Director of Advancement and School Communication

Description

Mountaintop Montessori is looking for a dynamic and creative team player for the position of Director of Advancement and School Communication. This is a full-time and year-round position at the school. Please read the description below for more detailed information. The ideal candidate will have experience with independent schools or non-profit organizations, and a record of successful fundraising and/or community building experiences. Excellent time management and organizational skills, and a passion for progressive education are a must. Mountaintop is the largest Montessori School in the Charlottesville area with programs serving approximately 230 children from 18 months through 8th grade. We are fully accredited by the American Montessori Society and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. Please submit a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position, a resume, and a sample written, video, or social media campaign. Materials should be emailed to pcolby@mountaintopmontessori.org. Applications will be reviewed as received. This is a full-time position and includes a comprehensive benefit package with a starting salary range of 45,000-50,000. As a condition of employment, a criminal background check and fingerprinting are required. Mountaintop is committed to offering equal employment opportunities in all of its employment practices. Mountaintop does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy or family makeup, age, socio-economic level, disability, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, or any other category. Mountaintop is committed to ensuring that non-discrimination applies to all areas of employment.

Job Duties

The Director of Advancement and School Communications at Mountaintop oversees two critical and closely related areas of the school’s vision and strategic mission in close collaboration with the Head of School. Approximately 60% of the time is focused on advancement efforts and 40% is focused on communication goals. As the Director of Advancement, this position plans and implements programs and events that meet the fundraising needs of the school. The person in this position plays an important role in developing plans for the school’s philanthropic, stewardship, and community building initiatives. As the Director of School Communication, the person in this position maintains the school’s brand image across all platforms of communication including the design, message and production oversight responsibility for the school’s print, digital, and media communications in collaboration with appropriate staff and volunteer groups to create a mission appropriate, positive and consistent image at the school. Responsibilities in school advancement Plan and facilitate all development and fundraising operations of the school in coordination with the Head of School Maintain donor database and related financial records Oversee the Annual Fund, capital and restricted gift campaigns Identify, cultivate, solicit, and appreciate major donors within the school community Serve as a liaison and coordinator of the Board of Trustees Development Committee and Parent Association. Oversee the presentation of the Spring Auction, Fall Festival, and other school fundraising events Cultivate and solicit parent volunteers Track donations and report campaign status to the Head of School and the school community Track and engage school alumni Responsibilities in school communication Direct the internal and external communications efforts of the school. Maintain and manage ParentSquare Produce an Annual Report Distribute newsletters and community-wide messages to parents, donors, grandparents, alumni and staff Oversee all photography and graphic design Update and maintain informational brochures about the school including admission materials, school handbooks, and other publicity materials. Manage all school social media accounts Design and distribute advertisements and press releases to local publications and media outlets Design and order school merchandise With the support of the parent association, coordinate and plan all major events at the school, including but not limited to the Fall Festival, Auction, School Appreciation Week, and Grandparents day. Support the administrative operations of the school. Attend weekly administrator meetings and monthly faculty meetings Support arrival and dismissal routines as needed Support small event support as needed, including parent education events, assemblies, etc. Other Functions: Hire, train and supervise Advancement Office staff and volunteers Manage relationships with all contracted designers, photographers, fundraising volunteers and consultants Maintain equipment and materials used for marketing and communication

Skills Required

3-5 years of experience in Education or Nonprofit Administration A higher education degree related to any of the duties in this position is preferred (Marketing, Advancement, Writing, Public Relations, Nonprofit administration, etc.). Strategic thinker who is well-connected, highly organized, and outgoing. Self-directed, able to prioritize work and meet deadlines. Excellent written and oral communication skills Ability to interact with all levels of the school community Collaborative team member who enjoys being around children Ability to motivate, direct and train people Mastery of word processing, spreadsheets, email and office management systems Effective written and oral communication skills Basic command of design and creative software, such as Adobe Creative Suite Ability to deal with moderate to high levels of stress related to time constraints and hazards of the job.

Work Schedule

8am-4pm Monday-Friday Works various/flexible hours as needed including occasional evening and weekend hours