Specialist, Digital Communications

District of Columbia Public Schools; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia Public Schools is seeking a Specialist, Digital Communications to lead graphic design, social media publishing, and routine web content management. You will create engaging visuals that bring the DCPS brand to life and strengthen the district's digital presence across students, staff, and communities.

You will publish content across DCPS social channels, manage web updates with Drupal/WordPress, and collaborate with Central Services and external partners to ensure timely,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3–5 years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in or exposure to the education sector is a plus.
• Expert knowledge in graphic design and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong writing skills and knowledge of HTML/CSS.
• Experience with Drupal is a plus.
• Photography experience is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to work quickly under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Designs original, high‑quality graphics for DCPS social media channels, digital campaigns, websites, events, and district newsletters.
• Publishes day‑to‑day content across DCPS’s social media accounts, including scheduling and adapting assets per platform.
• Uses data analytics to optimize storytelling, reach, and engagement across channels.
• Supports the districtwide social media content calendar and timely announcements.
• Maintains web content with Drupal and WordPress, coordinating with content owners for updates.
• Performs digital team administrative functions and coordinates with stakeholders to drive project success.

Skills

Graphic design

Social media management

HTML/CSS

Drupal

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Photography

Writing

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Drupal

WordPress

Meta Business Suite

HootSuite

Sprout Social

Job description

The mission of the Office of External Affairs (OEA) istoimprove outcomes for every student in DCPS 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 Services to enhance communication and engagement with staff,familiesand 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.

OEA Divisions/Teams

Strategic Communications:

• Builds and executes communicationssystemsto ensure clear and informative messaging to stakeholders.
• Supports district-wide branding and marketing through photography, videography, graphic design, social media and newsletter engagement, website management, and more.
• Works cross-functionally to transform district initiatives into effective communications campaigns.

Operations Communications:

• Develops and leads overall school-based or district-level incident response communications strategy in response to facilities, weather, climate, health, and personnel matters.
• Identifieskey waysto provide context for incidents andreverse existing narratives about DCPS.
• Works acrossCentralServices 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 ofDCPS’s students, staff, and schools.
• Developsmedia outreach strategies, including press events, to support city-wide and district goals.
• Supports crisis communications work by ensuring media are accurately reporting ondevelopments.
• Ensure that key messaging, talking points, and other media materials align with priorities and guidelines set by the ExecutiveOfficeofthe Mayor.

Family and Community Engagement:

• Aims to build the capacity of Central Services, school administrators, and educators to partner with families to drive student success.
• Listens to and engages our families and community at the district and school level to build trust, using stakeholder feedback to inform the work of DCPS.
• Directly supports schools in their parent and community engagement efforts, including with Local School Advisory Teams (LSATs) and parent teacher organizations (PTOs).

Partnerships:

• Serves as the district’s central team foridentifyingand managing strategic partnerships that promote student achievement,buildschool capacity, and advance district priorities.
• Enhances the capacity of Central Services, school administrators, and teachers to maximize the impact of partnerships on key organizational goals.
• Develops andmaintainssystemsand policies that ensure school-based and district-level partnerships are high-quality, compliant, and aligned withthe strategic priorityto ensure students feel connected to their schools.

The Specialist, Digital Communications supports the development and execution of DCPS’s digital media strategy, with primary responsibility for graphic design, social media publishing and curation, and routine web content management. The Specialist creates original, innovative visual content that brings the DCPS brand to life and helps tell the stories of the district’s students, staff, schools, and programs. The Specialist helps strengthen DCPS’s social media presence, maintain a coordinated districtwide digital ecosystem, and ensure that public-facing web content is accurate, accessible, and current.

This position has been designated as Security Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Traffic record check (as applicable); Consumer credit check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

Position Overview

The mission of the Office of External Affairs (OEA) istoimprove outcomes for every student in DCPS 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 Services to enhance communication and engagement with staff,familiesand 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.

