Lakeside School

SEATTLE, WA
Communications Director to take office in late January 2009

Lakeside School is an independent coeducational day school offering a broad curriculum in the liberal arts. Founded in 1919, the school enrolls 776 students in grades 5 through 12 from diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds.
The mission of Lakeside School is to develop in intellectually capable young people the creative minds, healthy bodies, and ethical spirits needed to contribute wisdom, compassion, and leadership to a global society. We provide a rigorous, dynamic academic program through which effective educators lead students to take responsibility for learning. We are committed to sustaining a school in which individuals representing diverse cultures and experiences instruct one another in the meaning and value of community and in the joy and importance of lifelong learning.

This position will be a full-time, year-round administrative staff appointment beginning in January 2009. The position requires repetitive work, standing/sitting, and walking up stairs and to other parts of campus (by law, Washington State ADA)

Responsibilities. The Communications Director, reporting directly to the Director of Development, bears overall responsibility for Lakeside’s communications, public and media relations, and marketing. The position’s essential purposes are (1) to create and promote an effective, compelling image of the school for internal/external audiences; (2) to develop comprehensive communications strategies for marketing, public relations, and constituent relations; (3) to be the school’s representative to the media; (4) to communicate accurately and creatively to Lakeside’s constituents information about all facets of school life; and (5) to take advantage of opportunities for appropriate public relations through print and electronic media. The Communications Director participates in senior-management-level meetings and supervises two staff members. General responsibilities include: (1) implementing strategic public relations that support all aspects of the school’s work; (2) advising and supporting key offices on their internal and external communications efforts; (3) managing the production of print communications materials and other documents essential to Lakeside’s development and admissions work; (4) managing an effective, efficient, upgraded Web site for the school; and (5) being the school’s media liaison. Specific responsibilities include:

  1. Coordinating all communications efforts with the school’s other offices and programs and collaborating with them on project management/production and public relations;
  2. Working with consultants as appropriate on public relations, marketing, and Web-site development;
  3. Applying best-practice techniques to design, development, content, and updates for the school’s Web site;
  4. Producing school publications (admissions/development materials, Lakeside magazine, Inside Lakeside newsletter, stationery, other print materials as needed)—including conceptualizing, soliciting content, writing/editing, proofreading, and coordinating all phases of layout up to printing and distribution;
  5. Establishing good working relationships with local print and broadcast media to ensure that the Lakeside “story” is communicated accurately and effectively to as many publics as possible.

Qualifications. A bachelor’s degree is required, and a master’s degree will be preferred; ideally, coursework and/or the degree program(s) will have emphasized communications, business and marketing, journalism, and writing or design. Applicants with three to five years of successful experience in managing a communications program, preferably in an educational setting, and those who have pioneered electronic methods of communications and public relations will be preferred. Applicants must have strong project management skills, including the ability to lead multiple departments under simultaneous deadlines, on time and within budget. Work products (interviewed applicants will need to show a portfolio) should demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practices of marketing and public relations; expertise in desktop publishing and/or Web-site management; and strong writing/editing and/or design skills. Computer (PC/Windows and Macintosh platforms) proficiency is required. References should address the candidate’s ability to meet deadlines; to be poised and articulate in a variety of settings; to possess a good sense of humor, and to work collaboratively, effectively, and harmoniously with other adults in an educational setting.

Salary/Benefits. Lakeside School is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding employees through a compensation plan that compares favorably with those of peer schools both locally and nationwide. Individual salary levels—negotiable depending on education and experience—are very competitive. A full benefits package includes TIAA/CREF retirement and generous medical/dental coverage, comparable to the best plans in private industry. Lakeside’s down-payment assistance program (available after successful evaluation) supports first-time home purchases in the Puget Sound area.

Application Process. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter of interest, and references to Search Consultant Judith Glickman of Educators’ Collaborative. 
jglickman@educatorscollaborative.com.
(415) 655-9974  
(415) 606-8184. 

Lakeside School is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking to diversify its workplace.