Career Center

The Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications (DSMC) reports to the Head of School (HOS) and is a member of the School Leadership Team (SLT). Working closely with the SLT and under the guidance of the Head of School, the DSMC manages the strategic marketing of the School’s program and the School’s brand identity. The DSMC also develops and implements clear, coherent, and consistent communications with past, current, and prospective members of the Far Hills community. 

Responsibilities include:

The DSMC will work with the Communications and Social Media Manager, a direct report, to accomplish the following:

School-Wide Communications Strategy, Plan, and Calendar:

• Ensures that the communications of key constituencies are integrated, coordinated, and supportive of the overall messaging plan and calendar.
• Works closely with the HOS in the development of school communications across all media – online, offline, and in-person.
• Oversees the writing, design, printing, final editing, and proofing of all school  documents and communications sent beyond internal employee communications.

Public Relations Strategy and Plan:

• Implements the FH public relations strategy and plan focused on amplifying Far Hills’ core messages to external audiences.
• Maintains relationships with media outlets and reporters.
• Sits on the Crisis Management Committee and is prepared to serve as the school’s initial spokesperson in the event of a crisis.

Advertising Strategy and Plan:

• Oversees the school’s media strategy, which includes a blend of print and online advertising.
• Responsible for the design and creation of advertisements based on the school’s visual identity, as well as the purchasing and placement of print and online advertising.

Print and Digital Communications:

• Collaborates with the Directors of Admission and Engagement and Philanthropy on collateral materials, including brochures, event invitations, solicitation letters, etc.; gives final approval on these materials with an eye on the school’s branding and visual identity.
• Creates digital communication and oversees, refines, and maintains the School’s
  forward-facing website with an eye on usability and accessibility.
• Writes, compiles, and publishes the weekly Sunday eNewsletter, school-wide emails, and PAGES magazine.
• Creates digital content at least four times per week for social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and understands the intricacies of each platform (what to publish where, how to write/select photos for each type of platform, etc.).
• Builds social media advertisements to drive admission traffic and inquiries.

Visual and Creative Identity:

• Manages the School’s brand, creative voice, and visual identity (including signage and style/decoration of common and exterior spaces).
• Partners with the Director of Engagement and Philanthropy to ensure that items in the school store, Falcon’s Find, align with current branding.
• Updates and Follows the Far Hills Style & Usage Guide.
• Oversees professional and day-to-day school videos and photography shoots, including school portraits.
• Documents school events with the school’s DSLR Camera.

Budget

• Manages a centralized communications budget, which includes oversight of external vendors and negotiating contracts with designers, printers, photographers, marketers, freelancers, etc.

Research and Measurement

• Develops methods for success in communications, tracks results, and reports findings to the Head of School.
• Conducts demographic research, parent/student/employee surveys, and questionnaires to provide relevant data. 

Education, Experience, and Skills Required:

• initiative and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
• a people-oriented team player with the ability to work effectively with administrators, division heads, faculty, staff, parents, and trustees;
• exceptional communication, organizational, and project management skills;
• continues to master the evolving forms and uses of communications in all its formats;
• experience with press communications (i.e., press releases, media alerts, etc.);
• a strong understanding of, and demonstrated success with, social and digital media;
• experience with website CMS and familiarity with the Finalsite platform;
• proven proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Google Suite;
• demonstrates a desire to learn new skills and participate in professional development;
• prior experience working in an independent school;
• prior supervisory experience;
• ability to work unscheduled hours at events on weekends and evenings; and
• bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

About Far Hills Country Day School

Far Hills Country Day School is a PreK - 8th grade independent school located in Central New Jersey, approximately 1 hour from New York City. The school is also close to the Pennsylvania border and only 1 hour from the greater Philadelphia Area. The school enrollment is approximately 275. 75 faculty and staff serve the students and families of the Far Hills Country Day School community. During the 2020-2021 school year, Head of School Georgia Zaiser introduced the "Inward," "Outward," and "Upward" vision for the school. We encourage you to read more about this on our website. In addition to the vision, in 2020, we successfully concluded a ten-room classroom renovation, including three science labs. We provided "in-person" learning for our students throughout the 2020-2021 school year, as we believe that young students thrive in "in-person" learning environments. our new "Learning Commons" is in the heart of the school, which includes a new "Media Center" and "Maker Space." Our curriculum is an intentional, Mission-driven, collaborative, integrated learning community — of students, faculty, staff, and parents — connected across grade levels by a coherent, consistent approac...h to teaching and learning. Our faculty and staff are the heart and soul of our school. They come from various backgrounds and experiences, and their diverse interests and talents create a vibrant professional climate where their work is more than a mere job. Our faculty and staff share a passion for helping children learn and grow. We seek employees who view learning as a lifelong pursuit, embrace a child-centered approach to teaching, and celebrate community.

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Connections working at Far Hills Country Day School