Objective

• The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) is responsible for leading and integrating all aspects of strategic communications, public relations, and brand reputation across the Braeburn Group of Schools (Kenya). The CCO will develop and implement a unified communications strategy that strengthens Braeburn's brand reputation, enhances community engagement, manages all media relations, and aligns with the Group's mission and long-term goals.
• As a senior leader and a key member of the Executive Committee (ExCo), the CCO will provide visionary leadership to a multi-functional team while collaborating cross-functionally with Heads of schools, Headteachers, and corporate departments.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and lead an integrated communications strategy aligned with the Group's values and strategic goals.
• Serve as the principal communications advisor to the CEO and Group Leadership, offering strategic counsel on media relations, internal and external messaging, and crisis communications.
• Write, edit, and distribute communications materials, including press releases, executive messages, and public statements.
• Implement robust content strategies across all platforms (earned, owned, shared) ensuring consistent, high-impact storytelling.
• Represent Braeburn at relevant conferences, media briefings, and public events to enhance visibility and brand presence.

Media Relations & Public Image Management

• Act as the primary liaison with the media, managing all external inquiries and developing proactive media outreach strategies.
• Track and analyze media coverage and public sentiment, providing reports and strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key journalists, editors, and industry influencers.
• Oversee the strategy and creation of social media posts and content to maintain and enhance the organisation's public image and manage community engagement.

Brand Reputation & Consistency

• Work with relevant teams to ensure brand messaging and voice are consistent across all internal and external communications and materials.
• Oversee the strategy for digital communications platforms (web, social media) to enhance reach and engagement.
• Partner with marketing teams to support the communication aspects of group-wide brand campaigns.

Stakeholder Engagement & Community Building

• Lead internal and external stakeholder communications including parents, staff, alumni, and partners.
• Develop communication strategies to foster deep community relationships and advocacy.
• Support school-level parent engagement efforts and strengthen influencer networks.
• Oversee outreach initiatives and partnerships that reinforce Braeburn’s local and international reputation.

Crisis & Issues Management

• Act as the primary lead on all group-level crisis communication strategies.
• Anticipate, mitigate, and manage reputational risks in collaboration with legal and HR departments.
• Localise Group policies into school-specific protocols and templates.

Customer Experience Leadership

• Be the Customer Experience (CX) Champion across the Group.
• Use data insights, surveys, and NPS tools to continuously improve parent and student experiences across touchpoints.
• Design and lead Customer Experience Improvement Plan (CXIP).

Skills and Experience Required

• Proven senior leadership experience in strategic communications and media relations—preferably in an educational or service-oriented sector.
• Track record of developing and implementing cross-channel communications strategies focused on reputation management and public relations.
• Deep understanding of digital content creation, social media strategy, and media tracking tools.
• Experience leading communications teams and managing complex, multi-stakeholder communication projects.
• Demonstrated ability in high-stakes crisis communications and executive stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional command of content creation, storytelling, and media relations, with a portfolio of published materials (e.g., press releases, articles, speeches).
• High emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism.
• Excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written); additional languages are an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking – Aligns communications strategies with long-term organisational goals.
• Customer Focus – Creates service excellence for families, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Leadership & Team Management – Inspires and empowers cross-functional teams.
• Project Management – Drives complex projects from concept to execution with precision.
• Collaboration – Fosters cooperation and transparency across departments and schools.
• Results-Oriented – Sets and achieves ambitious communications and reputation goals using metrics and data insights.