The School
Greens Farms Academy (GFA), students are empowered to do the hard, thrilling, essential work of shaping their own world, of building their own future. More than 700 PreK -12 students come from 23 towns in Fairfield and Westchester counties and form a joyful community that aspires to live by the school’s motto, “Each for All.” Founded in 1925, GFA is situated on a former Vanderbilt estate in a scenic 44-acre campus located in Westport, CT. The school’s highly regarded academic program is built around small class sizes (average 15), mentoring partnership with faculty (8:1 student to teacher ratio), and innovative programs designed to support students’ pursuit of questions that matter to them. The faculty is characterized by its growth mindset - embracing innovation, exploring a range of student-centered approaches, and constantly seeking to better serve its students.
A stunning waterfront campus in Westport, CT, comprises three ecosystems - a salt marsh, Audubon woodlands, and the Long Island Sound - and architecture ranging from a modernized Vanderbilt estate to a state-of-the-art center for arts and global studies. GFA has graduated thousands of compassionate, enterprising, broad-minded women and men - people with the courage and vision to build a better world. The GFA mission plays an essential role in school life: GFA engages students as partners in an innovative, inclusive, and globally-minded community to prepare them for lives of purpose. Faculty and staff have committed that language to memory, along with our core values -- passion, integrity, empathy, curiosity, excellence -- so as to better live out the spirit of those words.
GFA is a suburban school close to major transportation and a five-minute walk from the Greens Farms Metro-North train station. The campus sits on the Long Island Sound, a half-hour south of New Haven and an hour north of New York City by car or commuter train.
The Position
Greens Farms is seeking an experienced and ambitious communications professional to work in partnership with the Director of Institutional Advancement and the Director of Marketing and Special Projects to develop and implement a school-wide communications strategy. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a record of success in creating outstanding communications vehicles that includes all web-based and social media content, the GFA Magazine, the annual report, parent and divisional publications, and various internal communications. Reporting directly to the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Director will be a key member of the Advancement team and will supervise three professional staff members: Athletics Communications Coordinator, Creative Director, and Media Manager.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
- Tell GFA’s story through compelling written and visual content across digital platforms and publications;
- Serve as editor-in-chief of the GFA Magazine;
- Assess the website and ensure that it is innovative, user-friendly, and effective; Oversee, update, and maintain content for the website;
- Set clear direction and priorities for a staff of three professionals and manage and schedule the workflow of the communications team through the assignment of news stories, event coverage, and blog/social media posts;
- Develop and manage budgets for communications and outreach activities, including reporting on results;
- Develop an extensive communications strategy for the forthcoming comprehensive campaign through collaboration with the Advancement team and other key stakeholders;
- Partner with division and department heads to provide specific communications support and training to their team members;
Desired Qualifications and Characteristics
Strong candidates will possess and exhibit the following experience and qualifications:
- Minimum of five years of experience developing and implementing a successful and comprehensive communications program;
- Evidence of strong writing, editing, interpersonal, and presentation skills;
- Solid understanding of the advantages and drawbacks of traditional and emerging media, from print magazines to social media, in conveying information and content in ways that engage and excite constituents;
- Experience in evaluating the strengths of existing communications and identifying opportunities for improvement;
- Keen creative and design sensibilities with a strong understanding of the communications process from creative concept through production and fulfillment;
- Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills;
- Proven ability to mentor, develop, support, and supervise staff, to build relationships and seek alignment across the school, and to manage and work within budgets;
- Strong digital and computer skills with experience in website management, video/photography production, and networked information systems;
- Strong personal integrity and work ethic, as well as a sense of humor and perspective;
- Prior experience in an educational environment (university, college, or independent school), serving numerous internal clients and external constituents;
- Availability for occasional weekend and evening events;
- Bachelor’s degree required.
Greens Farms Academy is an equal opportunity employer.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to: gfahr@gfacademy.org
