Communications Manager

Position Objective:

• Acts as a key custodian of the school brand, vision, mission, and values, ensuring they are reflected in all internal communications and promoted to external stakeholders.
• Takes ownership of planning and execution of internal and corporate communications, as well as events for parents, staff, prospective families, and other key stakeholders.
• Constantly seeking new opportunities to share the school's vision, mission, and values with the community and to celebrate the school's successes.
• Leads the strategic planning, organization, and execution of a wide range of internal and external events that align with the school's strategic goals.
• Collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders — including school leadership, academic teams, facilities and logistics, marketing, admissions, ICT, and parent representatives — to ensure seamless delivery of communications and events.
• Co-plans, coordinates, and manages an annual calendar of events, both on and off campus, supporting teachers and academic leadership with event delivery and related communications. Key determinants of success include: refined event management skills, a strong service mindset, exceptional organizational and planning abilities, effective stakeholder management, and clear, strategic communication

Responsibilities

Communications

• Takes ownership and be proactive with engagement between the school, teachers, and parents across all channels, including email, social media, and the parent portal.
• Optimizes messages from the Academic and Operations teams to ensure clarity and accessibility for parents.
• Manages internal communications projects, including budgeting, timelines, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversees the school community portal, ensuring information is accurate, relevant, and regularly updated to enhance user experience.
• Coordinates with Parents' Association representatives, cultural groups, and academic and admissions teams to communicate effectively with the wider community.
• Collaborates with the Design Projects Manager to create collaterals that align with School branding and messaging.
• Works with the Senior Marketing Manager to produce external marketing content and ensure public-facing
• information, including the School website, is accurate and up to date.

Content Creation

• Strategizes, develops and manages content that reflects and reinforces the school's values for use across multiple platforms, including social media and on-campus screens.
• Creates and implements a content plan for social media platforms.
• Produces and publishes the bi-weekly All School Newsletter

Events

• Reviews, refines, and supports the execution of the school's internal event calendar in collaboration with the Head of Communications and Community Engagement.
• Key internal events include Orientation Days, parent workshops, forums, conferences, and large-scale community events (e.g., Australia Day BBQ, Waitangi Day, key celebrations).
• Partners with the Marketing and Admissions team to plan and deliver external events to engage prospective parents, such as:
• Monthly Open Houses
• Monthly Playgroups
• Sponsored events held on and off campus
• Contributes to budget planning and management to ensure effective use of Communications and Marketing resources

Other Duties

• Performs additional tasks as directed by the Head of Communications and Community Engagement or other designated school leaders

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• The job holder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children and young persons they work with or encounter.

They must:

• Adhere to and ensure compliance with Company's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies and Procedures at all times.
• Immediately report any concerns that a child may be suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm —whether at school or at home.
• Report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), the Head of School, or the Regional CEO, ensuring that appropriate referrals are made to relevant third-party services as required

Position Requirements

• Degree in Communications or related field, with experience in corporate communications or event management.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of digital literacy, with a willingness to learn new software as needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including copywriting and editing for diverse audiences and platforms.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to motivate, collaborate, and build positive relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple high-priority tasks in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing a small team effectively.
• Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Understanding of commercial sensitivity and the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
• Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to take on a variety of tasks, including those outside the immediate scope of work, as directed by leadership.
• Experience working with expatriate communities and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of photography, videography, and basic video editing.

Qualifications

• Degree qualification in Communications or a related field
• 5 years+ experience in Communications or Marketing Communications