Job Description

ORGANIZATION  

The Chicago Humanities presents the most compelling authors, artists, and thinkers of our time, connecting people to the ideas that shape and define us. Insightful, entertaining, and interactive, events are a platform for authors, journalists, scholars, policymakers, and other thought leaders, as well as for artists, actors, musicians, comedians, and cultural figures. Our programs provoke conversations, celebrate creativity, build community and explore the boundaries of contemporary knowledge and culture. Chicago Humanities values programming that reflects multiple viewpoints and lived experiences, is accessible and inclusive and speaks to diverse audiences. We program across Chicago, bringing people and ideas together in various neighborhoods. Chicago Humanities seeks to facilitate an engagement with ideas that transcend individual concerns, to enable empathy and connection through shared experiences. We are a hybrid office, working together remotely and in the office; evening and weekend availability is required during the seasons—more information at chicagohumanities.org.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Director of Marketing and Communications is a key leadership role, serving as Chicago Humanities’ primary brand champion, leading its marketing, communications, and digital strategy to drive audience acquisition and seasonal ticket sales, and audience engagement. Specific responsibilities include: marketing, brand, and communications strategies and platforms; segmented communications strategy; expansive team and partner management; communications (website, print, email, social media, advertising, public relations), onsite and digital branding, videography/photography, audience insights/reporting, and more. Experience leading a high-performing team and using data analytics and audience insights to inform decision making and campaigns are vital, required skills. 

Job Responsibilities:

Communications, Content and Brand Strategies

• Serve as Chicago Humanities’ brand champion, ensuring consistent application of visual identity, brand strategy, and brand voice across all channels and assets—web, social, email, print, on-site, and other platforms
• Create annual communications plans and calendars to support evolving Chicago Humanities and programming schedules and to capitalize on opportune membership and fundraising moments
• Identify strategies to expand and diversify audience and audience engagement moments     
• Develop season, series, and special event announcements, communications and media timelines, and campaigns in partnership with programming, public relations, audience experience, and other teams
• Develop marketing/advertising campaigns to drive event ticket sales, including broadcast, print, paid social, and digital media.
• Direct organic and paid social media strategies, supporting creative development to optimize the performance on specific platforms with in-house Social Media Specialist
• Oversee and shape digital content, including video archive, activating archival assets, elevating presenters and partners, and promoting ancillary digital content
• Manage and continually refine comprehensive, segmented email strategies to support attendance and list growth
• Educate and support Board and Staff on appropriate brand voice usage and applications  

Digital Platform Management

• Evaluate Chicago Humanities website to continually refine site architecture and UX; supervise incremental changes to improve user experience, optimize purchase and donation pathways, and ensure brand consistency, in close cooperation with web development partner
• Maintain portfolio of Chicago Humanities digital platforms including website, Google Analytics, ticketing CRM, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok with the appropriate team support in Marketing, Audience Experience, and IT   
• Manage the goals, timelines and budgets, phase and deliverables structure, expectations, and testing of new functionality on website and ticketing platforms to support audience experience, and oversee related internal reporting 
• Work with and manage multiple external vendors and partners to achieve complex integration requirements
• Support Digital Marketing Manager’s related work on SEO, Ad Grants, and retargeting campaigns  

Strategy, Finance, and Board

• Help drive the strategic vision for the organization with the senior team and key Board stakeholders, including the consistent application of data-driven decision making in alignment with the Strategic Plan
• Support membership efforts, especially first-time members
• Analyze seasonal sales and attendance data, audience research, and other key metrics to support annual/seasonal planning and ongoing programming decisions
• Create, monitor, and forecast annual marketing budget in alignment with organizational objectives
• Devise pricing strategies and seasonal projections to optimize admissions revenue while also meeting access and partnership goals
• Serve as primary lead for seasonal and end-of-year reporting based on metrics set in cooperation with senior leadership
• Co-lead the Board Marketing Committee and manage its meetings, projects, and workflows
• Prepare reports, presentations, and other materials to share analyses with internal and external stakeholders 

Team and Relationship Management 

• Manage, mentor, and support a talented and high-performing team of full-time staff members and full- and part-time contractors 
• Serve as marketing contact for bookselling partner and coordinate annual agreements, aspects of book sales and bundles, marketing and communications in close cooperation with programming team and Director of Operations
• Manage media partnerships with local media outlets and media contacts with Publicity Manager
• Develop and manage marketing partnerships with local institutions that align with Chicago Humanities content and audience objectives  
• Manage a number of significant relationships with external vendors and consultants: web developers, videographers, graphic designers, photographers, video producers, strategy consultants, and other professionals
• Provide mentorship and oversight to the Audience Experience Team, especially around ticketing particulars, programming talking points, and audience engagement opportunities

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $90,000 – $100,000. Benefits include health coverage, dental, vision, 403b (with employer match), life insurance, short and long-term disability, parental leave, commuter spending plan, and accrued time paid time off at the rate of 17 days for this fiscal year. The Chicago Humanities is also closed for ten observed holidays and allows for one floating religious holiday, in addition to winter break (December 25 through New Year’s Day) as time off.

WORK LOCATION 

We work in a hybrid model with two days (at the moment) in the office and other days working remotely. While working remotely, you will have access to a laptop computer and a $25 per pay period ($50/month) stipend to offset home internet and personal phone expenses.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION (DEAI)

The Chicago Humanities is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive workplace where all employees and  volunteers, whatever their gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity,  education, or disability, feel valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in our departments, programs, and policies.  We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. 

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: communications, director, and Marketing. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

133 total views, 0 today

Apply for this Job