Communications Specialist, Bilingual

$64,085 - $69,763/Yr

Santa Barbara Unified School District - Santa Barbara, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Santa Barbara, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The Communications Specialist position at Santa Barbara Unified School District is designed to manage the District's online platforms and assist with both internal and external communications. Under the guidance of the Communications Manager or their designee, the Communications Specialist will serve as the principal coordinator for all digital platforms within the District. This role involves collaborating with District staff and responding to various requests related to the District's digital communications and platforms. The specialist will be responsible for managing the District's online presence, which includes overseeing social media, internal communications, media relations, and marketing efforts, as well as providing multicultural outreach and language services as needed. In this role, the Communications Specialist will write and edit content for the District's websites, produce visual graphics for social media and other digital platforms, and perform basic website design programming to ensure a modern and user-friendly layout. The specialist will also assist in creating and maintaining social and electronic media guidelines, provide training, and coordinate communication efforts across the District. Additionally, the role requires working as part of the District communications team to design and implement cross-platform branding strategies, develop social media campaigns, and assess their effectiveness. The position may also involve photographing and video recording District programs and events as required. The working environment is primarily office-based, with the need to drive a vehicle for work-related tasks. The ideal candidate will possess strong writing and editing skills, knowledge of effective graphic design principles, and familiarity with website content management systems and specialized software such as Adobe Creative Cloud products. A Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field, along with at least one year of experience in traditional or digital communications, is required for this position.

Responsibilities

• Manage the District's online platforms and assist with internal and external communications.
• Write and edit content for the District and all-school websites.
• Produce visual graphics for social media and digital platforms.
• Manage social media for the District.
• Perform basic website design programming and maintain a modern design layout.
• Assist with editing and writing for the District's website, newsletters, and other publications.
• Prepare digital multimedia communication materials for outreach to parents, students, and the community.
• Create and maintain social and electronic media guidelines and provide training.
• Coordinate social and digital communication efforts across the District.
• Work as part of the District communications team to design and implement cross-platform branding strategies.
• Develop and assess social media and online ad campaigns.
• Photograph and video record District programs and events as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of experience in traditional or digital communications.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Knowledge of effective graphic design principles and visual storytelling.
• Familiarity with website content management systems like Finalsite or WordPress.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Illustrator).
• Understanding of public relations and communication principles.
• Valid Driver's License.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with After Effects and Premiere Pro.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan