The role involves shaping and executing internal communications for employees and parents, enhancing clarity and engagement across multiple campuses. Candidates should have strong editorial judgment, experience in internal communications, and a collaborative mindset. The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in internal communications, preferably in education or nonprofit.
• Exceptional writing and editorial skills with attention to clarity and tone.
• Ability to manage multiple communication channels and stakeholder needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bi-weekly internal employee newsletter, The Pingry Insider.
• Support communications with HR and other departments for branding initiatives.
• Manage employee-facing communications, ensuring clarity and alignment.

Skills

Strategic communication

Editorial judgment

Organizational skills

Community-centered storytelling

Content development

Collaboration

Education

Experience in internal communications

Tools

Google Workspace

Email marketing platforms

CRM systems

Job description

Assistant Director of Communications, Internal Strategy

About Pingry: The Pingry School, a prestigious K‑12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student‑written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,200 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on our social media channels to discover why we love school.

Position Summary

The Pingry School seeks a thoughtful, highly organized, and strategically minded communications professional to serve as Assistant Director of Communications, Internal Strategy. Reporting, in close consultation and partnership, to the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, this role is responsible for shaping, governing, and executing Pingry’s internal communications strategy for employees and current parents/guardians, two of the school’s most critical and influential stakeholder groups in the Pingry School community.

This position sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and community‑building and extends well beyond content distribution or newsletter management. The Assistant Director understands internal communications as a strategic function that drives clarity, trust, alignment, and engagement across a complex, multi‑campus, three‑division school environment. They bring a systems‑oriented mindset to how information flows, how messages land, and how institutional priorities are communicated consistently and thoughtfully, supporting a strong employee experience and a transparent, connected partnership with families.

The successful candidate understands that internal communication is not merely informational, but cultural: a key lever for institutional coherence, shared purpose, and sustained trust.

Candidate Profile

This role is for you if…

• You are both a strategist and a doer. You bring strong editorial judgment, exceptional organizational skills, and a deep appreciation for community‑centered storytelling. You translate institutional priorities into clear, well‑structured communications and are attentive to tone, clarity, timing, and audience needs.
• You see internal communications as core work. This role aligns with a clear trajectory of experience and interest in internal communications - not as a detour, but as a focus. Your background in internal communications or related areas has strengthened your ability to serve as an internal communications specialist.
• You are a content developer and editor. You understand how words, imagery, and video work together to communicate effectively, and you know how to develop these skills in others by providing clear editorial guidance and constructive feedback, bringing colleagues along as communications are refined rather than simply correcting work.
• You are drawn to mission‑driven environments. You value purpose, relationships, and impact, and you understand the pace, nuance, and responsibility that come with communicating in educational or nonprofit settings.
• You thrive in collaborative, cross‑functional spaces. You are comfortable partnering with academic and administrative leaders, balancing competing priorities, and maintaining high standards for accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment.
• You understand that internal communication is cultural work. You see it as foundational to trust, alignment, and the daily lived experience of employees and families, and you take pride in contributing to a connected, informed community.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Employee Communications

• Provide strategic leadership and execution of the bi‑weekly internal employee newsletter, The Pingry Insider.
• Support internal communications across all departments, including Human Resources, DEIB, Operations, Technology, and academic divisions.
  • Build a focused partnership with HR to advance employee branding and engagement initiatives, including support and execution for social media and LinkedIn strategies.
  • Work closely with Division Directors to support faculty and staff portals, conducting annual audits to ensure alignment with the overarching institutional strategy.
• Manage and further develop internal Google Spaces, including Pingry Watercooler and Pingry Marketplace.

Family Communications

• Support communications across all divisions in collaboration with Lower, Middle, and Upper School Directors.
• Provide strategic leadership and execution of the weekly e‑newsletter, Big Blue Bulletin, for parents/guardians, faculty and staff, trustees, and Basking Ridge Campus students.
• Maintain and update the Parent Portal and key parent‑facing pages (e.g., Back‑to‑School).
• Maintain and update the Curriculum Guide.
• Partner with the Parent Liaison and PSPA to refine communications schedules and formats based on feedback and engagement data.
• Assist with enrollment communications and marketing in consultation with the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer and the Director of Enrollment Management.

Editorial, Brand, and Systems Management

• Serve as an editorial steward for employee‑ and family‑facing communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, accuracy, and alignment with institutional voice and priorities.
• Maintain and update the Employee Handbook and Student/Family Handbook in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain templates and standards within Veracross and other communications platforms to improve consistency, efficiency, and usability.
• Reinforce brand guidelines, institutional voice, and visual identity across internal communications channels and systems.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in internal communications, preferably in education, nonprofit, or mission‑driven organizations.
• Exceptional writing and editorial skills, with a strong eye for clarity, tone, and consistency.
• Ability to manage multiple communication channels, calendars, and stakeholder needs with precision and follow‑through.
• Experience with email marketing platforms, portals, Google Workspace, and CRM or student information systems (Veracross experience strongly preferred).
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, service‑oriented approach.
• Discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, proactive, and adaptable.
• Deep alignment with Pingry’s values, including honor, relationships, inclusion, and joyful engagement in school life.

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and education.

Pingry offers a comprehensive benefits package to full‑time employees, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans with employer matching; life and disability insurance; tuition remission for employees' children; and access to wellness and professional development resources.

A full list of benefits is available at www.pingry.org/careers.