OPPORTUNITY
The Director of Marketing and Communications will be responsible for the overall communications and marketing strategy for Green Dot Public Schools. The position will work closely with leadership to direct internal and external communications efforts with the goals of increasing student enrollment, attracting high-quality talent, maintaining strong community ties and distinguishing Green Dot as a leader in public education. The Director of Marketing and Communications will lead a team that is focused on ensuring our schools are equipped with the tools they need to tell their unique stories and execute their goals. The position reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as part of Green Dot’s central office team, based in Los Angeles.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Student Recruitment Marketing Strategy> Develop and implement organization-wide and school-specific marketing strategies and campaigns to support student recruitment, enrollment growth, and student retention, in partnership with school leaders, enrollment teams, and the External Affairs department.
> Develop targeted marketing plans for individual schools based on enrollment goals, local market conditions, prospective family needs, and each school's unique programs, strengths, and value proposition.
> Lead integrated recruitment campaigns across digital advertising, search, social media, email, websites, direct mail, print advertising, and community-based marketing channels to increase awareness, generate prospective-student leads, and drive enrollment.
> Partner with school leaders and enrollment teams to identify recruitment priorities, understand barriers to enrollment, and ensure marketing strategies respond to the needs of local communities.
> Oversee the development of compelling marketing materials, including school profiles, videos, testimonials, digital content, print collateral, and campaign assets that showcase Green Dot schools and encourage families to learn more and enroll.
> Establish and monitor key marketing performance indicators, including campaign reach, website traffic, lead generation, cost per lead, and conversion from inquiry to application and enrollment. Use data and analytics to evaluate effectiveness and continuously improve campaign performance.
> Manage recruitment marketing budgets and resources, prioritizing investments based on enrollment goals, campaign performance, and organizational needs.
Identify and execute opportunities to increase Green Dot's visibility and make Green Dot the school of choice among prospective students, families, and other key audiences.
Communications, Public Relations & Brand Strategy> Develop and implement communications, public relations, and marketing plans that advance Green Dot's mission, strengthen its reputation, and support student and teacher recruitment, student retention, fundraising, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.
> Further develop Green Dot's brand identity, positioning, and key messages to distinguish the organization and its schools in the Los Angeles area and across California.
> Lead digital communications strategy across Green Dot's organizational and school websites, search engine marketing, social media, email, and other emerging channels. Leverage analytics and current marketing trends to optimize reach, engagement, and effectiveness.
> Develop and execute proactive media relations strategies to increase Green Dot's visibility and elevate its impact, including cultivating relationships with major media outlets, local television affiliates, education publications, and community-based media.
> Craft compelling media pitches, press releases, op-eds, talking points, profiles, and other communications materials. Monitor news cycles and emerging trends to identify opportunities to advance organizational priorities.
> Manage crisis communications planning and execution in collaboration with organizational leadership, following established procedures and protecting Green Dot's reputation.
> Ensure communications are clear, compelling, accessible, and consistent with Green Dot's mission, values, and strategic priorities.
Brand Assets, Creative Direction & Content Development> Oversee the conceptualization and development of high-quality, on-brand creative assets and campaigns that support student recruitment, teacher recruitment, fundraising, organizational communications, and other strategic priorities.
> Bring strong creative judgment and marketing expertise to develop innovative concepts, compelling storytelling, and visually engaging materials that resonate with target audiences and drive intended outcomes.
> Oversee the development of newsletters, direct mail, digital and print advertising, school marketing materials, annual reports, videos, and other communications assets.
> Develop and maintain creative templates, brand guidelines, and marketing toolkits for Green Dot and individual schools to ensure consistent brand expression while allowing for school-specific messaging and local relevance.
> Copy edit and enhance programmatic, recruitment, organizational, and fundraising materials to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness.
> Continuously evaluate and improve creative approaches based on audience insights, marketing trends, and campaign performance.
Advocacy & Organizational Support> Collaborate with the Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement and Chief of Staff to align communications and marketing efforts with organizational priorities.
> Support advocacy initiatives through strategic messaging, content development, and communications planning.
> Provide public relations and communications support for organizational initiatives, school events, and key announcements.
Team Management & Strategic Planning> Establish a clear vision, priorities, and measurable goals for the Marketing and Communication team, with student recruitment marketing, school renewals and fundraising as the primary objectives.
> Build team capacity, clarify roles and responsibilities, and support team members in independently managing projects and delivering results.
> Develop and manage departmental budgets, oversee external vendors and agency partnerships, and allocate resources to maximize impact.
> Establish efficient workflows, project management processes, and performance measures to support timely, high-quality execution.
> Monitor progress toward goals and use data and team feedback to continuously improve effectiveness.
