Posted: 11-Jun-25
Location: Seattle, Washington
Type: Full Time
Salary: 140000-155000
JOB TITLE: Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
REPORT TO: Head of School
DATE: June 2025
TYPE: Full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month position
Northwest School is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world.
Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student body that reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications is a senior leader responsible for shaping and executing an integrated, mission-aligned strategy that advances the school’s brand, reputation, and institutional priorities. This role serves as the school’s lead strategist and advisor on all matters related to communications, marketing, messaging, and storytelling.
Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Director leads a communications team and collaborates with colleagues across the school, including Admissions, Advancement, Academics, and Student Life, to ensure cohesive messaging and alignment. The Director sets the vision for how the school tells its story to prospective families, students, parents, alumni, donors, faculty, and the broader public.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Strategic Communications Leadership
- Support the Head of School in developing key communications for internal and external audiences
- Design and implement a comprehensive, forward-thinking communications and marketing strategy that supports school-wide objectives.
- Serve as a thought partner to the Head of School and leadership team, advising on communications positioning, strategy, messaging, and response.
- Develop strategic narratives and institutional messaging frameworks that reinforce the school’s mission, values, and vision.
- Lead efforts to build internal alignment and ensure consistency across all communications platforms and audiences.
- Monitor trends, data, and engagement to inform strategy and refine tactics for greater impact.
Brand Management & Messaging
- Serve as brand steward, ensuring that the school’s voice and visual identity are consistent, compelling, and reflective of its mission.
- Oversee and maintain brand guidelines, ensuring brand consistency and visual excellence across all touchpoints including school events, environmental brand experience, physical spaces and campus, merchandise and school swag, and marketing collateral and publications.
- Lead the development and implementation of cohesive messaging across digital and print platforms.
- Conduct regular brand audits to ensure quality and clarity in all outward-facing materials and campaigns.
Media Relations & Crisis Communications
- Develop and manage a proactive media strategy to elevate the school’s visibility and thought leadership.
- Serve as the school’s primary media contact and lead spokesperson as needed.
- Lead strategic response planning for crisis communications, working closely with the Head of School and leadership team to protect and strengthen institutional trust.
- Anticipate and advise on communications risks and sensitivities.
Enrollment, Advancement & Community Engagement
- Partner with the Admission Office to build brand awareness, increase engagement, and support enrollment goals through targeted outreach and content strategies.
- Support the Advancement Office with storytelling, campaigns, and donor communications that drive philanthropic support and alumni engagement.
- Enhance internal communications to foster transparency, clarity, and connections across departments and stakeholder groups.
Digital Strategy & Content Oversight
- Lead the strategy and oversight of all digital communications platforms, including the school website, social media channels, email communications, and online advertising.
- Use analytics and audience insights to drive decision-making, track performance, and improve digital reach and engagement.
- Oversee editorial calendars and content planning to ensure timely, mission-aligned storytelling and announcements.
Team & Project Management
- Supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of the communications team.
- Manage all communications-related budgets, tools, and lead all external marketing, communications, and design agency vendor relationships.
- Implement systems and processes for efficient project management, quality control, and cross-functional collaboration, operating as an internal agency and as a shared resource to a range of internal stakeholders across multiple departments.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor or the Head of School.?
- Maintain regular and reliable attendance as a core and essential function of the position.?
QUALIFICATIONS: All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the school’s mission, values, and philosophy, especially related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and global perspective.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, preferably in education or a mission-driven organization.
- Demonstrated success in developing and implementing high-level communications strategies.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and messaging skills with a strong editorial sensibility.
- Proven ability to strategically guide complex projects and inspire collaborative team success.
- Proficient in digital marketing tools, platforms, and analytics.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in managing media relations and crisis communication.
- Technology experience, Blackbaud, social media, Microsoft 365, Ravenna, Canva, multimedia, etc.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Ability to occasionally move throughout the campus for meetings and events.
- Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times (e.g., marketing materials, equipment).
- Ability to attend evening or weekend events as needed.
- Capable of using standard office equipment, including computers, printers, phones, and related technology.
COMPENSATION:
The salary range is $140,000 - $155,000 based on education and years of experience. This is a 1.0 FTE position eligible for benefits. ?The Northwest School offers an excellent benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life and accident insurance coverage, fully paid for employee only coverage. A retirement program matches up to 6% of an employee's salary after one year of service in a 403(b) plan. An intentional, mission focused school culture, generous time off, lunch, access to the on-site fitness facility, an exceptional commitment to professional development, and a unique urban location are also benefits of working at the Northwest School.
APPLICATION PROCESS:?
Please submit a cover letter & resume via the Paycom system on the school's website. https://www.northwestschool.org/about/employment?
?**Please note we are unable to consider materials submitted through other avenues such as Indeed.com without a corresponding application through our website. ?
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, or marital status.?