Director of Communications - Southern Utah University

Job Description:

The Director of Communications is responsible for leading the strategic planning, successful
execution, and thoughtful evaluation of the marketing and communications efforts at the Utah
Shakespeare Festival (USF). This includes marketing/audience research, advertising campaigns,
and public relations efforts all developed to increase revenue, attendance, visibility, and
awareness of USF. The Director of Communications manages the flow of information from the
organization to its external stakeholders including the brand strategy, communications strategy,
media relations strategy, and content creation, in collaboration with the other members of the
communications department (marketing manager, publications manager, and creative director).
The Director of Communications reports to the Executive Managing Director and works closely
with the Artistic Director.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Festival's marketing and communications efforts, synthesizing external communications to reflect a unified message of the Festival's mission and programs. With the senior leadership of the theatre and the communications department, establish and execute an annual strategic and comprehensive marketing and communications plan that supports the growth of the operations of the Festival, articulates the Festival's desired image and position, and delineates goals and plans regarding all aspects of external messaging, branding, sales, marketing, promotion, social media, content creation, and relations with various publics including industry, legislative, community, media, volunteers, board,
  company members and guests.

• Manage and oversee the formation and maintenance of necessary reports and records. Help prepare and manage the department's expense and revenue forecasts, financial reports, and budget. Supervise ongoing primary and secondary marketing research regarding theatre and tourism trends in order to understand and meet the requirements of our guests and potential guests. Oversee the implementation of tools for tracking marketing and communications performance, ensuring regular analysis of key metrics to inform future strategies.

• Collaborate with other Festival departments to meet departmental objectives. For example: work with the Guest Services team to enhance the guest experience and ensure a quality customer experience from the time of ticket purchase to onsite experience to follow-up communications; work with Festival's management staff in long-range planning, season selection, season theme development, sales revenue projections, and other projects.

• Provide supervision and evaluation (direct or indirect) of all members of the marketing and communications department.

• Negotiate advertising contracts with vendors in coordination with the Festival marketing manager and in compliance with all SUU purchasing policies. Cultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets to promote positive coverage of the Festival's productions and events.

• Serve as the marketing and communications department liaison for the Festival Board of Governors.

• Develop and manage crisis communication strategies in collaboration with senior leadership to protect the Festival's reputation.

Proposed Education and Experience Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and experience in arts marketing and communications.

• Leadership and administration skills, with experience in managing and motivating staff, and the ability to inspire those working with them toward accomplishing common objectives. Engage board members, staff, artists, guests, and other stakeholders. Collaboration skills and the ability to work as an independent self-starter.

• Ability to plan and manage strategically, set priorities, and focus on details while not losing sight of the big picture. Time management, project management, and organizational skills.

• Strong work ethic, initiative, creativity, and the highest level of integrity. Must take an active, public role in serving as an ambassador for the Festival and connecting with individuals and communities that support USF.

• Superior verbal and written communication skills, good business sense, and computer literacy. Must be comfortable and confident in meeting with and making presentations to various individuals and groups.

• Have a passion for theatre and the arts, understand and support the Festival's mission, and have the ability to articulate this mission and role to others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years experience in marketing/communications, ideally in the arts.

• Project management certification.

• Flexibility to welcome and embrace change and the ability to balance the many challenges inherent in a non-profit theatre environment.

• Initiative, energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Documents:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Contact information for 3 professional references