Marketing and Branding Specialist

• Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of 2024 Best Employers in Arizona.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Job Summary:

The Marketing and Branding Specialist plays a key role in elevating the visibility and reputation of the school district through strategic marketing, advertising, and branding initiatives. This position is responsible for identifying, developing, and executing opportunities to promote the district, schools, programs, and events across various platforms and community locations. The specialist will collaborate closely with school principals, district leadership, the social media team, and the graphic design/print team to align messaging and create impactful campaigns that support student enrollment and community engagement. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development, management, and optimization of paid advertising campaigns (digital, print, outdoor, radio, etc.).
• Identify strategic advertising placement opportunities across Mesa and the East Valley, including businesses, community centers, daycares, and local events.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and enforcement of district brand guidelines, including managing logo and graphic requests, and monitoring school websites, publications, and signage to ensure consistency in visual identity and messaging.
• Evaluate school campuses and district facilities for branding enhancement opportunities (e.g., signage, murals, banners, digital screens).
• Collaborate with the graphic designer and district print shop to create and distribute high-quality marketing collateral such as brochures, flyers, posters, and promotional items.
• Support the Social Media Specialist with targeted advertising strategies, paid promotions, and creative campaign concepts.
• Assist in building and maintaining a district marketing calendar that identifies key enrollment periods, seasonal opportunities, and major events to guide proactive promotional efforts.
• Propose and implement innovative ways to promote the district and individual schools through storytelling, community outreach, and branded campaigns.
• Work directly with school principals and administrative staff to support site-specific marketing efforts to develop best practices and campaigns that support student recruitment, retention, and community engagement.
• Work closely with the Social Media Strategist and videography team to identify and capture high-quality photo and video content that supports ongoing marketing, storytelling, and branding needs across the district.
• Develop marketing toolkits and templates for schools to ensure brand consistency and empower local marketing efforts.
• Plan, execute, and optimize e-marketing campaigns (email, targeted digital ads, newsletters, and online promotions) to engage families, drive enrollment, and increase awareness of district programs and events. Track and analyze performance metrics to inform future strategies.
• Analyze the effectiveness of marketing strategies using data and metrics; provide regular reports and recommendations for improvement.
• Stay informed of marketing trends, AI, emerging platforms, and best practices in K-12 education communications.
• Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools  

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years’ professional experience in marketing, branding, or communications  
• Strong communication and project management skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams and meet deadlines. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or related field.
• Experience with artificial intelligence (AI) tools for marketing, such as AI-assisted content creation, analytics, or ad optimization.
• Knowledge of design and digital marketing platforms, including Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Google Ads, and social media advertising tools.
• Experience in education, nonprofit, or public sector marketing, with a focus on community engagement and enrollment growth.
• Spanish/English bilingual. 

Skills & Competencies:

• Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a Graduate.
• Demonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name, served by strength and need, and graduates ready for college, career and community.
• Understanding of modern marketing practices, including digital, print, and community-based advertising.
• Familiarity with branding principles and strategies to ensure consistent messaging and visual identity across the district.
• Knowledge of social media platforms, paid advertising, and emerging technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence in marketing.
• Awareness of K–12 education environments, enrollment trends, and community engagement strategies (preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to craft clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.
• Skilled in project coordination—able to manage multiple campaigns, vendors, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Analytical skills to interpret data, track campaign performance, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Creative problem-solving and idea generation for innovative promotions and advertising opportunities.
• Proficiency in using marketing tools such as Google Ads, Meta Business Suite, Canva/Adobe Creative Suite, and analytics dashboards.
• Able to work collaboratively with principals, district leaders, and staff to support school-specific marketing needs.
• Demonstrates agility in shifting priorities and delivering results under tight deadlines.
• Skilled in balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution of daily campaign activities.
• Able to foster relationships with community partners, businesses, and organizations to build visibility and opportunities for district promotion.
• Committed to upholding professionalism, discretion, and a customer-focused attitude in all forms of communication. 

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for extended periods, use a computer, and operate office equipment.
• Occasional light lifting (up to 20 pounds), bending, and reaching.
• Primarily working indoors on a computer
• May require occasional travel between district locations or schools
• May occasionally need to work nights and weekends 

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: 

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.