Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Founded in 1873, Notre Dame Preparatory School (NDP) is a Catholic, independent, college-preparatory school for girls in grades 6–12 located on a beautiful 65-acre campus in Towson, Maryland. Inspired by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and rooted in the charism of unity, NDP is committed to educating young women to transform the world, a mission the community has upheld for more than 150 years with enthusiasm, conviction, and faith.

About the role

The Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing serves as the chief steward of NDP’s institutional voice, brand, and reputation. As a member of the Head of School’s leadership team, this position provides strategic leadership for all internal and external communications, ensuring a cohesive and compelling narrative that advances NDP’s mission. The Director develops and executes a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that strengthens enrollment, supports advancement efforts, elevates institutional visibility, and deepens engagement among students, families, alumnae, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.

Serving as the School’s lead communications strategist, this role provides counsel to the Head of School and senior leadership on messaging, reputation management, crisis communications, and strategic positioning. Working collaboratively across Admissions, Advancement, Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Student Life, the Director ensures alignment in messaging and storytelling while fostering a culture of mission-centered communication. The Director supervises a team of 4 communications professionals and leads the continued evolution of the department in support of NDP’s strategic priorities and future growth. This is a full-time, 12-month, on-site position. Work hours will extend beyond the regular school day and may include evenings, weekends, and special events as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Head of School, providing strategic counsel on executive communications, messaging, public relations, reputation management, and institutional positioning.
• Develop and lead an integrated communications and marketing strategy aligned with NDP’s strategic plan, institutional priorities, and mission to include digital advertising, SEO/AI search optimization, campaign strategy, marketing analytics, audience segmentation, and CRM collaboration.
• Partner closely with Admissions and Advancement leadership to strengthen enrollment, philanthropic engagement, constituent relations, and overall institutional visibility through coordinated communications and marketing efforts.
• Establish and maintain institutional messaging frameworks, editorial standards, and visual identity guidelines to ensure consistency across all communications.
• Oversee the development and dissemination of communications for internal and external audiences, including students, families, faculty, staff, alumnae, donors, and community partners.
• Serve as lead editor and strategic advisor for major institutional communications, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, and mission aligned.
• Lead crisis communications planning and response, ensuring timely, accurate, and thoughtful communication during sensitive or high-impact situations.
• Anticipate communication implications of strategic decisions, monitor emerging issues and reputational risks, and proactively recommend mitigation strategies.
• Strengthen and protect NDP’s reputation locally, regionally, and nationally through strategic storytelling, media engagement, and relationship building.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with media outlets, external partners, and key community stakeholders.
• Oversee brand strategy and ensure excellence and consistency across print, digital, social media, video, and experiential communications.
• Measure and analyze website analytics, enrollment marketing performance, campaign ROI, social engagement, media impressions, reputation indicators, and constituent engagement metrics to assess effectiveness and guide institutional strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate the communications and marketing team, fostering a collaborative, creative, and mission-driven culture.
• Evaluate and implement emerging communications technologies, including responsible applications of artificial intelligence, marketing automation, and digital engagement tools.
• Assess organizational needs and guide the ongoing evolution of the communications office to maximize effectiveness, innovation, and institutional impact.
• Oversee departmental budget, resource allocation, and vendor partnerships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in strategic communications, marketing, public relations, independent schools, higher education, non-profit organizations, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated communications and marketing strategies that advance institutional goals, strengthen reputation, and drive engagement across diverse audiences.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messaging and maintain a strong, consistent brand across platforms.
• Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, with strong judgment, discretion, and expertise in media relations, reputation management, and crisis communications.
• Experience supporting enrollment marketing, admissions strategy, fundraising initiatives, donor engagement, and constituent communications.
• Strong understanding of digital communications, social media, content strategy, marketing analytics, and emerging communication trends.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, manage complex projects, balance competing priorities, and build collaborative partnerships across departments.
• Experience in an independent school, Catholic school, higher education institution, or other mission-driven organization preferred.
• Strategic, mission-driven leader with the ability to navigate change thoughtfully while honoring institutional tradition and values.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, excellent listening skills, and a commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.
• Enthusiasm for participating fully in the life of the school community.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance
• Retirement contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Generous paid time off

Pay

The anticipated salary range is $110,000–$125,000 annually, with flexibility for exceptional candidates.