Communications Specialist

Prestonwood Christian Academy - Plano, TX

Full-time - Entry Level

Plano, TX

Educational Services

About the position

The Communications Specialist at Prestonwood Christian Academy School System plays a vital role in promoting the mission and brand of the institution. This position is designed for an individual who is passionate about communicating the values and stories of PCA to both current and prospective families. The Communications Specialist will be responsible for crafting compelling narratives that reflect the school's commitment to Biblical truth, academic excellence, and Christ-like leadership. This role requires a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the school's mission to effectively engage the community and enhance the visibility of PCA. In this position, the Communications Specialist will assist in the research and creative writing for all school communications, ensuring that the messaging aligns with PCA's core values and objectives. The role involves editing and proofreading various materials, collaborating with department personnel to implement promotional strategies, and producing feature stories for media placement. The Specialist will also be tasked with managing PCA's social media presence, developing content that resonates with the audience, and providing creative concepts to the Senior Director. This includes overseeing the inflow and outflow of information to keep all stakeholders informed and involved. The Communications Specialist will also engage in photography for special events, coordinate media appointments, and work closely with church media to ensure a seamless flow of information. The position may require occasional after-hours assignments, primarily on school nights, to capture events and engage with the community. Overall, the Communications Specialist is expected to embody the values of PCA and contribute to a culture of excellence in communication.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the research and creative writing for all school communications as assigned by the Senior Director.
• Edit and proofread PCA materials and communications, as assigned.
• Assist department personnel and divisional representatives in implementing strategies for promoting PCA and its personnel and students within the school and the greater community.
• Research and produce feature stories for media placement, as well as in new communication tactics, channels, and media.
• Provide creative concepts, ideas, and vision casting to the Senior Director.
• Assist in the creation of communications plans for divisions and departments that meet stated goals and provide consistent branding for PCA.
• Photograph special events for use in storytelling.
• Research creative concepts used in today's culture and in academia to create original communications efforts for PCA.
• Manage, monitor, and develop content for PCA social media pages.
• Serve as a consultant to the Senior Director on communication tactics including outlets, message, and tone.
• Produce marketing and communication on school-wide projects as assigned by the Senior Director, involving advising communication outlets such as video production, graphic design, web layout, social media, and writing.
• Establish and develop consistent mediums of communication that share the goals and objectives of the school.
• Oversee the inflow and outflow of information to keep everyone associated informed and involved.
• Coordinate media appointments with staff, coaches, and students for photo/video shoots, interviews, etc.
• Work with church media and communications to ensure visibility and flow of PCA information.
• Occasional afterhours assignments (mostly school nights).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required in either Communications or Public Relations.
• Preferred three years of proven experience in Communications or Public Relations.
• Excellent organization, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Proficiency preferred in graphic design programs, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign), content management sites (including websites and social media interfaces); Adobe Acrobat, etc.; PowerPoint, Excel (Mac usage).
• Proficiency required in creative and marketing writing skills.
• Proficiency required in content development for website, news placement, social media.
• Editing and proofreading skills, as well as knowledge of proofreader's marks.
• Strong communications and public relations background.
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and messages both inside and outside PCA.
• Ability to plan strategically to arrive at short- and long-term solutions.
• Commitment to PCA's Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Core Values.
• Ability to retain confidential information.
• Knowledgeable in print production including preparing documents for print, estimations, and production materials.
• Ability to multi-task projects that require knowledge in writing, video production, graphic design, web layout/programming, and social media.
• Prestonwood Baptist Church member preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a Christian educational environment.
• Familiarity with community engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of current trends in communications and public relations.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible scheduling options.