Head of Communications and Marketing

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Head of Communications and Marketing

🔹 Company: Rising Academies

🔹 Location: Global (with a focus on India)

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Remote OK

🔹 Category: Education, Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 15, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK (Global, with a focus on India)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and executing strategic marketing and communications plans across various delivery channels
• Expanding audience reach and driving revenue through effective marketing strategies
• Upholding brand excellence and ensuring consistent adherence to branding guidelines
• Building and leading a high-performing communications team
• Fostering a network of talented freelancers to generate high-quality outputs
• Leveraging ministerial and partner connections for international media coverage
• Monitoring and reporting on performance, with a focus on continuous improvement

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of digital marketing channels and tools.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy across commercial channels

✅ Increasing followers across Rising’s social media platforms and enhancing content reach

✅ Sourcing and originating significant funding and new customer acquisition through effective marketing strategies

✅ Ensuring all external communications and marketing initiatives adhere to and promote Rising’s branding guidelines

✅ Building and leading a fully operational Communications team

✅ Fostering a network of talented and mission-aligned freelancers for high-quality content generation

✅ Leveraging ministerial and partner connections for international media coverage and events

✅ Providing regular updates on communications and marketing performance to the board and senior leadership team

✅ Continuously gathering and analyzing performance data to identify and implement improvements in marketing communications effectiveness

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong focus on data-driven decision making and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field (Advanced degree preferred)

Experience: Proven experience in strategic marketing and communications, particularly in leadership roles

Required Skills:

• Expertise in digital marketing channels and tools
• Strong leadership skills, with experience in building, leading, and motivating a team
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze marketing data and insights to guide strategy
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to create compelling and effective marketing and communication materials
• Networking and partnership development skills, with experience leveraging networks to enhance brand visibility and forge strategic partnerships
• Adaptability and creativity, with the ability to adapt to changing market conditions and come up with innovative solutions to marketing challenges

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in the education sector or with international organizations
• Fluency in multiple languages, with a focus on local languages in Rising's operating countries

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the education sector or international organizations may have a better understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Competitive salary, benchmarked against comparable businesses, social ventures, and non-profits. Rising has a standard, global pay scale for all positions that is non-negotiable.

Benefits:

• Built to have a strong added value on staff’s well-being

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: The salary range and benefits package are designed to be competitive and attractive to candidates with the required skills and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Education Administration Programs, with a focus on quality education, affordable schools, edtech, and government partnerships

Company Size: 501-1,000 employees, with a fast-growing presence across Africa and beyond

Founded: 2014, with a mission to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people that need them most

Company Description:

• One of the fastest-growing quality-focused education companies in Africa, and a Certified B Corp®
• Serves over 300,000 students across more than 700 schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda
• Offers affordable private schools, government partnerships, and licensing to the non-state sector
• Committed to creating a culture that recognises the importance of safeguarding children and prioritising their rights and needs

Company Specialties:

• Quality Education
• West Africa
• Affordable Schools
• Edtech
• Government Partnerships

Company Website: https://linktr.ee/risingacademies

ASSUMPTION: Rising Academies is a mission-driven organization with a strong commitment to quality education and child safeguarding.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer with dotted line relationships across Rising’s Management team

Reporting Structure: Direct reports include Communications team members and freelancers

Work Arrangement: Full-time, remote OK (Global, with a focus on India)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to shape the future of education in Africa and beyond
• Opportunity to build and lead a high-performing Communications team
• Possibility to expand the role's impact through strategic partnerships and international media coverage

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a lasting impact on the organization and the education sector.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Remote OK, with a focus on India

Office Location(s): Global (with a focus on India), including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda

Geographic Context:

• India: Large and diverse market with significant growth potential in the education sector
• Global: Opportunity to work with a diverse, international team and impact students worldwide

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: The remote work arrangement offers flexibility and the opportunity to work with a diverse, global team.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the HR team
• In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or other senior team members
• Final interview or presentation, if applicable

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and planning
• Leadership and team-building skills
• Digital marketing expertise
• Communication and presentation skills
• Cultural fit and alignment with Rising's mission and values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Demonstrate your understanding of Rising's mission and the unique challenges and opportunities in the education sector
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills

ATS Keywords: Strategic Marketing, Communications, Digital Marketing, Leadership, Analytical Skills, Communication Skills, Networking, Partnership Development, Adaptability, Creativity, Education, Quality Education, Affordable Schools, Edtech, Government Partnerships

ASSUMPTION: The application process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and digital marketing expertise, as well as their cultural fit and alignment with Rising's mission and values.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
• Email marketing tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
• SEO tools (e.g., Google Analytics, SEMrush)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will have experience with a range of digital marketing channels and tools, and be comfortable learning and adapting to new technologies as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Quality-focused
• Innovative and adaptable
• Collaborative and mission-driven

Work Style:

• Strategic and data-driven
• Creative and adaptable
• Collaborative and team-oriented

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you approach strategic planning and execution in a dynamic and evolving market?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a team through a significant challenge or change?
• How do you balance data-driven decision making with creativity and innovation in your marketing strategies?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Rising's values and work style, and can demonstrate a strong commitment to the organization's mission, will be well-suited to this role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a growing organization
• Balancing the need for strategic planning and execution with the need for adaptability and flexibility
• Managing a remote, global team with diverse cultural backgrounds and time zones
• Ensuring consistent brand excellence across multiple delivery channels and regions

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be able to navigate these challenges effectively, leveraging their strong leadership skills, adaptability, and strategic mindset.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional marketing roles, this position requires a deep understanding of the education sector and a commitment to quality education and child safeguarding
• Compared to other senior marketing roles, this position offers the unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Africa and beyond
• Career path may include opportunities to expand the role's impact through strategic partnerships and international media coverage, as well as potential growth opportunities within the organization

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of strategic marketing and communications experience, with a focus on the education sector and international development.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy for a new edtech product launch
• Expanding audience reach and driving revenue through targeted social media campaigns and influencer partnerships
• Upholding brand excellence through consistent messaging and visual identity guidelines across multiple delivery channels and regions

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic, creative, and adaptable nature of the role, as well as the importance of data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the most significant marketing challenge facing Rising Academies in the next 1-3 years, and how this role will address it?
• How does Rising Academies approach data-driven decision making, and how will this role contribute to that process?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a team through a significant change or challenge, and what the outcome was?
• How does Rising Academies ensure consistent brand excellence across multiple delivery channels and regions, and how will this role contribute to that effort?
• What opportunities exist for growth and expansion within this role, and how does Rising Academies support the professional development of its employees?

ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to assess the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and cultural fit, as well as their understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in this role.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills
• Research Rising Academies' mission, values, and unique approach to quality education and child safeguarding
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.