Career Center

Brentwood School inspires every student to:

Think critically and creatively.

Act ethically.

Shape a future with meaning.

BRENTWOOD SCHOOL

Chief Communications Officer

THE POSITION

Brentwood School, a vibrant and diverse K-12 independent school, is seeking a Chief Communications Officer (CCO). The CCO is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of all Brentwood School communications/PR, marketing, and crisis communications activities, both external and internal. In this newly created position, Brentwood is seeking to hire a seasoned communications professional who will serve as a member of the school’s leadership team and report directly to the Head of School.

The ideal candidate needs to possess a proactive, strategic approach and the proven managerial and execution skills needed to guide and give life to Brentwood’s communications goals now and into the future. With an attention to detail that ensures all activities across print, website, digital / social media are executed flawlessly and done in a relevant and timely way that advances the mission, programs, and goals of the school, the CCO will lead a dedicated communications team of four.

The position will require the CCO to leverage the personalities, voices, and stories of Brentwood School to develop the school’s core messaging and work to translate that into positive attention on both local and, ideally, national levels. This also includes helping draw attention to Brentwood’s many programs and initiatives which position Brentwood as a leader, both in the field of education and in terms of its impact on the Veteran and greater Los Angeles communities. The CCO serves as a member of the senior administrative team and reports directly to the Head of School.

 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Collaborate with senior administrators, the board of trustees, and other key stakeholders across the school community to plan public relations, marketing, and media (including all social platforms) strategies and follow them through flawlessly
• Lead the communications team, manage the department’s budget, and supervise contract partners and vendors as needed
• Develop, implement, and evaluate an annual communications plan across the organization’s audiences and the portfolio of brands owned and operated by Brentwood School
• Leverage a multi-faceted set of traditional and non-traditional communication channels that will inform and engage audiences
• Build and nurture relationships with local, regional, national and international press outlets and stakeholders to advance and expand Brentwood School’s position and profile in the media
• Pitch the school’s vibrant programs to media outlets
• Ensure all internal communications are aligned with Brentwood School’s external communication efforts, tying all marketing activity back to organizational goals
• Oversee the school’s organizational response to inquiries about Brentwood School, including press inquiries and requests
• Identify significant media issues that are relevant to Brentwood School and create and implement plans to leverage them
• Proactively manage and coordinate all media outreach and media events, including providing on-site support for crisis situations
• Create a comprehensive crisis communications plan which includes crisis protocols and skeletal talking points, media holding statements and internal communications that address a variety of potential scenarios
• Prep Head of School or other spokespersons in advance of any and all interactions with press/media and serve as the spokesperson for the school when appropriate.
• Monitor media coverage, alerts, and social media outlets in order to track and provide notifications
• Engage fully in the daily life of the school, including attending student performances, athletics events, and social activities
• Work closely with the Head of School and members of the Brentwood Leadership Team to foster the strength of the entire school
• Evening and weekend work may be required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Brentwood School is interested in candidates who can support, articulate, and promote a mission-driven, inclusive and equitable student-centered model of education. Along with excellent organizational and leadership skills, ideal candidates will have backgrounds that demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:

• A warm, approachable presence on campus that invites and respects the views of others yet is decisive when needed
• The energy, patience, and flexibility necessary to work effectively with a variety of constituents
• Personal integrity with a sense of humor and humility
• A deep understanding and appreciation for diversity and a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
• Professional expertise with multiple traditional and non-traditional channels of communication, including a strong working knowledge of digital communication channels, processes, and advanced skills with various social media tools
• Demonstrated planning and project management skills, combined with the ability to balance vision, creative thinking, and analytical rigor to meet the articulated goals
• Talented writer and meticulous editor across all aspects of communication
• Facile with understanding and assessing complex issues and translating them into clear messaging
• Effective communicator with extraordinary attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to use good judgment and maintain confidentiality
• Collaborative approach to leadership that motivates, inspires, and supports team members
• Promotes a methodology that enables the school to qualitatively and quantitatively measure communications and marketing strategy
• Ability to analyze metrics and draw actionable conclusions
• A lifelong learner who uses the latest research within the field of communications to complement their own experiences
• Engages in professional and personal development and commit to growth in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Participates in and initiates opportunities that demonstrate one's growth, knowledge, and skills
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• At least 10 years of experience across the following disciplines: media relations, internal and external communications, crisis management, and/or marketing and branding

COVID vaccination and Booster will be required for this position unless candidate has a legally valid exemption

Brentwood School is dedicated to the creation of a diverse faculty and staff that better represents our student body and the city of Los Angeles. For further information about Brentwood School, please visit the school’s website: www.bwscampus.com.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and three references electronically to:

Amelia Hollis

Assistant to the Head of School and Associate Head of School

Administrative Liaison to the Board of Trustees

100 S. Barrington Place

Los Angeles, CA 90049

ahollis@bwscampus.com