The Organization
The Pingry School, a K-12 coeducational, independent country day school, is recognized throughout the United States for its academic excellence, Honor Code, arts, athletics, and community and civic engagement. The school’s mission is to foster in students a lifelong commitment to scholarly exploration, personal growth, and social responsibility while preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Dr. John F. Pingry founded the school in 1861 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and today there are three campuses: Grades K-5 in Short Hills, Grades 6-12 in Basking Ridge, and a shared campus for Grades K-12 in Pottersville that focuses on experiential education. The diverse student body is composed of more than 1,100 students from nearly 100 towns in New Jersey and New York. For more information, visit the school’s website, pingry.org, or follow The Pingry School on social media channels.
Position Overview
Position Summary
The Communications Writer provides the writing, editing, and project management of key School materials across a wide-range of programs with a specialized focus on increasing engagement. The Communications Writer will need to be an effective writer who is flexible and deadline-driven and able to work creatively and independently. Candidates should have a diverse portfolio of work demonstrating an ability to write both short and long form copy to a variety of audiences for a variety of marketing channels. Writing samples should demonstrate critical thinking and awareness of both audience and tone. All deliverables should be well-researched and written, persuasive and compelling, in line with the mission of the School, and adopting appropriate writing styles for an array of constituencies. The Communications Writer reports to the Associate Director of Communications, Writer and works closely and collaboratively with the Development Team and with the Office of Institutional Advancement, Administrative Team, and faculty.
Responsibilities
- Storytell: Scout, pitch, research, and write compelling special interest articles that tell the story of The Pingry School for publications including The Pingry Review magazine and the School websites
- Utilize appropriate and relevant narratives and themes along with real-time information to proactively identify powerful stories in support of the School’s mission, vision, and values
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to bring these narratives to life, either as individual writing assignments or team writing projects, and proactively gather information for use in a variety of digital and print communications
- Create content for and oversee production of printed collateral, including but not limited to brochures, flyers, newspaper ads, and signage
- Write, edit, and/or advise on content for a wide range of materials ensuring they directly support Advancement strategies, are compelling to different audiences, and are cohesive with the tone and style guidelines of advancement communications.
- Write customized acknowledgment and stewardship correspondence
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- A minimum of two years of experience in education communications or related industry, with demonstrated success in writing/editing high-quality publications with significant visibility.
- Knowledge of standard concepts, practices, and procedures related to the position, including expertise in English grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct research and interviews, and to synthesize large amounts of information in a clear, accurate way for a general audience.
- Excellent written, communication, and interpersonal skills; analytical and strategic thinking capabilities; well-refined project management skills, initiative, and creative energy.
- Comfort working with senior administrators and volunteer leadership.
- Comfortable with incorporating the latest technology into your workflow, including Zoom
- Skilled in navigating the Google Suite of applications (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, etc.) and Microsoft Office.
- Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge and Veracross preferred, including ability track and record activity.
- A valid driver’s license and ability to drive.
- In addition to honor and character, commitment to intellectual engagement, and appreciation for stewardship and sustainability, especially important is the candidate’s ease with diverse constituencies and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive school community.
How To Apply
Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/about/employment.