Assistant Director Communications

at  Lycee Francais De NewYork

POSITION SUMMARY

At the Lycée Français de New York, the Communications Team plays an essential role as the engine for advancement of the Lycée’s mission and brand to our immediate community, to prospective families and employees and other external stakeholders essential to the school. Having a well-informed community excited about the prospects for the future of the school for their children supports change efforts of the leadership team, builds support for fundraising and increases interest in the Lycée from prospective families. Working collaboratively with Admissions, Cultural Center, Development and other divisions, the Communications Team creates strategies that include key messages, content, stories and visuals, to drive interest in school life.
Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing, the Assistant Director will collaborate with diverse teams and families to foster a sense of community and connection. The Assistant Director of Communications focuses on crafting compelling narratives, managing family communications, and elevating the school’s digital presence. This position requires a strong command of website design, SEO, and digital storytelling, helping to enhance the school’s online presence and showcase its expertise and thought leadership. A strong working knowledge of French is required.
At the Lycée, “the student is at the center of the system”. All employees should truly and enthusiastically believe in the Lycée’s Mission supporting the vision of the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. The Assistant Director Communications should be a self-starting, resourceful, well organized team player with the ability to work well under pressure, maintain a positive attitude and demonstrate good interpersonal skills.
All staff members are expected to provide encouragement, offer positive reinforcement, and show respect for each student. The ability to get along with diverse personalities is a necessary skill. All employees are strongly encouraged to work towards proficiency in both French and English languages and to develop a familiarity and understanding of the Lycée’s multicultural environment.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in communications, with a focus on editorial and digital platforms, preferably in a bilingual French-English environment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Proven experience in creating engaging digital content and stories that drive traffic and engagement.
• Knowledge of basic video editing and script development.
• Strong understanding of website management, content management systems (CMS), and user experience (UX) best practices.
• Ability to think quickly, write on tight deadlines, and produce compelling copy that captures the voice, values and ethos of our inclusive school community.
• Experience collaborating effectively within a cross-cultural environment, particularly with staff, families and diverse communities.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Required: Bilingual in French and English, with a strong understanding of French/ Francophone culture and language.
  Annual salary range: $85,000-$110,000

Duties and Responsibilities of the Assistant Director of Communications, under the leadership of the Director of Communications and Marketing, include, but are not limited to:

• Editorial and Content Strategy: Oversee a calendar of editorial content, including news stories, articles, newsletters and social media posts that deepen understanding of the school’s mission, engage current families and build interest of prospective families. Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand their needs and develop content and distribution plans that align with their goals and objectives.
• Digital Storytelling and SEO: Develop and implement strategies for digital storytelling across multiple platforms, optimizing content for search engines (SEO) and user engagement. Ensure all content reflects the school’s mission and values, and resonates with a diverse audience.
• Website Management and Design: Lead updates to the school’s website, ensuring all content is up-to-date and aligned with brand guidelines. Manage content, design enhancements, and functionality improvements with user experience in mind.
• Parent Communication: Oversee day-to-day family email communications, ensuring clarity, tone, and timeliness, along with all content on the Lycée’s internal communication platform for parents, students, faculty, and staff.
• Event Communications: Support communications for admissions and school events, ensuring consistent and engaging messaging to promote participation and community engagement.
• Marketing Content: Write marketing copy that positions school as a thought leader in bilingual education, student development, and other areas through strategic, lively storytelling, digital campaigns and our school magazine.