Head of Strategic Communications & Public Engagement

District of Columbia Public Schools; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia Public Schools is seeking a Deputy Chief of Communications to lead the Office of External Affairs. You will transform district priorities into engaging campaigns, oversee branding, content, social media, newsletters, and multimedia storytelling, and guide a dynamic team focused on transparency and community engagement.

The role demands strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a track record in delivering data-informed communications across diverse audiences, including

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and eight to twelve years of related work experience.
• Master's degree strongly preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Proven interpersonal skills and leadership experience in managing and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Translates district priorities into data-informed communications campaigns that drive awareness, engagement, and action from external stakeholders.
• Advises program and senior leadership on message development, issue positioning, and public-facing initiatives.
• Directs the creation and deployment of campaigns to support major district priorities—ensuring content is accurate, accessible, and reflective of DCPS’s diversity.
• Leads districtwide editorial calendar planning for timely campaigns around national recognition days and district milestones.
• Designs and manages districtwide communication systems and workflows for clear, timely messaging across channels.
• Monitors the efficacy of campaigns with digital analytics and stakeholder feedback.
• Supervises and develops a high-performing communications team.
• Oversees all digital and strategic communications across websites, social media, newsletters, and media relations.

Skills

Strategic communications

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree strongly preferred

Job description

District of Columbia Public Schools is seeking a Deputy Chief of Communications to lead the Office of External Affairs. You will transform district priorities into engaging campaigns, oversee branding, content, social media, newsletters, and multimedia storytelling, and guide a dynamic team focused on transparency and community engagement.

The role demands strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a track record in delivering data-informed communications across diverse audiences, including