Marketing and Communications Manager Opportunity Statement
Villa Academy is an inclusive independent school community dedicated to developing the whole child in the Cabrinian tradition of “education of the heart.” Through dynamic, inquiry-based learning, Villa students become active agents of their own intellectual growth in preparation for lives of service and purpose.
Under the supervision of and in collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), the Marketing and Communications Manager leads the development and execution of Villa's content, communications, and marketing strategy. This role also provides direct supervision, mentorship, and strategic direction to the Digital Marketing Specialist, ensuring alignment of digital marketing initiatives with the school's broader communications, enrollment, and advancement goals. This role is responsible for shaping and producing compelling storytelling across multiple channels, including Villa’s annual magazine, newsletters, social media platforms, email campaigns, website, and any emerging platform. This role works to strengthen the school’s visibility, support enrollment and retention, and advance fundraising and community engagement initiatives. This role will play a critical role in ensuring consistent brand positioning and messaging alignment across all departments and teams.
The Marketing and Communications Manager consistently and effectively communicates the school’s mission, values, and identity across all platforms. This role serves as the primary content strategist and writer for the school. This role develops engaging narratives for a variety of audiences that highlight the school’s programs, community, and student experiences.
Working collaboratively across departments, the Marketing and Communications Manager develops strategic messaging and communications plans that support enrollment initiatives, strengthen brand alignment, and connect meaningfully with current and prospective families and other constituent groups. Please note that this is an on-site position requiring regular attendance on campus. Remote work is not available for this role at this time.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Content Strategy & Editorial Management
- Develop and maintain an annual editorial calendar that aligns with enrollment, advancement, and the wider school calendar.
- Manage the school’s communications lifecycle through an up-to-date content calendar.
- Identify and develop compelling content that highlights Villa’s students, faculty, programs, and community.
- Manage, create, and coordinate strategy and written content for all school publications (newsletters, magazine, website, and social media).
- Serve as the primary writer and editor for major school publications, including Villa’s annual magazine and other storytelling initiatives.
- Edit the school’s weekly newsletters and other regular digital communications.
- Write feature articles, profiles, and updates that celebrate school milestones, events, and accomplishments.
- Collaborate with students, faculty, staff, families, and administrators to gather stories, news, and content that reflect the life of the school.
Brand Management & Messaging
- Serve as a steward of Villa’s brand internally and externally.
- In partnership with the Digital Marketing Specialist, serve as brand manager, ensuring consistency across all communications and marketing channels.
- Ensure consistent voice, tone, and messaging across all communications platforms.
- Together with the CAO, craft key messaging that clearly communicates Villa’s distinctive strengths, value proposition, and educational experience.
- Effectively utilize AI to help implement and reinforce the school’s style guide.
- Partner with and supervise the Digital Marketing Specialist to ensure consistent brand management and messaging across all communications and marketing channels.
Website & Digital Content Management
- Proactively manage website and blog content, updating as needed and generating, developing, and implementing story ideas.
- Work collaboratively with the Digital Marketing Specialist to ensure photography, videography, and multimedia content are captured and shared effectively.
- Create schedules and oversee photography, video, and multimedia storytelling projects.
- Analyze performance and provide insights to improve outreach, engagement, and conversion.
Enrollment Marketing & Communications
- Partner with the CAO and enrollment team to create strategic communications that support enrollment and retention goals.
- Write targeted email campaigns and drip marketing sequences for prospective families and upload them to the student information system.
- Develop mini marketing campaigns for social media during admissions season.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop messaging frameworks, copy, invitations, and slide decks for special projects, events, and campaigns.
Advertising, Community Relations & Outreach
- Manage the advertising calendar and assess opportunities annually.
- Review and optimize print and digital advertising placements for Villa Academy and Villa Ventures annually.
- Build relationships with local media and community organizations to increase the school’s visibility.
Research, Surveys & Reporting
- Coordinate and manage the ParentPulse survey platform throughout the year, including helping to organize and deploy surveys.
- Create reports and share survey findings with the CAO.
Community Engagement & Operations
- Manage the Villa Spirit Store and provide customer service to the school community.
- Attend scheduled meetings and participate in school activities as appropriate.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the CAO.
Leadership & Team Management
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for the Digital Marketing Specialist.
- Establish priorities, delegate projects, and ensure alignment between digital marketing initiatives and the school's overall communications and marketing strategy.
- Foster collaboration, professional growth, and accountability within the marketing and communications function.
- Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer to evaluate departmental priorities, workflows, and strategic goals.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in communications, content marketing, journalism, or a related field.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with demonstrated ability to craft engaging stories and clear messaging.
- Experience developing content strategies and editorial calendars.
- Experience writing email marketing campaigns and audience-targeted communications.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with all school constituencies, including students, volunteers, faculty, staff, families, and the community.
- Proficiency with Google Suite and email marketing platforms.
- Photography or visual storytelling skills are a plus.
- Experience in an educational or nonprofit environment is helpful.
- A strong work ethic and high level of integrity, as well as creativity, vision, and imagination.
- Availability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
- A current Washington state driver’s license and applicable Washington state automobile insurance.
- Must be able to reliably commute to and work on-site at the assigned work location. Remote work is not available for this position at this time.
- A commitment to ongoing professional growth, curiosity, cultural humility, and antiracism, as well as an understanding of its critical role in academic excellence and student growth.
- Ability to think critically, make sound decisions, communicate effectively, remain composed in challenging situations, and build positive, trusting relationships with others.
SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:
Anticipated salary ranges between $74,000 – 76,000/year, dependent upon education and experience. Villa Academy offers a robust benefits package for full-time employees, including employer-paid medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, free parking, potential for graduate school tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please provide, via email by July 22, 2026 to [email protected], (preferably in one PDF document):
- A cover letter detailing interest in and readiness for the role, addressed to Marika Motiwalla, Chief Advancement Officer.
- A current resume including relevant experience and three professional references.
Villa Academy is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal rules and regulations. Villa Academy does not discriminate in admission, access, treatment, or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender presentation, sex, sexual orientation, creed, age, national origin, marital status or ability.
Pay: $74,000.00 - $76,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- communications, content marketing, or journalism: 3 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Seattle, WA 98105 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Seattle, WA 98105: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
