Senior Director of Marketing Job Listing at Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. in Durham, NC (Job ID 20011888)

Description

The historic nonprofit Carolina Theatre of Durham is seeking our next rockstar Senior Director of Marketing to lead our team of expert marketing, web, branding, and PR pros. We strongly value a diversity of people and experiences, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the City-owned historic Carolina Theatre complex including the 1,100-seat historic Fletcher Hall and two cinemas which screen independent film, as well as festivals and retrospectives, 365 days per year and up to 3,500 screenings per year. The organization presents more than 90 Star Series performances per year in Fletcher Hall and provides more than 35 educational performances for more than 15,000 school children from 12 counties in our Arts Discovery  Education series. Fletcher Hall is also home to several performing arts resident companies and hosts a variety of non-profit and commercial community events throughout the year. The theater supports a number of events designed to ensure the whole community can experience arts programming, including free offerings such as sensory-friendly and family programs. Consistently ranked by Pollstar as one of the top venues our size in the country, we are one of the busiest venues in the Southeast with events 365 days per year in three auditoriums.

As a City-owned, nonprofit-run facility, we believe that our entire community should be welcomed and celebrated here. We are committed to approaching all our work, programs, and policies focused on ensuring that all voices are heard and valued and that each is respected and included. Our staff, volunteers, vendors, partners, and guests come from every imaginable walk of life. Diversity, equity and access for all are the focus we also expect from all with whom we work, contract, or partner.

Our programs are supported by a marketing department currently made up of three staff members, an outside graphic designer and a web developer. Most of the Star Series events are primarily marketed by our promoter partner, National Shows 2, which takes the marketing lead on the many of our live events, with our marketing department taking on certain local marketing tasks. Our marketing team is also responsible for institutional branding and messaging, and public relations. A strong and growing development department, currently of two people, is also supported by the marketing team for collateral and marketing of fundraising events, sponsorships, member events and appeals. These two departments work in tandem to ensure the theater's revenue stream remains strong, meeting regularly to coordinate marketing communications, content, and strategy for development initiatives.

As the theater nears its 100th anniversary in 2026, marketing will have additional responsibilities for Centennial Events and institutional messaging to help the theater pave the way for the next 100 years.

Core Duties:

The Senior Director of Marketing is responsible for developing a marketing and sales plan that achieves our revenue goals from ticket sales, sponsorships, memberships and other revenue streams that benefit from marketing and public relations. This person will also work closely with our Development, Membership, Education, Film, and Programming departments to ensure audiences know about, and support, all that the Carolina Theatre brings to the community. They will also work collaboratively on efforts to ensure the Carolina Theatre is recognized for its impact on the community at the local, state, and national levels. They are responsible for ensuring that our outreach efforts achieve our goals of diversity and access for all.

The Senior Director of Marketing manages a multi-function team responsible for brand, digital marketing, email marketing, social media, public relations, print materials, and box office sales numbers. They are responsible for expanding, promoting, and protecting the brand in all forms of media, particularly those that reach and engage the Theater's most enthusiastic and influential supporters.

The person in this position needs an intuitive instinct for the right marketing angle for each of our diverse programming, and for determining the audience for each event. The right language, visuals, audience development techniques, and target marketing approaches will be essential.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Commitment to consistently view and evaluate all work, programs and policies through an anti-racist, equity, and access lens.
• Coordinate and execute communications and messaging for the organization's nonprofit mission and related activities, including developing comprehensive marketing plans, media buying, copywriting, maintaining/updating web site, conceiving and managing production of printed collateral, and utilizing email marketing and social media. Identify new ways to increase the visibility and reach of the organization.
• Conceive, pursue, secure, and manage relationships with corporate and other community partnerships for in-kind support or special outreach projects with other entities, to achieve financial and mission-driven goals.
• Manage a marketing staff consisting of a Marketing Associate, Marketing Assistant/Social Media Manager, and a contract graphic artist.
• Lead the team in collaborating, brainstorming and devising strategies for all events, marketing, and PR initiatives and create a content or marketing deadline calendar.
• Collaborate with external booking partner to obtain collateral and schedule newsletters, social media, and provide creative insights/opportunities for grassroots tactics, partnerships and local tactics.
• Manage public relations to promote theater activities and initiatives in the media or collaborate with external partner to do so. Help coordinate direct requests for media appearances/interviews.
• Attend select events regularly across the organization to ensure an understanding of the products being marketed. These events will frequently occur on weeknights or weekends.
• Collaborate on Carolina Theatre special events, such as the annual fundraising gala, member events, free open houses and/or tours, and other community-minded events. This position is expected to participate fully in these events, which can occur on weeknights or weekends.
• Collaborate on major donor relations and major donor prospect development.
• Develop and foster relationships and partnerships with local and state tourism and marketing organizations, fine arts/cultural organizations, and other industry affiliates to strengthen the theater's regional and national profile.
• Develop, monitor, and maximize annual budgets for relevant marketing and partnerships.
• Attend Community Engagement committee meetings and board/other committee/ad hoc meetings as requested.
• Collaborate and maintain effective working relationships with board members, theater staff (especially the Development Department), and with other external stakeholders as needed.
• Collaborate with the Director of Live Events, the Director of Education and Community Engagement, and the Director of Film to develop and implement effective marketing strategies for their respective programs.
• Coordinate with Box Office Management on announcing all events/on-sales on the website and social media posts as well as on marketing ticketing requests.
• Stay connected to peers and industry standards by attending conferences and regional meetings.

• Support the sale and renewal of memberships.
• Support the education department sell paid educational programs and camps.

• Manage and execute digital communications campaigns and promote the use of new technologies to increase efficiencies and amplify communication efforts.
• Manage and drive direction for the website and all social media channels.
• Build and supervise Public Relation strategies.
• Conduct regular audits of the Carolina Theatre's customer data and email segmentations lists.
• Support fundraising by successfully promoting events, campaigns, and membership programs.
• Listen, communicate, and handle diplomacy with internal and external customers, vendors and staff in all situations.
• Track the progress of marketing strategies and ticket sales through data analytics and provide regular sales reports to the CEO and at regular Senior Staff meetings.
• Analyze market trends and economic factors that impact the Carolina Theatre.
• Identify through market research opportunities for new audiences and growth of existing guests.
• Evaluate our current patrons' experience and articulate touch point opportunities to enhance their satisfaction and connection.
• Other duties as assigned to contribute to a small, hardworking, and dedicated team.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of five years of successful and progressively responsible employment in event marketing, advertising, or related field. Established relationships in local market is a plus. Work in arts, entertainment, and one-off shows (versus season sales) is strongly preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires strong attention to detail and superb organizational and customer service skills. It is a team building and leadership position and needs someone with effective partnership building skills and clear written and verbal communication.

• Proven experience incorporating an anti-racist, equity, and access lens to their work

• Proven experience as a Sales and Marketing Manager or relevant role
• Proven experience selling tickets to live events
• Strategic thinker who is aware of the big picture
• Ability to use data to drive decisions and set goals while using intuition to determine market segments and drive strategy
• Strong understanding of traditional and digital marketing strategies
• Exceptional communications and storytelling skills
• Excited to work in the performing arts as part of a dedicated team
• Confident and articulate, as well as willing to accept input

• High proficiency in MS Office, website CMS, email marketing, and social media management
• Proficiency in graphic design software and/or video editing software is a plus
• Demonstrated excellence in communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal), with both internal and external parties
• Demonstrated excellence in project planning and prioritization, attention to detail, critical thinking, independent decision-making
• Occasional evening and weekend hours