Communications Director

Springer School and Center; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Springer School and Center seeks a Communications Director to lead its communications strategy, brand, and external messaging across audiences and channels.

You will oversee publications, digital content, and media relations while collaborating with Enrollment, Advancement, and Admissions to advance institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, PR, journalism, or related field or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum five years in communications, marketing, or PR, preferably in education or nonprofits.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling across audiences.
• Strong knowledge of brand management and digital communications.
• Proven leadership and ability to manage multiple projects and teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with Springer’s mission and goals.
• Steward the organization's brand, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity.
• Lead institutional communications for families, employees, alumni, donors, and community.
• Write, edit, and oversee content for newsletters, annual reports, press releases, and websites.
• Oversee website strategy and content to accurately reflect programs and impact.
• Develop social media strategy, content planning, engagement, and metrics.
• Lead media relations and pursue opportunities to raise Springer’s visibility.
• Create campaigns supporting enrollment, fundraising, events, and programs.
• Collaborate with Advancement and Admissions to align donor engagement and messaging.
• Coordinate development and production of print and digital marketing materials.
• Direct photography and video and maintain assets library.
• Oversee publications and projects like yearbook and digital displays.
• Maintain an institutional communications calendar and track performance.
• Provide communications counsel to leadership, including crisis communications.
• Supervise staff and manage external vendors.

Skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Project management

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, PR, journalism, or related field

5+ years in communications or related field

Tools

CMS (Content Management System)

Adobe Creative Suite

Social media analytics tools

Job description

Reports To: Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Communications Director

Reports To: Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Overview

The Communications Director leads Springer School and Center’s communications strategy and execution, ensuring clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across all audiences and channels. The Director is responsible for strengthening Springer’s brand and reputation and overseeing institutional communications, digital and social media, publications, marketing materials, and media relations.

Working collaboratively across the organization, the Communications Director supports enrollment, advancement, community engagement, and other institutional priorities while ensuring Springer’s mission, values, programs, and impact are effectively communicated to students, families, employees, alumni, donors, and the broader community.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with Springer’s mission, strategic priorities, and organizational goals.
• Serve as the primary steward of Springer’s brand, ensuring consistent messaging, voice, visual identity, and positioning across communications and materials.
• Lead institutional communications for families, employees, alumni, donors, prospective families, and the broader community.
• Write, edit, and oversee content for newsletters, publications, annual reports, press releases, website content, event materials, brochures, and other institutional communications.
• Oversee Springer’s website strategy and content, ensuring information is accurate, current, accessible, and effectively communicates the organization’s programs and impact.
• Develop and oversee Springer’s social media strategy, including content planning, audience engagement, performance monitoring, and brand consistency.
• Lead media and public relations efforts, including press releases, media inquiries, community outreach, and opportunities to increase awareness of Springer.
• Develop communications and marketing campaigns that support enrollment, fundraising, events, programs, and other institutional priorities.
• Partner with Advancement on communications supporting donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, alumni relations, and special events.
• Collaborate with Admissions to develop messaging, materials, and campaigns that effectively communicate Springer’s value to prospective students and families.
• Oversee the development and production of print and digital marketing materials, coordinating with designers, printers, photographers, videographers, and other external partners as needed.
• Direct photography and video efforts and maintain a strong library of visual assets representing Springer’s students, programs, people, and community.
• Oversee institutional publications and special projects, including the student yearbook, digital displays, community listings, advertisements, and other branded materials.
• Develop and maintain an institutional communications calendar to coordinate messaging, campaigns, events, publications, and key organizational milestones.
• Track communications and marketing performance and use relevant analytics to continually improve engagement and effectiveness.
• Provide communications counsel and support to organizational leadership, including sensitive, urgent, and crisis communications as appropriate.
• Supervise, coach, and develop communications staff and manage external vendors and partners.
• Perform other duties and contribute to school and organizational initiatives as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field, with experience in education, independent schools, nonprofits, or other mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated strength in writing, editing, storytelling, and communicating effectively with diverse audiences.
• Strong knowledge of brand management, digital communications, social media, website content, and integrated marketing strategies and tools.
• Strong leadership, project-management, and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, collaborate across departments, supervise staff, and manage external partners.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and a collaborative, mission-driven approach with a commitment to Springer School and Center’s students, families, and community.