Marketing & Communications Manager

The Helix School•San Rafael, CA

6d•$85,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Marketing & Communications Manager is a newly created hybrid role serving both The Helix School and Helix Adult Academy. The position will work across both locations, with the flexibility to work from home two to three days per week. Born out of our growth and the recognition that telling our story well is essential to our mission, this role will serve as the primary steward of the Helix brands—shaping how we engage prospective families, donors, community partners, corporate and private foundations, and the broader public. Reporting to The Helix School’s Director of Development, the Marketing & Communications Manager will collaborate closely with the leadership teams and Executive Directors of both the school and adult academy to ensure our communications are cohesive, compelling, and true to who we are. This is a hands-on, creative, and operational role for someone who enjoys writing, advancing brand awareness, and designing fundraising campaigns and donor communications across print and digital platforms. The ideal candidate understands how to identify, target, and segment audiences to advance programmatic goals and drive engagement. This deadline-driven role will be measured by audience growth, engagement, and call-to-action conversion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Minimum of five (5) years leading marketing communications, advertising, media, and public relations for a nonprofit, educational, or community organization
Demonstrated experience designing and project managing community- and donor-facing events including galas, 5K races, private house parties, and tabling events
Exceptional verbal and written communications, with demonstrated experience writing, editing, and storytelling with an instinct for voice and emotional resonance, and the ability to translate complex information into compelling audience-centered communications
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently
Logical, strategic thinker with exceptional attention to detail as well as the big picture
Strong aesthetic sensibility, with an eye for layout, typography, and visual storytelling
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Canva Pro, with experience designing and producing print- and post-ready graphics (flyers, invitations, etc.)
Experience creating and posting video reels and managing social media platforms, including paid posts and advertising
Experience managing website content and familiarity with website CMS platforms, Google Analytics, and SEO optimization tools
Experience with digital advertising platforms (Google Ads, Meta Business Suite)
Experience managing email platforms, list segmentation, and tags (Mailchimp or similar)
Experience using AI tools as part of a creative and production workflow
Genuine interest in supporting special education and the autistic and neurodiverse community
Highly organized, self-directed, comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously
Adept at leading through ambiguity and building structures that do not yet exist
Comfortable serving two closely linked organizations in the same role
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with a wide range of constituencies

Responsibilities

Serve as guardian of the Helix brand: maintain and enforce brand standards
Develop and execute a comprehensive shared communications calendar (for The Helix School and Helix Adult Academy) including social media, email, print, and live events
Produce and maintain print and digital collateral including program overviews, catalogs, one-pagers, event materials, and fundraising campaign materials
Write, design, and produce (with vendor support) internal and external communications including direct mail, email, web, social media, and print and digital newsletters and publications
Design and craft email campaigns via Mailchimp and/or Bloomerang email platforms
Plan and execute public relations and advertising campaigns (print and digital)
Oversee the social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) for both organizations, collaborating with leadership and staff on social media strategy and execution
Oversee and maintain the websites (with vendor support); collaborate with and guide department heads on processes and schedules to ensure content is maintained
Put in place text, photo, and video storytelling to reflect the full diversity of The Helix School and Helix Adult Academy communities, showcasing values of access and belonging
Analyze communications engagement and performance metrics to refine messaging, strengthen storytelling, and improve conversion and response rates
Research associations, trade shows, publications, podcasts, and events where The Helix School and THAA should be present