Manager, Communications

Location: Community Relations and Communications
Classification: Administrative
Reports to: Director, Community Relations and Communications
Supervisory: Yes
Salary Grade: 206A – Supervisor/Administrative Salary Schedule
Terms of Employment: 12 months (260 days), 8-hours a day
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Manager, Communications supports the Director, Community Relations and Communications in providing operational oversight of the creation, planning, organization, and coordination of operations and activities related to strategic internal and external communications through web, the intranet, social media, video and audio messages, media relations, community engagement, crisis communications and other communications functions. 

Essential Performance Responsibilities

Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential performance responsibilities listed below.

1. Actively participates in organizational meetings and projects, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. Contributes ideas and supports colleagues to achieve common goals.
2. Demonstrates a commitment to personal and professional growth by seeking out learning opportunities and embracing feedback. Strives for excellence in all tasks and responsibilities.
3. Provides exceptional service to internal and external customers, ensuring their needs are met with efficiency and empathy. Maintains a positive and proactive attitude in all interactions.
4. Encourages and implements innovative solutions to improve processes and outcomes. Is open to new ideas and approaches and contributes to a culture of creativity and forward-thinking.
5. Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality. 
6. Develops strategic communication programs and projects to support the mission and goals of the district.
7. Supports and expands the district’s brand through campaigns, publications, and other materials to promote the district and increase public awareness of success in schools.
8. Provides production oversight of communications programs and projects, including web-based media to meet deadlines and comply with quality standards; ensures program activities comply with district standards, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
9. Supports and updates crisis communication plans; represents the Communications Office during crisis situations, trainings, and drills.
10. Provides support to schools and departments for parent/guardian messaging during crisis incidents and for large-scale events. Develops and facilitates communication to parents, staff, and students during incidents.
11. Interfaces with district employees, the media, various agencies, the community, and the public to gather and provide internal and external communication.
12. Writes, edits, and distributes news releases, publications, scripts, and other materials, as assigned.
13. Maintains positive relationships and contact with the media to promote school and district activities or respond to media inquiries.
14. Tracks media inquiries, news stories and social media topics about the district; informs leadership about news coverage to help address community issues and works to improve the perception of the district. 
15. Supports the development, implementation, and promotion of partnerships between businesses and schools to increase student achievement and improve high school graduation rates.
16. Oversees and supports community engagement initiatives and programs that successfully work with diverse communities and populations.
17. Serves as the backup public information officer for the district.
18. Performs other duties related to the position, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge and understanding of district policies, procedures, and standards.
2. Knowledge of strategic communications planning, utilizing RPIE or a similar framework. 
3. Knowledge of social media strategy, tactics, and best practices.
4. Knowledge of public information, broadcasting and journalism practices, procedures, techniques, and requirements.
5. Knowledge of current social media platforms and trends in digital communications, including requirements for creating and disseminating information through means other than print and broadcast.
6. Knowledge of various cultural groups and cross-cultural techniques.
7. Knowledge of local community resources for families and how to access services.
8. Skill in strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
9. Skill in writing comprehensive talking points, video scripts, speeches, statements, correspondence, and other materials under tight timelines during high-pressure or crisis situations.
10. Skill in developing clear, targeted messages, identifying appropriate audiences, and managing issues with accuracy and strategic insight.
11. Ability to build positive and productive relationships.
12. Ability to respond to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous, and empathetic manner, representative of our core values.
13. Ability to model the routine, intentional, and effective use of technology in daily work, including communications, organization, and management tasks.
14. Ability to exercise good judgment, insight, self-awareness, integrity, and cultural responsiveness when interacting with diverse employee groups, students, patrons, and partners of SKPS.
15. Ability to identify existing or emerging communications opportunities and initiate application for the district.
16. Ability to write and speak clearly, concisely, and when appropriate, in a compelling manner.

Position Requirements

Any combination of training, experience, and/or education may be considered in meeting these position requirements.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, or related field. 

Experience

1. Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience writing, directing, and producing communication plans, communication campaigns or other experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job responsibilities. 
2. Experience leading significant communication plans.
3. Advanced experience using different media including web, social media, video, and traditional platforms to communicate messages and expand reach with varied audiences.
4. Experience with managing crisis communications.
5. Demonstrated experience in a K-12 educational environment preferred.

Licenses, Certificates, and Other Requirements

Possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license and availability of private transportation (mileage reimbursement provided). 

Working Conditions

Physical Demands

1. Constantly (more than 5.6 hours or 69% of the day): Hearing, Sitting.  
2. Frequently (Between 2.6 hours and 5.5 hours or 33% to 68% of the day): Color vision, Fine motor skills and manual dexterity for precise, hand and finger movements, Repetitive motion.
3. Occasionally (Up to 2.5 hours or 32% of the day): Multi-limb Coordination, Standing, Walking
4. Rarely: (Less than 1 hour or 12% of the day): Balancing, Carrying/Lifting, Climbing, Crawling, Crouching/Kneeling, Pulling/Pushing, Reaching.

Work Type/Physical Demands

Light work: Involves exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, or negligible force constantly to move objects. May also include jobs where use of arm or leg controls requires more effort than sedentary work, even if sitting is the primary activity.

Mental and Psychological Demands

Medium level: Work regularly requires sustained attention, multitasking, and problem-solving in a school or district environment. Stress may increase during peak academic periods, when schedules shift, or when responding to unexpected student, family, or staff needs. Responsibilities may include occasional challenging interactions, managing emotions in sensitive conversations, and at times working under tightened deadlines. Exposure to frustration or criticism from students, families, staff, or community members may occur but is not persistent.

Working Environment

Everyday risk and minimal discomfort: Work is performed in typical school or department office settings with minimal exposure to physical or behavioral hazards. Spaces are clean, climate-controlled, and predictable. Interactions with students, staff, and the public are routine and rarely involve elevated risk beyond normal school operations.

EEO Statement

Salem-Keizer Public School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

Representative Duties

This job description is intended to accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. The district reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.

Revision Date(s):

01/19/2026 – Renamed to Manager, Communications and updated template.