Director of Communications and Marketing

Full-Time: 12-month employee, benefits-eligible

Start Date:

July 1, 2026 with flexibility for timing based on mutual availability

Paideia is a pre-K-12 independent school of over 1,000 students in the Emory University area of Atlanta. Paideia was started in 1971 by a small group of parents and educators who wanted a school that educated children with respect for their individuality. The school was founded on the idea that children have unique interests and abilities, and that they grow and develop at their own pace.

The ancient Greek word Paideia conveys the concept of a child's total education: intellectual, artistic, and social. After many years and considerable growth in size and programs, Paideia remains true to the ideas that inspired it and brought it into existence. Today, Paideia is the leading progressive school in the southeast.

For more information about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, our focus on both social and emotional learning with rigorous academic offerings and opportunities for extra curricular learning, please visit our website deiaschool.org

Duties and Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the position will evolve and change alongside the various rhythms and routines of the school year. It is a multifaceted position with duties that range from sending day-to-day messages to guiding long term marketing strategies. This position will lead, in collaboration with the admissions and advancement teams, the strategic communications and marketing initiatives that align with Paideia's Framework of Values.

This position reports directly to the Director of Advancement and will include close collaboration with the Head of School, the level principals, and, as noted above, the Directors of Advancement and Admissions.

The Director of Communications supervises the social media manager and the webmaster.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to;

• Develop and implement overall communications strategy for Paideia that includes the website, print materials, social media, and digital media content,
• Oversee and direct all mass communications as a writer, editor or reviewer and set the tone and provide guidance for general communication about the school,
• Oversee the school's internal and external website, including developing, updating and posting content, exploring and developing new features,
• Collaborate with other departments and the academic programs in the production of marketing materials ( admissions viewbooks / development department materials / video production),
• Expand Paideia's presence across emerging platforms, leveraging data and analytics to optimize campaigns and audience reach. Plan and execute all advertising campaigns, including web, SEO/SEM, email, social media, and print,
• Maintain and analyze digital metrics, such as website traffic, email open rates, and social media figures; work directly Directors of Advancement and Admission to understand their goals,
• Serve as primary contact and outreach between the school and all local, regional and national media sources,
• Build relationships with parents and students to strengthen communication and foster community,
• Work collaboratively with teachers and administrators to understand the benefits of Paideia's programs,
• Understand key audiences within and outside of the Paideia community to shape and share Paideia stories,
• Compile, write and edit information for the weekly electronic newsletter and the print magazine, and provide strategy and direction for faculty and staff contributors,
• Oversee photography at on and off campus events, manage digital image databases and photo archives, and lead organization of digital assets for digital and print publications,
• Act as counsel to the Head of School in crisis management and best practices in communication and marketing,
• Manage the communications budget.

Requirements:

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications or marketing. A Master's is preferred. Applicants should have:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in independent schools or non-profit organizations in marketing and communications,
• Demonstrated leadership skills,
• Exception…