As an ideal candidate, you
> have a minimum of five years (8 years preferred) of strategic marketing, communications, digital marketing, public relations, or related experience.
> can demonstrate success developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns, preferably with measurable results in lead generation, audience acquisition, customer or client conversion, or enrollment growth.
> have experience using marketing analytics and performance data to evaluate campaign effectiveness, inform strategy, and improve results.
> have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
> have a passion for education and a belief that every child can succeed. Experience in education or the nonprofit sector is a plus; knowledge of the Los Angeles education landscape and education reform is preferred.
> possess excellent writing, verbal communication, presentation, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to develop persuasive messages for diverse audiences.
> can demonstrate the ability to develop compelling brand messaging and creative assets that resonate with target audiences and advance strategic goals.
> have experience managing and developing direct reports, budgets, and external vendors, freelancers, or consultants.
> have strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple campaigns, and deliver high-quality work on deadline.
> have a proven ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including school leaders and cross-functional teams.
> possess strong leadership skills, sound judgment, initiative, and a commitment to developing creative, data-informed solutions.
> can thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven nonprofit environment while balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution.
> are fluent in Spanish, both written and verbal (preferred).
> will need to pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer
In addition, the following standards will generally define the successful candidate:
> able to maintain positive relations with colleagues at all levels—including central office staff and school-site administrators and staff
> able to simultaneously manage multiple projects, while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details, meeting and/or exceeding project goals with the highest quality, and bringing joy to the work
> possess a high level of personal responsibility, a growth mindset, and an A+ work ethic
> are dependable, humble, have a sense of humor, and a rock-solid commitment to Green Dot’s mission and the communities we serve
JOB REQUIREMENTS
> Work Hours: This position requires consistent attendance during scheduled hours, as flexibility is limited by classroom or operational requirements.
> Breaks: Breaks are structured within the workday and must align with operational needs and student care requirements. Extended or frequent breaks may not be feasible in this setting.
The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to perform the job.
The starting salary range for this role is $125,000 - $137,000. Please note that candidates who are new to their role or newly promoted can expect offers between the minimum and the mid-point of the range. To allow for salary progression over time, offers at the top of the range are rare. Individual experience will be considered when issuing offers.
In addition, Green Dot offers one of the most robust and comprehensive benefits packages in the industry (for both you and your dependents):
> Full-time employees are eligible to participate in Green Dot’s benefit plans, effective on the first of the month following their date of hire
> No-cost premium (for employee only) and low-cost premium (for entire family) HMO option via Anthem Vivity - a network that includes some of the best hospitals in the nation (Cedars Sinai, Huntington Memorial, Torrance Memorial, UCLA and more).
> Medical PPO and EPO options (visit https://mygreendotbenefits.benefitseasy.net/ for more information)
> Dental and vision care coverage (100% employer-paid options)
> Employee Assistance Program (100% employer-paid)
> Life and AD&D Insurance (100% employer-paid)
> Optional Term Life & AD&D Insurance
> Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance (100% employer-paid)
> Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care)
> Monthly parking for Central Office-based employees (100% employer-paid)
> Wellness programs and resources
> Financial planning/coaching access
> Optional non-matching 401(k) plan
> Potential for remote work opportunities (occasional or recurring)
> Potential for annual performance-based compensation increases
> Potential for annual bonuses
> Potential for stipend work opportunities
> Approved family care and/or medical leave (unpaid)
Green Dot also offers generous paid time off for an overall work-life balance, while giving employees the opportunity to impact a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of all students.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
We ask that all candidates complete an online application at https://greendot.org/careers/. Only those applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted and we’re looking to fill this opening immediately.
Green Dot Public Schools has embedded a diversity, equity and inclusion lens in our organizational culture, as well as in our educational and talent practices. We are committed to hiring those who reflect the diversity of our communities, and we recruit, employ, support, compensate and promote employees, without regard to their actual or perceived race, religious creed (including religious dress or grooming practices), color, national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken), physical or mental disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and expression), parental status, age (forty (40) and over), sexual orientation, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, citizenship, immigration status or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Please note that Green Dot Public Schools is unable to sponsor any applicant for a temporary or permanent U.S employment-based visa, nor hire any applicant currently holding a temporary U.S. employment-based visa.
Green Dot California Central Office, Los Angeles, CA
Green Dot Public Schools is focused on graduating students and fully preparing them for college. In addition, Green Dot is dedicated to helping parents organize and expect more of their neighborhood schools. Green Dot is one of the leading independent non-profit public school operators in Los Angeles and one of the top three largest in the nation.
The U.S. Department of Education has featured Green Dot as a national leader in school turnarounds. Green Dot currently operates 18 public charter schools in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Learn more about the work we're doing and apply today.
