Academic Communication Specialist JobID: 13513 + Position Type: Specialist/Supervisor/Technician/ Specialist + Date Posted: 10/17/2024 + Location: ELSC + Date Available: ASAP    Department: Academic Curriculum Department Reports to: Chief Academic Officer Position Overview The Academic Communications Specialist will play a pivotal role in supporting the Academic Curriculum Department’s efforts to communicate key initiatives, success stories, and strategic plans to internal and external stakeholders. The specialist will work closely with the Chief Academic Officer to organize and track academic initiatives, gather supporting data, and ensure that the Communications Department is kept informed of progress and outcomes. This position is critical in shaping the narrative around academic excellence and aligning messaging to strengthen the district’s reputation and enrollment growth. Key Responsibilities + Serve as the primary liaison between the Academic Curriculum, Data, and Communications Departments. + Regularly attend meetings with the Chief Academic Officer to take detailed notes, organize and prioritize initiatives, and assist in developing justifications for proposed strategies. + Check in periodically with Student Support and Services under Curriculum to gather and organize their initiatives, pushing them to the cabinet level and providing updates to the Communications team for strategic storytelling. + Stay informed on Innovation Team initiatives and activities under Curriculum, ensuring that key developments are communicated internally and externally. + Work collaboratively with the district’s data team to gather and analyze academic data, ensuring that data-driven insights support and justify proposed initiatives. + Convey data stories developed in collaboration with the data team, translating complex information into compelling narratives for communication purposes. + Collaborate with the Communications Department to continuously supply updates on new or ongoing initiatives, success stories, and data-driven insights to highlight in district communications. + Assist in crafting compelling narratives that emphasize academic achievements, college and career readiness, and district initiatives. + Support the development of communication materials that align with the district’s strategic goals in academics. + Identify opportunities for promoting the district’s academic initiatives to increase brand awareness and enrollment. + Ensure timely and accurate dissemination of academic-related information across internal and external channels. + Provide support in planning, organizing, and executing special academic events or projects. + Organizing team agendas and staffing plan. Qualifications + Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks. + Excellent listening skills with the ability to take direction and execute efficiently. + Ability to understand and interpret data stories created collaboratively with the data team, and to justify academic initiatives based on these insights. + Experience working in social media or communications, with an understanding of how to leverage storytelling for brand building. + Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. + Self-motivated with a proactive approach to problem-solving and initiative in suggesting new ideas. + Ability to adapt quickly to new responsibilities and a fast-paced environment. Preferred Qualifications + Experience in a school district or educational setting. + Familiarity with content marketing, storytelling, and strategic communication. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and implement ideas contained in technical documents, reports, regulations, etc. Ability to effectively write reports and communications to administrators, colleagues, parents, students, and staff. Ability to effectively present information orally and respond to questions from administrators, teachers, staff, and students REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve problems effectively. Ability to interpret and implement a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, colleagues, community members, staff and students. Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle and/or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk and hear. The employee will frequently use hands and fingers to type/word process, file documents, manipulate papers, and use a copying machine. The employee frequently must squat, stoop or kneel, reach above the head and forward 0 -24 inches and on occasion up to 36 inches. The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp items. The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk while performing the duties of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 0 - 12 feet and occasionally up to 20 feet, such as office materials, desks, chairs, and boxes. The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as tables and carts. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while working with computers, written materials, reports, assessment data, etc. WORK ENVIRONMENT The noise level in the work environment is often quiet but may become loud in large group settings. The position requires the commitment of professional working hours that will require the employee to arrive and leave as directed and will require the employee to extend beyond a typical 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workday. The employee will usually work in indoor temperatures but will be required to work occasionally in outdoor environments. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The Cedar Rapids Community School district is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. Federal law obligates an employer to provide reasonable accommodation for the known disabilities of applicants unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the employer. If you or someone you know requires accommodation in the hiring process, contact the Executive Director of Human Resources at 319-558-2747. The information contained in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.