Director of Marketing & Community Relations

Novel Prep•Costa Mesa, CA

3d•$90,000 - $120,000

About The Position

We are seeking a highly relationship-driven and community-focused Director of Marketing & Community Relations to lead our local marketing, community engagement, partnership development, and student enrollment initiatives. This role is primarily focused on local market development and offline marketing, with an emphasis on building strong relationships with families, community organizations, educational partners, local businesses, and other key stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a strong local network, excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, and proven experience developing partnerships and executing community-based marketing initiatives. This is not a primarily digital marketing or paid advertising role. Candidates whose experience is predominantly focused on digital advertising, SEO/SEM, social media management, or online campaign optimization may not be the best fit for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Education, or a related field
5+ years of experience in local marketing, community relations, partnership development, business development, enrollment, or a related field
At least 1–2 years of leadership or management experience
Proven experience developing and maintaining local partnerships and referral networks
Strong experience with offline marketing, events, community outreach, and relationship management
Excellent interpersonal, networking, communication, and negotiation skills
Comfortable representing the organization at community events, meetings, and networking opportunities
Strong understanding of how to convert relationships and community engagement into measurable enrollment or business results
Ability to work independently and proactively identify partnership and growth opportunities

Nice To Haves

Experience in private schools, K-12 education, education services, community organizations, or other relationship-driven industries strongly preferred
Existing relationships or professional networks within the local community are highly preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute local marketing strategies to increase school visibility, family inquiries, campus tours, and student enrollment
Identify high-potential local communities, organizations, events, and partnership opportunities
Build sustainable local referral and enrollment channels
Work closely with the admissions team to convert community relationships and local outreach into enrollment opportunities
Develop strategies tailored to the needs and characteristics of the local parent and student market
Build and maintain strong relationships with local families, community leaders, businesses, educational organizations, and other strategic partners
Identify and develop partnerships that can generate referrals, enrollment opportunities, and greater brand awareness
Represent the school in local community organizations, networking opportunities, and partnership meetings
Maintain long-term relationships with key community stakeholders rather than focusing solely on short-term campaigns
Develop a strong network of referral partners within the local market
Plan and execute local marketing initiatives, including: Community events, School fairs and education fairs, Open houses, Parent workshops and seminars, Local sponsorships, Community partnership events, Networking events, Referral programs, Local promotional campaigns
Identify opportunities for the school to increase its physical presence and visibility within the community
Evaluate the effectiveness of offline marketing activities based on leads, inquiries, tours, applications, and enrollments
Develop strong relationships with prospective and current families
Understand parent needs, concerns, and decision-making factors
Build trust with families throughout the enrollment process
Gather feedback from parents and the community to improve messaging, programs, and outreach strategies
Develop referral and word-of-mouth strategies through existing parent relationships
Strengthen the school's reputation and visibility within the local community
Ensure that the school's positioning and messaging resonate with local families
Identify opportunities for local media exposure, community sponsorships, and strategic collaborations
Work with internal teams to develop marketing materials that support local outreach and enrollment efforts
Develop and maintain a structured pipeline of community partners and referral sources
Regularly engage with existing partners to maintain strong relationships
Track partnership activities, referrals, leads, and enrollment outcomes
Identify high-value relationships and develop long-term engagement strategies
Serve as a key external representative of the organization
Work closely with Admissions, School Leadership, Operations, and other departments
Lead or coordinate staff involved in community outreach and local marketing
Establish clear goals and KPIs for local marketing and partnership development
Provide regular updates to leadership regarding community relationships, market opportunities, and enrollment pipeline development
Maintain a strong understanding of the local education market
Monitor competing schools, educational programs, and community trends
Identify underserved communities and new opportunities for student recruitment
Gather insights directly from families, partners, and community organizations