OEA Divisions/Teams

Strategic Communications:

• Builds and executes communicationssystemsto ensure clear and informative messaging to stakeholders.
• Supports district-wide branding and marketing through photography, videography, graphic design, social media and newsletter engagement, website management, and more.
• Works cross-functionally to transform district initiatives into effective communications campaigns.

Operations Communications:

• Develops and leads overall school-based or district-level incident response communications strategy in response to facilities, weather, climate, health, and personnel matters.
• Identifieskey waysto provide context for incidents andreverse existing narratives about DCPS.
• Works acrossCentralServices 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 ofDCPS’s students, staff, and schools.
• Developsmedia outreach strategies, including press events, to support city-wide and district goals.
• Supports crisis communications work by ensuring media are accurately reporting ondevelopments.
• Ensure that key messaging, talking points, and other media materials align with priorities and guidelines set by the ExecutiveOfficeofthe Mayor.

Family and Community Engagement:

• Aims to build the capacity of Central Services, school administrators, and educators to partner with families to drive student success.
• Listens to and engages our families and community at the district and school level to build trust, using stakeholder feedback to inform the work of DCPS.
• Directly supports schools in their parent and community engagement efforts, including with Local School Advisory Teams (LSATs) and parent teacher organizations (PTOs).

Partnerships:

• Serves as the district’s central team foridentifyingand managing strategic partnerships that promote student achievement,buildschool capacity, and advance district priorities.
• Enhances the capacity of Central Services, school administrators, and teachers to maximize the impact of partnerships on key organizational goals.
• Develops andmaintainssystemsand policies that ensure school-based and district-level partnerships are high-quality, compliant, and aligned withthe strategic priorityto ensure students feel connected to their schools.

The Specialist, Digital Communications supports the development and execution of DCPS’s digital media strategy, with primary responsibility for graphic design, social media publishing and curation, and routine web content management. The Specialist creates original, innovative visual content that brings the DCPS brand to life and helps tell the stories of the district’s students, staff, schools, and programs. The Specialist helps strengthen DCPS’s social media presence, maintain a coordinated districtwide digital ecosystem, and ensure that public-facing web content is accurate, accessible, and current.

This position has been designated as Security Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Traffic record check (as applicable); Consumer credit check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

The Specialist, Digital Communications will report to the Manager, Digital Communications.

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.

• Designs original, high-quality graphics and other visual content for DCPS social media channels, digital campaigns, websites, events, and districtwide newsletter.
• Publishes the day-to-day content across DCPS’s primary social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, and X, by preparing posts, including scheduling and adapting copy and creative assets for each platform.
• Uses data analytics to curate a dynamic and engaging social media presence that showcases DCPS students, educators, schools, programs, and accomplishments; identifies opportunities to strengthen storytelling, expand audience reach, and respond creatively to emerging formats and trends.
• Supports execution of the districtwide social media content calendar of planned campaigns, recurring content, school-based stories, and timely announcements.
• Supports ongoing audits and maintenance of DCPS web content using Drupal and WordPress, including reviewing pages for accuracy, accessibility, consistency, and outdated information; and coordinating with content owners to make website updates.
• Performs other digital team administrative functions, including organizing digital assets, tracking creative requests, and supporting efficient team workflows.
• Builds relationships and liaises across DCPS Central Services, DCPS vendors, and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and project success, including responding to urgent requests from internal and external DCPS stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three to five years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Expert knowledge in graphic design, including Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop), Canva and other relevant software.
• Expert knowledge of social media management tools, such as Meta Business Suite, HootSuite, and Sprout Social.
• Excellent writing skills and knowledge of HTML and CSS. Experience with Drupal is a plus.
• Photography experience is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with proven ability to foster positive working relationships.
• Proven ability to take initiative and propose projects without explicit direction.
• Attention to detail and ability to work quickly under tight deadlines.

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.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [e-mail].