Career Center

Lakeside School, an independent 5-12 coeducational day school located in North Seattle, is currently recruiting for a digital communications specialist: a full-time, year-round staff position at a values-focused school that is setting the bar in education. You’ll be part of a collaborative team working to communicate the mission and work of the Lakeside School to alumni, employees, parents and guardians, students, donors, and the public. This position is based out of our hybrid office on Lakeside’s beautiful campus in North Seattle, one block from a light rail station set to open in 2024.

You:

1. Love to share compelling stories of excellence using words, imagery, and video.
2. Take pride of ownership of major projects and bring a client-services approach in helping colleagues accomplish their project goals and do their best work.
3. Bring a strategic mindset to social media, crafting content that capitalizes on the strengths and audiences of different platforms.
4. Are equally comfortable with Google Analytics and talking to middle schoolers to collect quantitative and qualitative data and make data-driven decisions.
5. Demonstrate curiosity, honesty, and respect when working with people of all ages and a variety of backgrounds.
6. Enjoy helping people of all ages and abilities understand and embrace digital tools and ways of communicating.
7. Are interested in working at every level – from setting communications strategy to updating the web calendar.
8. Are committed to playing an active role to making the school an inclusive and equitable workplace and learning environment.
9. Appreciate the youthful energy of our diverse community of students and being part of the support network that helps them thrive.

Responsibilities

1. Conceptualize, design, author or shoot, and produce digital communications and digital media – primarily for the website, email, and social media – taking into account intended use, audience, budget, and the project’s and the school's goals and objectives.
   1. Website: Using the website’s content management system, create and curate both static and dynamic content (including text, images, and video) for the school’s website, hosted by Finalsite.
   2. Email communications: Design and maintain templates and distribution groups, create and send single-topic messages and newsletters, and train users on email newsletters the sent by the school.
   3. Social media: Create fresh, engaging content for Lakeside’s social media feeds, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo. In addition to managing the official feeds, collaborate with and oversee the use of social media by other campus groups, including students and adults.
2. Manage the content management system (CMS) for the school’s website, email newsletters, and branded emails. Deliver client services to school programs and offices using the CMS, including training and supporting colleagues, troubleshooting issues, overseeing content, and ensuring best practices in digital communications and media.
3. Ensure best practices and quality standards in digital communications and media, including techniques, content, and format, both within the communications office and throughout the school.
4. Using Google Analytics and reports from the CMS, analyze the effectiveness of communications tools in reaching intended audiences. Collaborate on collecting qualitative data collection from community members. Report conclusions and make recommendations for improving school communications.
5. Manage the school’s emergency alert system, maintaining templates and sending alerts when needed.
6. Coordinate with the technology and business offices to validate accurate data transfers between the website and other information systems (e.g.: student information system).
7. Facilitate and supervise creative and professional services from outside vendors and consultants, including our website provider Finalsite.
8. Provide support to communications projects, including setting institutional communications strategy; proofreading; shooting and editing photography, etc. Desired skills and qualifications Applicants should ideally have a minimum of three years of successful experience working in marketing or communications, preferably in a values-driven organization or business.
9. Demonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions. The candidate will understand different perspectives; interact respectfully with cultures other than their own; and cultivate meaningful relationships with people that have different cultural frameworks.
10. Candidates must satisfactorily complete two criminal history background checks. 

Applicants should possess excellent skills in writing, editing, and spoken communication. They should be strategic and thoughtful collaborators with excellent listening skills; lifelong learners with the ability to take initiative and work independently; and responsive to deadlines and detail oriented. They should have a demonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions.

Technical skills: Computer proficiency is required, with extensive experience with Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel) and a working knowledge of Google Workspace tools, photography, and photo and video editing software. Candidates should have demonstrated professional experience with content management systems, mass-mailing email platforms, Google Analytics, and social media. Experience in digital marketing preferred, including Google Ads, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and social media sponsorship. A basic knowledge of HTML is a plus.

The salary range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000.

Application Process
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume detailing their interest in the position. Finalists will be asked to submit three to five examples of work, with brief information detailing their role in each project, and three references