Head -Creative, Communication and Public Relations

Overview: Founded in 2010, Ekya Schools is a chain of progressive K-12 schools in Bangalore, India, offering Kindergarten & Montessori and Grades 1-12 affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and Cambridge IGCSE. With our in-house curriculum, students experience a rich learning journey designed to challenge, engage, and excite. By drawing on the legacy of the CMR Group of Institutions and the innovative, immersive methods of school systems worldwide, the Ekya Schools were instituted with one aim – to teach children not just what to learn but how to learn. Here, knowing how to learn is a skill and the key to creating lifelong learners with the means to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing world. As part of our commitment to reimagining education, Ekya Schools launched the Purpose-Based Schools in AY 2025–26, a new chain of K–12 institutions centered on thematic learning. These thematic schools enable students to develop expertise in specific areas of interest from an early age. The first of these, Ekya Nava, is a School of Innovation, Creativity, and Design that empowers the next generation of thinkers, innovators, scientists, product leaders, changemakers, and technopreneurs. At Nava, students are encouraged to pursue their passions and develop expertise from an early age through future-forward, hands-on experiential programs. By harnessing technology and design thinking, Nava helps students learn differently, present their learning in new ways, and build a mindset that enables them to make connections across disciplines and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Role Purpose: The Head - Creative, Communication and Public Relations is responsible for shaping and amplifying the brand voice of the institution across all channels, creative, digital, and public-facing. This role oversees two multidisciplinary creative teams and the PR function, ensuring alignment between brand storytelling, communication strategy, and media engagement. The role spans a diverse and expanding portfolio of brands, including Ekya Schools, Ekya Early Years, Ekya Nava, FIND, CMR National Pre University, CMR National Public School, Ekya Professional Development Institute, Ekya Vana, and Ekya Vana Early Years, with the view to further brands being added as we grow. As the custodian of this multi-brand ecosystem, the Head drives innovative campaigns, strengthens stakeholder trust, and manages both proactive and responsive communication. The role requires balancing strategic foresight with creative excellence, while maintaining brand consistency and distinction across all entities. Roles & Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Brand Governance: - Define and execute the overall brand, communication, and PR strategy in line with institutional goals. - Ensure cohesive yet distinct brand identities for each school under the portfolio. - Develop annual communication and PR calendars that support admissions, engagement, events, and reputation building. - Oversee crisis communication and reputation management, aligning responses with organisational values. Creative & Communication Leadership: - Drive integrated campaigns across digital, print, outdoor, events, and internal communication. - Elevate storytelling that highlights student impact, school culture, and community contributions. - Ensure brand messaging and design reflect a modern, aspirational, and parent/student-centric voice. - Partner with Marketing and Admissions teams to deliver creatives that balance brand-building with performance outcomes. - Lead and oversee the production of social media content, particularly videos and reels to grow the brand’s digital presence and engagement Digital & Social Media Leadership: - Lead the school group’s social media growth, with special emphasis on video-driven content (short-form, reels, YouTube, testimonials, behind-the-scenes, student stories). - Manage and grow the school’s online reputation across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, ). - Plan and oversee video content production — from concept, scripting, and filming to editing and publishing. - Collaborate with academic staff, students, and parents to create authentic, engaging storytelling. - Analyze digital campaign performance and optimize content for reach, engagement, and lead generation. - Organize and amplify events through digital channels, ensuring maximum visibility and impact. Public Relations & Media Engagement - Serve as the primary custodian for external communication and media relations. - Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, education media, and community stakeholders. - Draft and oversee press releases, op-eds, media responses, and official statements. - Manage the institution’s public image during sensitive issues, ensuring transparent and professional representation. - Leverage PR to amplify campaign reach, highlight institutional achievements, and shape positive narratives in the public domain. Team Leadership & Collaboration: - Lead and mentor Creative Leads, PR executives, and their respective teams. - Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture across creative and PR verticals. - Collaborate cross-functionally with Academic, Operations, Marketing, and Leadership teams. - Build capacity within the team for emerging formats (e.g., podcasts, digital storytelling, short-form video, community PR). - Direct the team in ideation and content creation, perfecting design, videos, carousels, and other collaterals while ensuring all outputs stay true to the larger brand voice. Innovation & Impact Measurement: - Track, measure, and report on the performance of creative campaigns and PR initiatives. - Stay updated with education marketing, branding, PR, and digital communication trends. - Champion innovation in formats and platforms to keep the institution’s voice relevant and impactful. Qualifications & Experience: - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Communication, Media, Journalism, Marketing, or related field. - 12–15 years of experience in brand communication, creative leadership, and public relations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. - Proven expertise in managing brand strategy, creative teams, and external media relations. - Demonstrated success in crisis communication, campaign leadership, PR storytelling, and multi-brand reputation management. - Strong track record of growing social media accounts and engagement through video-first strategies. - In-depth knowledge of video content trends across platforms (Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, YouTube). - Ability to conceptualize and oversee video campaigns end-to-end (experience with editing tools a plus). - Excellent storytelling, copywriting, and communication skills with a keen eye for design and brand voice. - Strong understanding of SEO, social media analytics, and paid digital campaigns. - Leadership experience with the ability to guide and inspire a team of creatives, freelancers, and agencies. - Creative, data-driven, and passionate about education and student engagement. Additional Requirements: - Excellent leadership and team management skills with experience leading diverse creative and communication teams. - Outstanding written, visual, and verbal communication skills. - Strong network with media, PR agencies, and creative vendors. - High level of professionalism in handling sensitive and public-facing communication. - Analytical and data-driven mindset for measuring campaign and PR impact. - Ability to balance creativity with strategic business objectives in a fast-paced, operations-heavy environment. - Forward-looking, innovative thinker who can position the institution as a leader in the education sector. Join Us: At Ekya, education is about building futures. As Head - Creative, Communication and PR, you’ll shape how our brands, Ekya Schools, Ekya Early Years, Ekya Nava, FIND, CMR National Pre University, CMR National Public School, Ekya Professional Development Institute, Ekya Vana, and Ekya Vana Early Years are seen and experienced by students, parents, educators, and the wider community, with more to come as we grow. If you’re a visionary leader who blends creativity, strategy, and storytelling, join us to craft a brand that reflects who we are today and who we aspire to be tomorrow.