QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree required in related field. Three to five years of experience or training in public relations, community engagement and/or public safety, or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in public relations or related public service work preferred. Grant writing experience.

SUMMARY:

Under limited supervision, this role manages and administers comprehensive safety and public relations plans for Rockingham County Schools. This employee serves as a liaison to the Superintendent, senior administrators and Board of Education regarding necessary and appropriate actions to communicate matters of safety and the mission, vision and priorities of the district and engender public understanding and support of the role, objectives, accomplishments and needs of the school district. Employee also serves as the media liaison on district-wide events and issues and acts as the spokesperson for the district as appropriate. Reports to Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Logistics.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

• Effective oral and written communication
• Ability to gather and analyze data
• Skill as a graphic designer for print and web publications
• Considerable knowledge of state and local policies and procedures regarding the administration of security/school safety programs
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments
• Knowledgeable of Freedom of Information/Public Documents law
• Social Media and technologically savvy

DISCLAIMER:

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees with this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interested as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees of this job.
The Rockingham County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, homelessness or otherwise in its educational programs and activities and in employment

• Serves as the information liaison between Rockingham County Schools and the community at large.
• Collaborates with other departments on district safety and communication needs.
• Intentionally markets and promotes the district throughout the community and across the state.
• Create and sustain a culture of safety and emergency response preparedness that permeates throughout the district through the development and implementation of a comprehensive safety plan.
• Serves as liaison between Rockingham County schools and news media and is responsible for the production and distribution of news releases; arranges news conferences as needed.
• Implements training programs pertaining to matters of safety and security for site-based administrators and helps to develop and monitor the school safety section of the school improvement plans.
• Coordinates the District’s annual Safety Summit to train all School Emergency Response Teams (including SRO’s, Administrators, Teaching staff members, and Specialized Instructional Support Personnel).
• Responds to and assists schools in daily safety related problems and formulate plans of action to maintain a safe school environment.
• Schedules and/or facilitates all required safety training for staff, students and public safety officials relating to school safety, security and emergency preparedness.
• Coordinates the preparation of district publications including information brochures, calendars, handbooks, etc.
• Maintains open lines of communication with community organizations.
• Speaks at public meetings on issues of general or specific pertinence to Rockingham County Schools at the request of the superintendent.
• Responds to public requests for information and advises district-level officials and schools on matters relating to dissemination of public information
• Maintains and coordinates the updating of the school system’s web page as needed, including providing consultation and guidance to department and school webmasters.
• Provides direction for internal communications and continuously looks for improvement opportunities.