Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Summary

The Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications serves as the lead communicator and chief storyteller for Franklin Road Academy (FRA). This individual oversees integrated marketing, public relations, crisis communications, website, and social media efforts, working collaboratively to advance the mission and reputation of FRA. Reporting to the Head of School and the Assistant Head for External Affairs, the Director leads a four-person team and is a key member of the School’s senior leadership team.

Essential Functions

The tasks, duties, and responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Brand Management & Storytelling
• Serve as primary brand manager and chief storyteller for FRA.
• Develop and implement short- and long-term marketing and communication strategies to promote the School’s mission, core values, and strategic vision.
• Collaboration & Outreach
• Partner with Development, Admissions, Athletics, and Head of School (HOS) offices to support their promotional and outreach goals by developing and implementing full-stack marketing campaigns tailored to their needs.
• Act as the project manager for these campaigns, ensuring timely execution, alignment with institutional branding, and effective cross-platform integration.
• Advise and guide Admissions, Development, Alumni Relations, College Counseling, administrators, faculty, and the Parent Association on communications strategies, including messaging, content development, and channel selection.
• Strategic Communications
• Lead crisis communications planning and execution with the Head of School.
• Monitor media coverage, serve as FRA’s media contact, and create press statements.
• Communicate necessary updates and information to the school community in crisis or high-profile situations.
• Content & Editorial Oversight
• Provide editorial direction and creative input for all major FRA publications, including the 4700 magazine, the annual philanthropy report, the admission viewbook, calendars, invitations, and various print and digital materials.
• Uphold editorial and graphic standards, ensuring all external and internal content maintains a cohesive, on-brand look and feel.
• Digital & Social Media Management
• Oversee FRA’s website and social media channels, ensuring regular updates, intentional SEO strategies, and consistency of messaging to optimize visibility and engagement.
• Develop and oversee digital advertisement management, providing data-driven insights to inform campaign strategies and maximize ROI.
• Manage photography, videography, streaming, and on-campus screen displays to engage target audiences and enhance storytelling effectively.
• Budget & Vendor Management
• Develop and manage the annual budget for Marketing and Communications.
• Supervise external consultants, contractors, and agencies to maintain high-quality deliverables.
• Project & Calendar Coordination
• Manage incoming requests to the Communications Office, oversee a strategic communications calendar, and approve and assign event photography requests.
• Coordinate the school-wide marketing calendar to ensure consistency of messages and brand identity across multiple platforms.
• Team Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a four-person communications team, fostering professional growth and collaborative excellence.
• Collaborate with the spirit store leadership and athletic department to ensure adherence to brand standards.
• Community Relations
• Develop and maintain positive media relationships, responding to all press inquiries.
• Represent FRA at special events and act as an ambassador for the School’s values and mission.
• Other Duties
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Head of School.
• Attend and assist with special events as needed.

Qualifications

Education/Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or equivalent work experience.
Required Skills, Abilities, and Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a creative vision, capable of big-picture planning.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and team management.
• Superior writing and editing skills, with keen attention to detail and quality.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse School community stakeholders.
• Experience in website design, email marketing, design, photography, and/or videography.
• Proven track record of managing multiple high-pressure projects while maintaining a calm and solution-oriented approach.
• Strong organizational, presentation, and public speaking skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Inspirational, flexible, efficient, technologically savvy, and joyful in daily work.
• Experienced leader with the ability to build collaborative relationships.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands, fingers, and arms to handle, feel, and reach, and must have the ability to lift office products and supplies up to 20 pounds occasionally.

In compliance with ADA requirements, we will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant.

Additional Responsibilities

The statements in this job description represent the key duties, essential nature, and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be all responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

All employees are expected to support the mission of Franklin Road Academy, and contribute to the overall life of the school.

School Overview

Franklin Road Academy is a coeducational independent day school in Nashville, Tennessee, providing over 1100 pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade students with a challenging educational experience within an inclusive Christian community. FRA sits on a 62-acre campus fifteen minutes from downtown Nashville.