CAIS

Communications Manager

Chinese American International School (CAIS) is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to join our team of dedicated teachers, administrators and staff. We are an independent school in San Francisco serving pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students.

The Communications Manager will develop strategic internal and external communications that support the various components of Chinese American International School and the CAIS Institute. The successful candidate will possess a solid capability to create an over-arching strategic communications plan as well as lead the development and deployment of the communication sub-plans of multiple functional groups.

Reporting to the Head of School and working with the leadership team, the Communications Manager will be responsible for guiding all areas of communication for Chinese American International School and the CAIS Institute.

External Communications

• Effective and inspirational articulation of CAIS mission. Develop and maintain messaging for all external communication.
• Maintain and oversee branding guidelines to ensure consistency in visual communications.
• Write and edit diverse communications, including brochures and marketing collateral, press releases, articles, speeches, direct mail and various web and electronic vehicles.
• Manage, write and edit CAIS Connections newsletter and the Annual Report which provides information to parents, donors and outside constituents.
• Develop strategies that enhance the visibility within the school as well as the school's effectiveness in serving its students and families.
• Work with CAIS Institute staff to develop and execute Institute communication strategies that highlight its programs on a national level to educators, the press, and foundations, as well as to the CAIS community.
• Manage PR for CAIS and CAIS Institute through the development and delivery of positioning and messaging to drive demand generation, enhance school and Institute image, and create buzz. Possess an expertise in key messaging development and application to increase brand awareness, as well as content creation and delivery.

Internal Communications

• Facilitate communication between faculty, staff and administration through interdepartmental email and other electronic communication
• Develop effective communication strategies that not only inform parents of school events and successes but also inspire pride and engagement in the school.
• Oversee parent forum on website.

Website

• Overall management of website content and establishment of systems to update information
• Work with webmaster to ensure faculty, staff, administration and parents communicate effectively using website

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in developing communications strategies and communications plans.
• Passion for and commitment to the benefits of our bilingual and bicultural education program.
• Bachelors degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, general business or similar field
• 5+ years of experience writing, editing and project managing in a marketing communications capacity
• 3+ years experience in public relations with a wide variety of PR campaigns and activities, preferably in an agency
• Proven track record across internal and external communications with a communications plan and portfolio of samples. (e.g. extensive collateral, press releases, brochures, datasheets, web content/updates, emails, presentations, etc.)
• Fluency in Mandarin is highly desirable but not required.

Personal Characteristics

• Creativity, flexibility, and maturity.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to innovate.
• Ability to act decisively and demonstrate good judgment in the absence of consensus.
• Ability to establish credibility with multiple constituencies.

Please submit resume with cover letter and three references to:

Elizabeth Leep
Chinese American International School
150 Oak St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
E_leep@cais.org
Fax: (415) 861-0266

Apply Online