The Lawrenceville School, one of the nation’s premier coeducational boarding and day schools, serving students in grades 9 through 12, invites applications and nominations as it embarks upon a search for the next Director of Communications and External Relations. The Director serves as the chief communications officer for Lawrenceville and is a key member of the senior leadership team, leading the development and implementation of the School’s brand, vision, strategy, and public relations. The position reports to Gregory B. Buckles, the Shelby M. C. Davis '54 Dean of Enrollment Management. Specifically, the Director will provide leadership around the following: - Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic communications and marketing plan to promote Lawrenceville’s image, mission, profile, and reputation among prospective students, alumni, donors, and the public;
- Serving as the primary contact and spokesperson with local, regional, and national media;
- Managing inquiries, press relations, crisis communications, and promotion of the School’s achievements;
- Developing and managing media events;
- Providing consultation on strategic communications to key constituents;
- Developing marketing materials, including web, video, social media, brochures, publications, and marketing presentations;
- Developing and implementing a public relations plan that includes planning and coordination of special events;
- Developing strategic partnerships with secondary and higher education, business, and media organizations;
- Working closely across the School to develop partnerships and enhance relations with key community, educational, business, and governmental leaders;
- Developing and managing budgets for communications, marketing, and outreach activities, including reporting on results; and
- Overseeing approximately seven full-time staff.
The successful candidate should understand the opportunities and challenges facing independent schools and possess the skills, leadership, and vision to improve the communications, branding, and marketing quality. In addition to demonstrated accomplishments in complex, strategic communications planning and implementation, the next Director is expected to demonstrate the following: - Evidence of strong writing, editing, interpersonal, and presentation skills;
- Broad understanding of developing and emerging communications technologies and platforms;
- Ability to define goals and objectives, identify audience segments, develop strategic and targeted messaging and communications plans, and measure effectiveness;
- Leadership capacity including an ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities and excellent organizational skills;
- Proven ability to mentor, develop, support, motivate, and supervise staff, while fostering a spirit of creative collaboration;
- Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion;
- Ability to foster effective relationships with senior leadership, faculty, communications professionals, staff, and students;
- Social media, design, and branding experience;
- Prior experience in an educational environment (university or secondary school) strongly desired;
- Minimum of ten years of experience in marketing, public relations, communications, or related fields;
- Minimum of five years management responsibility, including project management and group facilitation, team building, and collaboration skills;
- Bachelor’s degree required.
For a complete position profile, please visit: https://assets.storbeckpimentel.com/files/resources/lawrencevillecomms-pd.pdf Inquiries, nominations, and letters of interest with a resume may be sent in confidence to: Ruth Shoemaker Wood, Partner Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LP LawrencevilleCommunications@storbecksearch.com The Lawrenceville School is a diverse and inclusive community and makes all employment decisions without regard for an individual’s race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, sex, pregnancy, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability (including AIDS and HIV related illness), genetic information, refusal to provide genetic information, refusal to submit to genetic testing, ancestry, familial status, marital status, domestic partnership status, civil union status, atypical cellular or blood trait, military service, application for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The Lawrenceville School will also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable law. |