Career Center

Lynnhaven School seeks a creative, energetic, organized Director of Communications. This individual collaborates with the Director of Admissions to promote the school in various online and print media. The Director also contributes to the development efforts of the organization. The role includes writing and producing marketing materials, writing school news and press releases, and writing and publishing monthly digital and quarterly newsletters. The Director will maintain and update Lynnhaven’s social media presence; update and edit the website; write blogs related to progressive education; identify new opportunities for digital marketing; prospect potential donors; write the annual appeal; and assist with grant applications and reports. This individual will maintain and update the donor database. The Director will also attend all events sponsored by the school. This individual must have excellent written and oral communication and technology skills. Attention to detail and adhering to deadlines are essential for this position. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Communications (60%)

1. Media: Promote Lynnhaven School in and to local media. Track local media and pitch stories featuring the school’s initiatives, community engagement, research, and students. 
2. Materials: Create promotional materials for the school. Photograph and record all school-related events, write weekly school news and press releases and create infographics and flyers. Write all monthly and quarterly newsletters. Write all bios for employees. 
3. Social media: Manage the school’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts; Manage all admissions online accounts such as Private School Review, Niche, and Great Schools. Attend marketing events w/the Director of Admissions and promote/feature on social media. Review and edit all external communications.  
4. Website: Manage the school website, including updating photos, writing school news items, updating faculty and staff pages, and posting parent resources; edit and publish the website 
5. Digital Newsletters: Develop an editorial calendar and lead the NewsLynx and The Schoolhouse email newsletter production. 
6. Events: Collaborate on planning school-related events

Development (40%)

1. Fundraising: In conjunction with the Head of School Office, develop an annual development and events calendar. Communicate all fundraising efforts, including Lynnhaven Forever (annual campaign), Giving Tuesday, Parent House Socials, and Parent Association. Seek and write grant applications, track reporting deadlines, and develop the annual report. Maintain donor follow-up through writing and video communications. 
2. Orange and Blue Scholarship Gala: In conjunction with the Head of School Office, plan, develop, and coordinate the Orange and Blue Scholarship Gala. Serve as the central point of contact for the silent and live auctions, communicate with venue representatives, and develop the overall communication plan and order of events. 
3. Engagement: Assist the Head of School Office with developing and implementing a strategy for alumni parent and student engagement. Serve as the official school liaison to the Parent Association. Represent the school through various organization associations such as the New Kent Chamber of Commerce. Track and keep attendance of all parent volunteers and activities. 

Research: Research, track, and report on development prospects. Seek and write grants and other funding sources.

Required Qualifications to effectively perform the job at the time of hire will include an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Additional requirements and/or substitutions may be requested and require the approval of the Head of School. 

1. Bachelor's Degree or higher in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Graphic Design, Non-Profit Management, or a related field
2. Minimum five years of paid working experience in communications and/or fundraising. Individuals who have experience working for a non-profit organization will have high priority.
3. Proficient in using Canva and Adobe Creative Suite
4. Exceptional writing and editing skills, including spelling/grammar, with the ability to write concisely and persuasively.
5. Excellent communication skills and ability to work well with community partners and internal personnel.
6. Strong organizational skills and ability to perform multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment as a self-starter and team member.
7. Photography/video skills and experience with Network for Good are a plus.
8. Knowledge of HTML; comfortable using Weebly and Craft CMS (or similar content management system).
9. Comfortable using data and digital analytics tools to measure the effectiveness of communications efforts.
10. Experience maintaining and growing organizational social media presence.
11. Enthusiasm to learn and promote the work of the Lynnhaven School

Lynnhaven School believes everyone contributes significantly to our success. That contribution should not be limited to assigned responsibilities, job titles, seniority, or tenure. Therefore, this position description is designed to define primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but it should not limit the incumbent nor Lynnhaven School to work identified. We expect that every employee, no matter their position, will offer his/her/their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of Lynnhaven’s goals.

1. Work effectively with and respond to people from diverse cultures or backgrounds. 
2. Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate judgment in behavior, speech, and dress in a neat, clean, and appropriate professional manner for the assignment and work setting. 
3. Have regular and punctual attendance 
4. Confer regularly with other staff and immediate supervisor 
5. Follow all school policies, work procedures, and reasonable requests
6. Maintain the integrity of confidential information 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described below represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

1. Must be able to sit for extended periods of time 
2. Must be able to lift items weighing up to 25 lbs occasionally 
3. Frequently required to talk and listen 
4. Must be able to regularly use repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement to work on the computer and/or related office equipment. 

COVID-19 and Infectious Diseases 

Lynnhaven School requires that all employees be fully COVID-19 vaccinated 

Diversity and Inclusion 

Lynnhaven values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please read the following statement. “At the Lynnhaven School, we welcome all people. We honor and celebrate diversity and inclusion as our guiding principles for educating our students and supporting them as future leaders. We are committed to infusing diverse views and ideas. We strive for an environment where people can participate equally and fully as their true selves. We believe all individuals can effectively engage in a community grounded in understanding. Just as the different petals belong to one Sassafras tree leaf, at Lynnhaven, everyone belongs.

All employees must affirm they will adhere to the above diversity and inclusion statement. 

About Lynnhaven School

Lynnhaven School provides a social learning experience built on progressive education principles inspired by great philosophers such as John Dewey, Francis Wayland Parker, Booker T. Washington, and Lucy Sprague Mitchell. We look for driven, creative students who want to and can take advantage of their intellectual freedom and autonomy in the classroom and across their school experience. Lynnhaven teachers describe their most successful students as those with an appetite for learning, eager to seize responsibility for their education, and are team players. In addition, Lynnhaven works best for learners excited by their own curiosity and who take ownership of their learning. As a result, Lynnhaven students regularly devise questions, challenge assumptions, and propose new directions to pursue. Our students experience a significant increase in the amount of information they retain when given the opportunity to practice what they are learning in the form of hands-on activities. Studies have shown that when students sit and listen intently but passively in a lecture-style environment, they retain 20 percent of the presented information. When they are given the opportunity to pr...actice what they have just learned, that percentage increases to 75 percent. A Lynnhaven lesson often includes stimulating, active, and engaging activities. Seven competencies anchor Lynnhaven's social learning environment called the Sassafras Seven, which includes critical thinking, creativity, connection, collaboration, curiosity, communication, and civic engagement that represent a well-rounded citizen capable of success in the 21st century.

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Connections working at Lynnhaven School