FLSA Status: Exempt| Position Type: Professional | Department: Central Administration | Reports to: Chief Executive Officer | Location: 520 Butler Farm Road, Hampton, VA 23666

 

POSITION SUMMARY

 

The Marketing & Communications Specialist leads organization-wide marketing and communications for New Horizons Regional Education Centers (NHREC). The position promotes NHREC programs, services, accomplishments, events, and opportunities; maintains a consistent organizational brand; and strengthens NHREC's visibility throughout the region.

The position also serves as the primary communications liaison between NHREC and its six participating school divisions: Newport News Public Schools, Hampton City Schools, Gloucester County Public Schools, Poquoson City Public Schools, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, and York County School Division.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement an organization-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with NHREC's mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Promote NHREC programs, student opportunities, accomplishments, events, partnerships, and initiatives through coordinated marketing campaigns and outreach.
• Create and maintain consistent NHREC branding, messaging, and visual standards across programs, departments, and communication channels.
• Develop professional marketing and communication materials, including brochures, flyers, presentations, newsletters, advertisements, signage, digital content, and promotional materials.
• Serve as the primary communications contact for NHREC's six participating school divisions and maintain strong relationships with division communication offices, administrators, counselors, and other designated representatives.
• Coordinate timely distribution of NHREC announcements, program updates, enrollment information, events, marketing materials, and other communications to participating school divisions.
• Respond to school division communication requests and coordinate information, presentations, photographs, promotional materials, and follow-up as needed.
• Manage NHREC's social media presence and website content, including content planning, stories, photographs, videos, program highlights, and engagement analytics.
• Draft and coordinate external communications, including press releases, news stories, organizational announcements, talking points, and media responses in consultation with leadership.
• Support internal communications by developing organization-wide announcements, newsletters, updates, and materials for employees and programs.
• Support student and employee recruitment, community outreach, open houses, recognition events, student showcases, and other organizational events through marketing and communications.
• Build relationships with community organizations, businesses, educational partners, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of NHREC and its impact.
• Perform other related duties and special projects assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent written, verbal, editing, proofreading, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong visual design and content-production skills, with the ability to create effective materials for both print and digital channels.
• Knowledge of marketing, public relations, branding, social media, digital communications, and content development.
• Ability to build effective relationships with program administrators, school division representatives, administrators, employees, community partners, businesses, and the public.
• Strong organizational, project-management, and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace, a graphic design platform, website content management, social media publishing, and basic analytics tools.
• Experience with graphic design and content-creation tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and maintain confidentiality when appropriate.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
• Professional experience writing, designing, and producing marketing materials for print and digital use.
• A portfolio of professional work demonstrating both writing and visual design across multiple formats or audiences.
• Proficiency with a graphic design platform such as Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud and the ability to prepare materials for print or digital publication.
• Experience creating and scheduling social media content and updating website content.

Preferred

• Three or more years of progressively responsible marketing, communications, or public relations experience, including projects managed from planning through delivery..
• Experience in a public-school division, educational organization, government agency, nonprofit organization, or similar public-sector environment.
• Experience with social media management, graphic design, photography/video, website content, or digital marketing.
• Experience with photography, short-form video production and editing, email marketing, digital advertising, website analytics, or print-vendor coordination.
• Experience creating accessible materials for diverse audiences.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Central Office departments, program administrators, school-based staff, participating school division representatives, community partners, businesses, and other external stakeholders to ensure consistent, professional, and effective NHREC communications.

 

INTERNAL APPLICANTS

Internal applicants are not required to complete an online application. To be considered for this position, please submit a Letter of Interest along with a current copy of your resume to the Human Resources Department.