Position Overview
The Ellis School seeks a strategic, creative, and collaborative Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to lead a comprehensive, integrated program that advances the School's mission, elevates its visibility, and plays a key role in meeting enrollment goals.
Reporting to the Head of School, the CMO will oversee a team of three professionals and manage the School's relationship with an external marketing firm recently retained to launch and support the All Girls, All In campaign. Ellis has also begun a Capital Campaign, Ellis 110 Campaign, with the intention of raising at least $2M from parents, alumnae, and foundations. The CMO will serve as a key thought partner to senior leadership and will be a principal steward of the Ellis brand, responsible for ensuring a consistent, compelling narrative across all constituencies and channels.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Brand Management
- Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, data-informed marketing and communications strategy aligned with the School's mission, strategic priorities, and enrollment goals.
- Lead and steward the Ellis brand, ensuring consistency and impact of messaging, visuals, and voice across all media and audiences.
- Serve as the School's primary liaison to the external marketing firm; guide, coordinate, and evaluate the firm's work on the All Girls, All In campaign and other initiatives.
- Partner closely with the Head of School and senior leadership to identify storytelling opportunities and promote the distinct value of an all-girls, PK-12 education at Ellis.
Campaign & Enrollment Support
- Drive marketing strategy and content development for the All Girls, All In campaign, including digital marketing, print collateral, video, and other assets.
- Collaborate with the Enrollment Management and Advancement teams to create targeted campaigns and materials that support recruitment, retention, and philanthropy.
- Develop segmented marketing strategies to reach key audiences (prospective families, current families, alumnae, donors, and community partners).
- Use analytics and market research to refine campaigns and track performance against goals.
- Seek and implement opportunities to place stories with external media.
Communications & Content Creation
- Oversee all School communications, including newsletters, website content, social media, press releases, advertising, and major School publications.
- Oversee key communications from the Head of School and other leaders for both internal and external audiences.
- Ensure that communications reflect and amplify Ellis's values, DEI commitments, and the lived experiences of its students and faculty.
- Proactively identify and tell compelling stories that highlight the student experience, academic program, alumnae achievements, and community impact.
Digital, Web, & Social Media Management
- Oversee the School's website, ensuring timely, accurate, and engaging content and an optimal user experience.
- Develop and implement a strategic social media plan to grow engagement, strengthen brand awareness, and support enrollment and advancement goals.
- Leverage digital tools (email marketing, SEO/SEM, analytics platforms, and CRM systems) to inform and optimize outreach and engagement.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Supervise, mentor, and develop a high-performing marketing and communications team of three, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate workflows, set priorities, and manage project timelines and budgets for the department.
- Collaborate across all divisions and departments to support their communications needs and to ensure alignment with institutional messaging and branding.
- Build strong, trusting relationships with faculty, staff, families, and alumnae to surface stories and opportunities for positive visibility.
Issues Management & Institutional Messaging
- Help manage internal and external communications around sensitive issues, reputation management, and crisis response, in collaboration with the Head of School and other leaders.
- Serve as liaison and school spokesperson, and/or coordinate and support others' interaction, with the media
- Develop and maintain communications protocols, style guides, and policies that support clarity, consistency, and professionalism.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
- 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in marketing and communications, preferably in education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations.
- Demonstrated success in developing and executing brand, marketing, and communications strategies that drive measurable results.
- Experience managing external agencies or consultants and leading complex, multi-channel campaigns.
- Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style for different audiences and platforms.
- Commitment and ability to produce factual, grammatical, accurate, and clean written work
- Proficiency with digital and social media marketing, content management systems, email marketing platforms, and analytics tools.
- Proven leadership and team management experience, including the ability to mentor, motivate, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- A deep appreciation for the mission of all-girls education and an eagerness to be a visible, engaged member of the Ellis community.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in both content and practice.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker who can also execute tactically and manage details.
- Creative, innovative, and resourceful, with a strong design and brand sensibility.
- Collaborative and collegial, with excellent interpersonal skills and a service-oriented mindset.
- Flexible, resilient, and able to navigate a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials, addressed to Gary J. Niels, Head of School:
- Cover letter expressing interest in the role and alignment with The Ellis School's mission
- Résumé
- Up to three samples or links to relevant work (campaigns, writing, digital content, or portfolio)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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