Marketing and Communications  Specialist

Opportunity Statement

Villa Academy is an inclusive independent school community dedicated to developing the whole child in the Cabrinian tradition of “education of the heart.” Through dynamic, inquiry-based learning, Villa students become active agents of their own intellectual growth in preparation for lives of service and purpose. 

Villa Academy seeks a full-time Marketing and Communications Specialist to join its team beginning December 15th. As a member of the Institutional Advancement Office, working in partnership [with departments] across the school, the Marketing and Communications Specialist helps promote external and internal awareness and understanding of Villa Academy and all that it has to offer. This full-time position will aid in driving interest from new families considering Villa for their children, and promote current families’ understanding of the value of a Villa education via social media, the website, print and digital marketing materials, and more. The successful candidate will bring a fresh perspective to the creation of visual content, helping to distinguish Villa as a leader in independent school education in Seattle. Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Marketing and Communications Specialist will help to ensure brand fluency and consistency by members of the internal community, while promoting Villa’s brand externally. 

The ideal candidate is a positive, enthusiastic, creative individual, eager to share their vision through effective multimedia storytelling. They will find joy in communicating all of the gifts and assets of Villa Academy, and appreciate the vantage points of multiple constituents: current and prospective students, faculty/staff, and families. They will enjoy working within a team setting of shared ideas and constructive feedback, and embrace the child-, community-, and justice-centered mission of Villa. 

Essential Responsibilities 

Graphic Design & Visual Content Creation

• Design and produce visual materials for digital and print, including templates, signage, event promotions, advertisements, brochures, flyers, social media graphics, and presentation materials
• Ensure brand consistency across all communications platforms and materials
• Maintain design standards and templates for school-wide use
• Create compelling visual content that highlights school activities and community achievements

Photography & Videography

• Create and maintain photography and videography for marketing, communications, and school publications
• Document school events through photography and videography for promotional use
• Maintain organized archives of photo and video assets
• Edit photos and videos for use across multiple platforms

Social Media Management & Digital Advertising

• Manage Villa Academy's social media presence across multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Create and execute Google Ads and social media marketing campaigns throughout the year
• Maintain paid media advertising calendar
• Develop engaging social media content that showcases school life and community

Website & Digital Content

• Update the school's website with fresh content (front-end content and back-end functionality)
• Update indoor and outdoor electronic messaging systems as needed
• Apply basic SEO principles and HTML/CSS knowledge to optimize digital content

Communications Support

• Produce and distribute regular e-newsletters, including content gathering, writing, editing, visual selection, and calendar updates
• Create engaging feature articles and marketing content for various platforms
• Support the development of an annual editorial calendar for communications and campaigns

Collaboration & Support

• Work with the Director of Institutional Advancement, administrators, faculty, and staff to develop stories and visual content
• Coordinate with external vendors (printers, advertisers, photographers, videographers)
• Attend school meetings and events (including occasional evenings and weekends) to capture content and support communications efforts
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Institutional Advancement

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in graphic design, marketing, communications, or related field preferred
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in graphic design, digital media, or communications
• Experience in education or nonprofit environments preferred

Technical Proficiencies

• Design Tools (Required): Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Canva, or Lucidpress
• Software: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, iMovie
• Digital Marketing: Website content management systems (Finalsite currently used at Villa), social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Bonus Skills: SEO principles, basic HTML/CSS

Core Competencies

• Creative: Strong graphic design, photography, and video editing abilities with demonstrated portfolio showcasing print, digital, photo, and video work
• Communication: Solid writing, editing, and proofreading skills with ability to tell compelling stories visually and in text
• Organization: Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, communicate clearly, and meet deadlines
• Professional: Self-motivated, creative, collaborative, with strong problem-solving abilities

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for school events
• Experience working with vendors helpful
• Commitment to the mission of Villa Academy and ability to represent the school in a professional, relational, and ethical manner
• Commitment to ongoing professional growth and curiosity, cultural humility, and antiracism

SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:

Anticipated salary is $65,000–$68,000/year, dependent upon education and experience. Villa Academy offers a robust benefits package for full-time employees, including employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, retirement plan with employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, free parking, potential for graduate school tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Please email items below to villa-hiring@thevilla.org, preferably in one PDF document: 

• A cover letter detailing interest in and readiness for the role. 
• A current resume including relevant experience and three professional references.

Villa Academy is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal rules and regulations. Villa Academy does not discriminate in admission, access, treatment, or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender presentation, sex, sexual orientation, creed, age, national origin, marital status or ability.

About Villa Academy

Villa Academy is an inclusive independent school community dedicated to developing the whole child in the Cabrinian tradition of “education of the heart.” Through dynamic, inquiry-based learning, Villa Academy students become active agents of their own intellectual growth in preparation for lives of service and purpose.

Connections working at Villa Academy