Executive Assistant and Communications Manager

Breakthrough Montessori PCS • Washington, DC

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Assistant and Communications Manager serves as a direct support to the leadership team, specifically the Executive Director. This role requires a high degree of confidentiality, professionalism, maturity, sound judgment, and attention to detail. The individual must be able to produce high-quality written communications for various audiences, including families, board members, foundations, donors, and community partners. The core purpose of this role is to ensure the Executive Director and leadership team are well-supported, organized, and positioned to operate as a stable and highly integrated team. This position also functions as a strong project manager, implementing strategic initiatives to strengthen and elevate the school's mission-driven public brand. As Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School enters a new chapter focused on strengthening systems, refining its brand, and deepening successful strategies, this role will be crucial in supporting and advancing this work both internally and externally through thoughtful communication, strategic organization, and relationship-centered leadership support. While Montessori training is not required, strong customer service skills, emotional intelligence, excellent communication abilities, discretion, and a willingness to learn about Montessori education within the public charter school context are essential. This is not a junior position and is well-suited for a mid-career professional.

Requirements

• High emotional intelligence and professional judgment
• Strong systems thinking and organizational design skills
• Ability to de-escalate conflict calmly and effectively
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage complexity without creating dependency
• Creative thinking and problem solving skills
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders; and a strong commitment to strengthening education to fight inequity.

Nice To Haves

• Administrative experience in schools or mission-driven organizations preferred
• Montessori training or familiarity preferred
• Experience in school administration, operations, or organizational management preferred
• Fluency in a language other than English a plus

Responsibilities

• Work with the Executive Director to develop and implement a communications plan that sets goals and expected outcomes; identifies target audiences; establishes a schedule of communications; and identifies platforms for communication.
• Develop a communications plan from an equity lens, ensuring all family members have access to information in their preferred language and format.
• Manage routine school communications (newsletters, text messages, social media, etc.), including drafting monthly parent newsletters, “Coffee with Leadership” presentation materials, and Board meeting materials.
• Conduct regular outreach to families to notify them of school updates.
• Attend OSSE and PCSB webinars, meetings, or training on behalf of the Executive Director when scheduling conflicts arise, and provide timely summaries and follow-up action items.
• Draft grant applications, reports, and supporting materials for the Executive Director’s review and finalization.
• Support the school’s outreach and enrollment strategy through coordinated communication efforts, including website management, social media engagement, and promotional communications that strengthen the school’s brand and visibility.
• Ensure cross-functional initiatives have clear ownership, organized project management, and consistent follow-through across departments and teams.
• Serve as a liaison and primary point of contact for parent organizations and family engagement initiatives, including coordination of events and the family engagement calendar.
• Provide general administrative and operational support, including coordinating logistics and communications for student field trips, moving-up ceremonies, and other school-wide events and activities.
• Lead and manage special projects, such as staff onboarding initiatives, anniversary celebrations, and milestone events like the school’s 10-year gala.
• Collect feedback from the Breakthrough family community through an annual family engagement survey as well as other focus groups, listening sessions, and opportunities for dialogue, and share and discuss results with Breakthrough staff.

Benefits

• Paid personal time off
• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday
• An individual professional development budget of $250/year
• Conference participation
• Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license
• Health, dental, vision (Carefirst Blue Cross)
• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)
• AFLAC
• Long-term disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level