The Director of Community Engagement (DCE) is a newly-formed position at San Francisco Waldorf School (SFWS), combining aspects of Advancement, Marketing, and Communications. Working directly with the Executive Director and colleagues across the school, the DCE leads, manages and coordinates the work of consultants, trustees, staff, faculty, and volunteers to ensure the school’s comprehensive marketing, fundraising and engagement activities continue to innovate and succeed. The ideal candidate will have enthusiasm for community connection and a data-savvy approach to supporting workflows. They will bring experience in various aspects of school fundraising, marketing, alumni engagement, community outreach and/or retention with a pro-active willingness to learn and grow in all areas. 

This position works directly with and reports to the Executive Director and will work closely with Admission teams, established marketing and web consultants, campus coordinators, events coordinator, as well as faculty and volunteers to grow the school’s advancement and marketing presence, engagement, and success in the broader community.

SFWS hires dedicated and highly capable faculty and staff who develop a deep connection to our extraordinary Waldorf school in San Francisco. SFWS employees are a committed group who bring our highest individual selves to our work with students, families, and colleagues. We invest in our learning and growth to best serve the needs of our students, our teachers, and each other.  Principal responsibilities include:

• Advancement and Alumni Coordination and Execution 

• • Empower and support school leadership to ensure successful engagement of Executive Director, Board Advancement Committee and lead volunteers in successful Community Fund (Annual Fund), alumni engagement and giving, and special project fundraising.

  • Ensure effective and inspiring engagement and fundraising communications and solicitations to current families and alumni via email, text, and other channels.

  • Collaborate with Event and Volunteer Coordinator to support current family and alumni communication and engagement in school events and activities. 

  • Ensure highest quality donor acknowledgement and recognition efforts. 

• Marketing and Communications Development and Execution

• • Collaborate with the Executive Director, established consulting partners, admissions teams, campus staff, volunteers and board members to improve and implement marketing strategies and products for channels such as website, social media, email communications, paid ads, printed collateral, and events.

  • Participate in creating annual Marketing & Communications Plans.

  • Solicit and review compelling social media content working directly with Admission teams and trusted consulting partners.

  • Coordinate with staff and consultants to ensure the website is engaging and current.

  • Manage consistency across third-party educational web sources such as Niche, Yelp, Great Schools, others, including photography, school profile, and reviews.

  • Support campus directors, Admission teams and Executive Director in communication and engagement to support promotion and retention of existing families

  • Monitor media coverage relevant to the school, provide talking points for the Executive Director and support press response key issues.

  • Ensure messages, photos, videos, and all content adhere to existing brand strategy and work with colleagues to update style guides.

• Data and Content Tracking, Analysis and Reporting 

• • Use data to track, analyze, and improve the effectiveness of marketing and fundraising campaigns. 

  • Ensure shared marketing materials are organized, useful and available to all stakeholders.

  • Keep professional, detailed, and usable records and data (Blackbaud, Ravenna, others)

  • Track workflows and work collaboratively with Admissions, Executive Director, Advancement committees and other stakeholders to ensure seamless execution.

  • Assist in the assessment of school surveys and conduct research in areas that help inform enrollment, retention, giving, and ongoing message improvement.

  • Prepare reports and presentations to communicate results to the Executive Director, Finance Director, board, faculty, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required

• 4-5 years of experience in consulting with or working with educational institutions with respect to advancement, marketing, community engagement, communications, brand management, and/or public relations.

• Experience in positively engaging colleagues and working with volunteer community members to meet organizational goals

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills

• Highly organized, thoughtful, and proactive person who works collaboratively and will interact in a positive, engaging, and professional manner with diverse audiences.

• Attentive to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines concurrently.

• Experience in tracking and driving workflows, outreach and engagement efforts in advancement, marketing, communication, sales, admissions, or related fields.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

• Commitment to promoting inclusion and belonging as a central part of SFWS culture.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Sharp technical skills and ease with a broad range of social media, digital marketing tools, design, educational databases, and creative software products.

• Skill in supporting admission, and/or retention strategies.

• Skills with school tech and marketing systems (Blackbaud, Ravenna, Finaliste, Google, Niche, Great Schools) 

• Understanding of web traffic, social media, and web feeder analytics.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, constituency building skills and ability to win the confidence of others.  Flexibility and the ability to problem solve and manage ambiguity with grace and humor.

• Knowledge of independent schools and particularly Waldorf education is a plus.

Benefits and Compensation:  

This is a full-time, year-round, exempt position with a salary range of $80,000 to $100,000.  Benefits include medical, dental, and life insurance, flexible spending plans, six-weeks vacation time, retirement plan (employer contributions begin after one year of employment), and tuition remission (after one year of employment) for up to two eligible dependents enrolled in our Preschool to 12th program.  

Physical Requirements

• Occasional lifting up to 10 pounds, some reaching, bending, walking, stooping, and squatting. Ability to communicate with various stakeholders, including the general public, parents, students, and alumni, including, in writing, on telephone and in person. Ability to engage in daily use of computer and phone, as well as frequent use of office equipment. Seeing to read and interpret a variety of materials. Prolonged periods of sitting or standing, 4 to 8 hours per day.

• Occasional work outside in various weather conditions, including hot and cold weather.

Work Hours & Location

The place of employment will primarily be from the High School or Grade School campus. As an exempt position,  the person in this position will be expected to work as much time as needed to complete their duties, including generally working from 8:30am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and occasionally working  evenings and on weekends as required for events, meetings and other school functions.

FLSA Classification:            Staff; Exempt

Reports to:                          Executive  Director 

Date Revised:                 May 2025

San Francisco Waldorf School strongly encourages candidates from groups historically underrepresented in independent schools to apply. SFWS recognizes that the range of ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientation, learning differences, and life experiences within our community enhance the school’s learning environment, and we are committed to fostering equity and inclusion.  SFWS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any protected class.