Director of Communications

Catholic Diocese of Rockford; Woodstock (IL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Pension

Vacation

Sick and Personal Days

Holidays

403(b) Retirement Plan

Paid Personal time off

Job summary

Marian Central Catholic High School is seeking a Director of Communications to lead external communications, marketing, and brand strategy. You will serve as the chief storyteller, coordinating across print, digital, social media, email, photography, and video to strengthen visibility and engagement.

The role requires hands-on execution, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced school environment. Collaboration with Admissions and Advancement is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1-3+ years experience preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong graphic design, photography, and videography skills.
• Strong understanding of social media, digital communications, and audience engagement; experience with Canva and email marketing platforms preferred.
• Ability to think strategically while managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an integrated communications and marketing strategy that advances Marian's mission and priorities.
• Serve as steward of Marian's brand and storytelling, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity.
• Plan and coordinate across Admissions and Advancement communications for quality and timing.
• Monitor performance and engagement to improve strategies.
• Lead planning, writing, editing, design, production, and distribution of key publications and marketing materials.
• Support enrollment marketing and recruitment messaging with Admissions.
• Partner with Advancement to develop donor and alumni communications.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Canva

Email marketing platforms

Job description

Description

Posting Date: September 1, 2026

Position Available: Director of Communications

Salaried Role $43,000 - $51,000

Hourly Role Pay Range:

Classification: Full Time Part Time

Application Period: Until filled

Benefits

Overview: See https://www.rockforddiocese.org/pdfs/accounting/Summary-of-Benefits.pdf

Provided to eligible full-time employees ONLY: Health Insurance, Pension, Vacation, Sick and Personal Days, Holidays

Provided to eligible full-time AND part-time employees: 403(b) Retirement Plan, Paid Personal time off

Reports To: Director of Advancement
Classification: Full-Time, Year-Round with Shortened Summer Schedule

Position Summary

The Director of Communications leads Marian Central Catholic High School's external communications, marketing, and brand strategy, ensuring a consistent and compelling representation of the school's mission, values, people, and programs.

Serving as Marian's chief brand steward and storyteller, the Director develops and executes communications across print, digital, social media, email, photography, video, and other channels. The Director works collaboratively across the school, with particular partnership with Admissions and Advancement, to strengthen Marian's visibility, reputation, enrollment, engagement, and philanthropic efforts.

This is a hands-on position requiring both strategic thinking and day-to-day execution. The Director must be an exceptional communicator and storyteller who can manage multiple priorities while producing high-quality work in a fast-paced school environment.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Brand Leadership

• Develop and execute an integrated communications and marketing strategy that advances Marian's mission and strategic priorities.
• Serve as steward of Marian's brand and storytelling, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging and visual identity across all communications.
• Establish communications priorities and coordinate school, Admissions, and Advancement communications to ensure quality, consistency, and effective timing.
• Monitor communications performance and engagement to evaluate effectiveness and continually strengthen communications strategies.

Digital & Social Media

• Develop and execute Marian's social media strategy, managing the school's primary social media channels and creating engaging content that showcases Marian's mission, student experience, accomplishments, and community.
• Plan, capture, edit, and produce photography and video content for use across Marian's communications and marketing channels.
• Manage Marian's external email marketing communications using Smore and other platforms as appropriate.
• Support Marian's website redesign, with a focus on content development, organization, and refinement, and provide ongoing communications support for the website.

Publication & Creative Services

• Lead the planning, writing, editing, design, production, and distribution of Marian's key publications and marketing materials, coordinating with outside vendors as needed.
• Design and produce professional print and digital materials, including advertisements, invitations, signage, presentations, event materials, and other communications as needed.

Enrollment Marketing

• Partner with the Director of Admissions to develop, implement, and evaluate enrollment marketing and communications strategies that support recruitment and enrollment goals.
• Develop compelling recruitment messaging and materials that communicate Marian's Catholic mission, value proposition, academic experience, student life, and community.
• Plan and execute prospective-family communications throughout the admissions cycle, tailoring messaging and channels based on enrollment priorities and where families are in the process.

Advancement & Alumni Communications

• Partner with the Director of Advancement to develop and execute communications and creative materials that support fundraising, alumni engagement, donor stewardship, and other Advancement priorities.
• Identify and develop compelling donor and alumni stories that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and strengthen connections to Marian.

Media Relations & Public Relations

• Serve as Marian's primary media and public relations contact, identifying opportunities to increase positive awareness through media coverage and proactive storytelling.
• Develop and distribute press releases, announcements, media pitches, and other public-facing communications.
• Coordinate with school leadership on sensitive, high-profile, or crisis-related external communications.

Events & School Collaboration

• Support major school events and initiatives through promotion, photography, videography, signage, programs, and other communications and marketing needs.
• Build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, students, coaches, moderators, and school leadership to identify and develop stories and communications opportunities throughout the school.
• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1-3+ years experience preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences and platforms.
• Strong graphic design, photography, and videography skills, with demonstrated ability to create high-quality print and digital content.
• Strong understanding of social media, digital communications, and audience engagement; experience with Canva and email marketing platforms preferred.
• Ability to think strategically while managing multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and constituencies.
• Self-motivated and detail-oriented, with the ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and work independently.
• Commitment to Marian Central Catholic High School's Catholic mission and the ability to authentically communicate and advance that mission; flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.