About this role
Job Title Communication Support Specialist Salary Scale FI15
Location Florence 1 Schools PSC Code 012060
Reports To Superintendent of Schools Shift Type Full Time/Exempt
General Statement of Job
The Communications Support Specialist will support the Florence 1 Schools Office of Communications and Marketing through social media content, digital communications, and brand management and strategy for district schools. This entry-level position works closely with school administrators and staff to help tell the stories of our students, teachers, and schools using a wide range of platforms, such as social media, newsletters, digital cameras, communications tools, and websites, while ensuring all content complies with district policies, accessibility and brand standards, and student privacy requirements. The ideal candidate is organized, creative, detail-oriented, and passionate about public education. They have a well-rounded background in photography, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, website building, and formatting, paired with the ability to communicate our districts schools' stories.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
• Assist with the planning, creation, scheduling, and publishing of social media content for district schools.
• Support schools in developing engaging content that reflects their unique brand identity and culture while maintaining consistency with the Florence 1 Schools brand guide.
• Monitor and manage school social media accounts to ensure compliance with district branding standards, communication guidelines, accessibility requirements, and social media best practices.
• Moderate comments and messages as appropriate, identify and escalate concerns, and track engagement metrics to analyze performance and inform future content strategies.
• Verify that appropriate media release permissions are on file before students are featured in school communications.
• Ensure that all school-based social media accounts have been approved by a district-level administrator.
• Review content to ensure accessibility requirements are met, including the use of alternative text, captions, readable formatting, and other accessibility best practices.
• Collaborate with principals, school staff, and district departments to identify and promote positive stories within the schools.
• Ability to use platforms such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and other similar programs to create uniquely branded assets.
• Use a digital camera to create an end product that supports the authenticity of the school's brand and culture.
• Help build foundations and templates, such as our intranet, to provide tools and resources that schools can easily access and use.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Expertise or strong familiarity with tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace is required.
• Familiarity with major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Basic knowledge of web design, HTML, and CSS; advanced knowledge preferred.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. The ability to write clear copy, manage social media platforms and accounts, and build and assist with school newsletters.
• Campaign Planning: The ability to design and execute promotional campaigns and strategies across digital, social, and traditional channels.
• Data Analysis: Understanding of social media best practices and audience engagement. Track performance metrics to see what is working and improve future results.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with school administrators, teachers, students, and district office staff.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and protecting student privacy.
• Understanding of or willingness to learn digital accessibility standards and legal requirements related to student media permissions.
• Photography: The ability to use a digital camera to create an end product that supports the authenticity of the school's brand and culture.
Essential Functions
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including photography equipment, computer, telephone, tools, etc. Must be able to exert up to twenty pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; work involves walking or standing for extended periods of time, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and performing light manual labor.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking, writing, and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor and giving direction to production participants.
Language Ability: Requires ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, equipment manuals, specifications, catalogs, computer manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare various records, scripts, production reports, memos, graphics, social media posts, websites, etc. with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of technical instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, mathematical or schedule form. Requires the ability to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow verbal and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and using the technical terminology of video and audio production electronics.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape; identify and create artistic mixes and matches as in design, visual effects, etc.; and visually read various information.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office and special audio/visual production equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, cameras, tools, etc. Must have moderate levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines.
Physical Communications: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds by ear).
Software and Platform Criteria
• Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace knowledge is required
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Threads
Training and Education
Associate's degree required; bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Digital Media, or a related field preferred.
Performance Evaluation Criteria
Job Knowledge: Has thorough knowledge of the methods, procedures and policies of the Office of Communications and Marketing as they pertain to the performance of duties of the Communication Support Specialist. Is knowledgeable in the laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Has thorough knowledge of the organization of the Department and of related departments and agencies. Has considerable knowledge of the functions and interrelationships of Florence 1 Schools and other governmental agencies. Has excellent photography and communications skills; is able to develop and produce audio/visual programs with professionalism and creativity, often under the pressure of tight deadlines. Has knowledge of and skill in the use of the standard tools, materials and practices of the trade. Has skill in the care and use of required tools and equipment. Has the ability to offer assistance to co-workers and staff of other departments as required. Has the ability to use independent judgment as needed in performing routine and non-routine tasks. Is able to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision. Is able to read and interpret various reports and related materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job. Knows how to prepare scripts, specifications, reports, correspondence, social media posts, website assets, etc. with accuracy, using proper grammar and persuasive language. Has knowledge of the terminology and various professional and technical languages used within the department. Knows how to maintain effective relationships with personnel of other departments, professionals and members of the public through contact and cooperation. Knows how to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations. Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations. Has the ability to plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities. Has excellent organizational, technical and human relations skills. Has the ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency. Has skill in the use of computers.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interaction with all District departments and divisions, co-workers and the public.
Quantity of Work: Performs described "Specific Duties and Responsibilities" and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce a quantity of work which consistently meets standards and expectations of the District.
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work. Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, District policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Remains accountable to assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to District policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice where appropriate and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of the same. Questions such as instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with District policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the District.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with managers, supervisors and staff for mutual and District benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all District employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the public so as to maintain good will toward the District and to project a good District image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the District. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the District. Interacts effectively with higher management, professionals and the public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends required meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the District and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
DISCLAIMER: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
Terms of Employment
240 day work agreement. Salary and work year to be established by the district.
Florence 1 Schools does not discriminate in the selection, employment, or promotion of employees on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or S.C. law.