Director 1 of Academics Communication

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Academics Communications leads internal and external communications for the Academics division, ensuring clear, consistent, and strategic messaging across a staff of 700+ employees. This role coordinates communication with teachers, school and division leaders, manages media inquiries, and supports internal engagement to advance academic priorities and transparency.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1.        Design and execute comprehensive communication plans that align with academic priorities and ensure consistent messaging across all internal and external audiences.
2.        Manage internal communication channels and systems to effectively inform and engage over 700 Academics staff, ensuring clarity around initiatives, priorities, and organizational updates.
3.        Serve as the primary liaison for communication between the Academics division and key stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, and central office leadership.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED

4.        Respond to and coordinate media inquiries in collaboration with the district's communications office, ensuring timely, accurate, and aligned messaging.
5.        Develop and oversee the production of written and digital communications-including newsletters, presentations, reports, and talking points-to support strategic initiatives and leadership messaging.
6.        Lead communication efforts that foster staff engagement, promote a positive organizational culture, and celebrate achievements across the Academics division.
7.        Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's Degree

WORK EXPERIENCE

1 to 3 years

SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION

Microsoft Office

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Management. Manages a department or multiple major disciplines, often through subordinate management. Regularly manages staff in the completion of large-scale projects or a very closely related set of projects/initiatives often spanning multiple disciplines. Receives strategies and broad departmental objectives from senior leadership; establishes operational objectives and work plans; delegates assignments to subordinate management and staff. Allocates resources according to priorities and serves as the primary decision maker regarding hiring, performance, and budget.

WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT

Work is highly complex and broad in scope covering several departments/divisions across HISD. Policy, procedures, and precedents are created and approved by this position. Supervision received typically consists of providing periodic coaching, advice, and feedback.

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Compiles and organizes data and figures.
Analyzes and interprets data and figures.
Specifies requirements for a plan and/or budget.
Participates in a group plan and/or budget development.
Approves budgets.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Greater latitude and discretion are warranted in making decisions, which affect major areas of HISD and possibly the organization's public image. The job is constantly expected to apply creative solutions to complex problems and develop new ideas and concepts. Reviews and approves decisions and/or recommendations that may have a significant impact on the entire organization.

IMPACT OF DECISIONS

Decisions have a major impact to multiple divisions or organization and may impact the general direction of HISD. Errors may cause continuous adverse influence on the future operations of the organization, in matters involving important customer commitments, organizational liability, and other matters which may appreciably affect future costs.

COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS

Oversee and direct - serves as one of the organization's senior level spokespersons in the area of expertise, defines and champions change initiatives, organizational strategies, services, policies, and practices. Interactions are typically with Top Management, the Board, and community and business leaders.
 

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

Anticipates customer needs, identifies, and champions opportunities for the development and implementation of new services and methods to meet or exceed customer needs. Establishes customer service standards and feedback mechanisms across departments.

WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements.