The Director of Marketing and Communications for Girard College is a high-impact, relationship-driven leader responsible for shaping the institution's public voice, enhancing brand equity, and driving strategic messaging. This individual will play a vital role in integrating marketing strategies with institutional advancement, enrollment management, and community relations for the College.
This is a 12-month on-site position reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Brand Management:
• Develop and execute a comprehensive, institution-wide marketing, branding, and public relations strategy to elevate the Girard College profile.
• Support enrollment initiatives by crafting target recruitment campaigns and materials.
• Enhance internal and external community engagement while managing all campus-wide internal communications in close collaboration with school leadership.
Advancement
• Work with the Chief Advancement Officer to strengthen fundraising initiatives and major funding campaigns.
• In Collaboration with the Director of Major Gifts, author major gift proposals, campaign messaging, donor stewardship reports, and alumni engagement assets.
Internal Communications
• Maintain an active daily campus presence to foster relationships across administration, faculty, staff, and students.
• Partner with the President, VP of Operations, VP of Student Experience, and Human Resources to ensure a unified institutional voice across all divisions.
Media Relations & Crisis Communications
• Serve as the primary media contact and official spokesperson.
• Drive proactive public relations efforts to position school leadership as thought leaders in boarding school education to expand the school's profile.
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, formulate and implement crisis communications plans as necessary.
Digital & Content Oversight
• Direct the school's digital media strategy, including website design, search engine optimization, and social media platforms.
• Oversee the production of all major print publications, including magazines, viewbooks, and annual reports.
• Establish, monitor, and enforce clear, school-wide editorial and branding standards.
Student Mentorship & Campus Integration
• Create experiential learning opportunities for students by actively mentoring them in multimedia fields.
• Manage, employ, and support students in various campus roles, including event photography, videography, and media production.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing and communications, preferably within independent schools, higher education, or non-profit sectors.
Technical & Operational Skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in institutional budget management and campaign strategy execution.
• Hands-on experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Background in advancement software platforms and donor databases is a plus.
• Strong familiarity with content management systems (CMS), digital email marketing platforms, and web analytics tools.
Core Competencies
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of brand positioning, identity, and style guidelines across physical and digital mediums
• Competence or basic execution using design software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite) and content curation tools.
• Ability to frame school marketing initiatives inclusively to accommodate culturally diverse student and family backgrounds as well as alumni, trustees, and potential donors.
• Understanding of FERPA, COPPA, and related policies regarding posting student photos, names, and information.
• Ability to work flexibly, including attending evening or weekend campus events as required by a vibrant boarding school community.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field
- 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing and communications
- Experience in independent schools, higher education, or nonprofit sectors
- Proficiency in institutional budget management and campaign strategy execution
- Hands-on experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems
- Experience with advancement software platforms and donor databases
- Familiarity with content management systems, digital email marketing platforms, and web analytics tools
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Understanding of brand positioning, identity, and style guidelines across physical and digital media
- Competence or basic execution using design software such as Canva or Adobe Suite and content curation tools
- Ability to develop inclusive marketing initiatives for culturally diverse students, families, alumni, trustees, and donors
- Understanding of FERPA, COPPA, and related policies governing student photos, names, and information
- Ability to work evenings or weekends for campus events as needed
What We Do
The Girard Estate is a charitable trust created by philanthropist Stephen Girard in 1830 to support the public good. It generates funding through investments, real estate, and mining operations, with ninety percent of its revenues supporting Girard College, a boarding school for economically disadvantaged children in Philadelphia, ensuring ongoing opportunities for underserved youth.
