Communications Manager

The ideal candidate will play a critical role in shaping the way for one of the leading international standard schools in Dhaka. You will be responsible for developing and implementing internal communications strategies and plans that engage, align, and inspire employees with the company's vision and business strategy, and drive stakeholders' understanding and engagement on company priorities and key initiatives throughout different channels.

Responsibilities

Brand Integrity

• Ensure that all Academy communications materials, and those for external use in particular, support the notion of excellence in education through their presentation and messaging, based on the framework provided by the various communications guidelines (currently under development).
• Ensure that all communications materials intended for publication in any media are shared with Academies Unit communications staff in a timely manner during the development process and prior to publication to ensure consistency of messaging, approach, style and visual identity across the Academies network.
• Review and proofread communications materials for grammar, style and messaging prior to publishing in electronic or print media.
• Ensure that communications materials adhere to the Academies style guide (currently under development).
• Ensure that communications materials adhere to the Academies visual identity guidelines (currently under development).
• Advise others/individual departments at the Academy on the development and production of communications materials, according the framework provided by the guidelines documents.

Website

• Ensure that the core content on the school website is reviewed regularly and kept up to date (e.g. faculty list).
• Work with others at the Academy to generate news stories, including both text and images, for the website. This could include reporting on events directly and/or reviewing and editing articles written by others (teachers, students, other staff)
• Post time-sensitive content to the website on a timely basis (e.g. weekly menu, news articles, alerts on upcoming events and important dates, In the Press articles, updates to the school calendar, school newsletters).
• Coordinate the writing/editing of spotlights that highlight members of the Academy community (students, parents, faculty).
• Contribute to and/or write feature articles for the website and the Academies network newsletter.
• Regularly review website analytics to gauge audience response and plan content development and communications initiatives more strategically.

Social Media

• Manage and oversee Academy-based social media platforms (currently primarily Facebook), in consultation with AU communications.
• Repost news articles and other relevant information on social media platforms.
• Gather insights from analytics and other tools to measure audience engagement.
• Contribute to social media strategic thinking and planning to expand the Academy's online reach.

Media and Public Relations

• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team and the Admissions Department to develop a marketing/communications strategy to ensure the Academy's mission is well-understood by prospective parents and families, as well as other important stakeholders.
• Develop press releases and other media materials for high-profile Academy events, in collaboration with AU communications.
• Act as the Academy's primary liaison and focal point and/or external public relations and media staff. This may include organizing facility trips, developing story ideas, monitoring progress, fact-checking and providing editorial feedback on press releases.
• Archive final press releases, published stories, roadmaps and media coverage, with copies to the central Academies communications archive.
• Assist the Admissions Department by developing materials to promote internal and external events, such as Open days and Marketing events, in order to raise awareness of the Academy in the local and international community.
• Taking an active part to promote and record important school or parental events e.g., Personal Project Presentations, PYP exhibition.

Mentorship

• Work with students and teachers to develop the skills and habits needed for reporting on school news for the website. This will include:

o Establishing and coordinating a student enrichment journalism club: mentoring students in developing journalism (writing and photography) skills, coordinating reporting, reviewing and editing assignments, and ensuring awareness of issues such as consent and bias in reporting.

o Working with teachers, senior leadership and other staff to develop a culture of communication and reporting on Academy events and activities.

o Providing professional development and capacity building to Academy staff and faculty to foster familiarity with the communications guides.

Market Research

• In conjunction with other Academy staff and AU communications, identify areas/audiences for market research to help tailor communications strategy and initiatives.
• Liaise with market researcher/s and contribute as needed to market research efforts.

Audio-visual Coordination

• Film and edit short videos on events and activities at the Academy and/or work with students and teachers to develop these.
• In collaboration with AU communications, work with external audio-visual teams on video materials on the Academy, including developing story ideas, visit planning and coordination, storyboarding and review of materials produced. Archive all video materials produced locally and in the central Academies communications archive.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in communications/media studies or a related field, or equivalent experience in Communications
• 7-10+ years of relevant experience
• Strong oral communication and excellent writing and editing skills in English. Fluency and literacy in the national language would be an asset.
• The awareness and ability to direct and produce content across various platforms, including online, print, and audio-visual.
• Interest and ability to work with digital media and content management systems.
• Sense of audience awareness and the importance of tailoring content for different audience groups.
• High degree of efficiency and responsiveness, especially regarding time-sensitive issues.
• Professionalism and sensitivity to issues of confidentiality.
• Attention to detail.
• Mentorship skills.
• The ability to collaborate and work constructively as part of a team.
• High degree of efficiency and responsiveness, especially regarding time-sensitive issues.
• Strong organisational and multi-tasking skills.
• Professionalism and sensitivity to issues of confidentiality.

Additional Preference

• Master's degree in communication.
• Females are encouraged to apply.
• Intercultural appreciation and sensitivity. Able to appreciate diverse cultural contexts and perspectives and use them effectively.