Marketing and Communications Director

About Porchlight Music Theatre
A nonprofit professional company with an annual budget of $2.5 million, Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago’s award-winning home for music theatre, celebrating the past, present and future of this unique American art form for the last 27 years. In residence at the historic, intimate Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Porchlight completed the best-attended and highest-grossing season in its history just prior to the pandemic. Porchlight delights more than 30,000 patrons each season with a three- to four-show Mainstage season of inventively reimagined classics, recent Broadway hits and new musical finds; a Porchlight Revisits series of rarely seen musicals in limited run with enhanced dramaturgy; a New Faces Sing Broadway cabaret series; and a free Broadway in your Backyard neighborhood-park concert series, in addition to educational programs for students of all ages through classes and camps, Chicago Public Schools and community partnerships.

About the Position
Porchlight Music Theatre seeks a strategic marketing leader to serve as Marketing & Communications Director. The Director will create and execute both short-term and long-term strategic marketing plans to develop and grow an annual audience of more than 30,000 and ticket revenue in excess of $1 million. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Marketing & Communications Director serves as a key member of the theatre’s senior management team, essential to conversations about critical issues that will have a lasting impact on the company and its position in the industry. The Marketing & Communications Director works closely with the Artistic, Development and Education departments to promote a diverse theatre season, events, fundraising campaigns, education programs, readings and more. This is a great opportunity for a talented and ambitious leader in the field of arts marketing.

Responsibilities/Roles:

Subscriptions & Single Ticket Sales (30%)
Conceive and execute robust, integrated subscription and single ticket campaigns, including direct marketing, digital and print media, media placements and strategic partnerships, to meet or exceed goals. Develop reporting and analytics to effectively track, assess and forecast sales and financial performance.

Other Program Marketing (20%)
Collaborating with program areas, develop, manage and evaluate marketing efforts and assets to brand and promote education programs, community outreach and fundraising events to maximize organizational revenue and ensure consistency with institutional branding.

Audience Development & Community Partnerships (20%)
Execute innovative audience development and customer experience strategies with a focus on increasing patron loyalty, maximizing revenue and increasing audience diversity. Collaborate closely with Audience Services Director on Porchlight’s main interactions with patrons to ensure the highest-quality customer experience. Plan, manage and execute audience and market research to assess audience satisfaction, understand demographic and psychographic profiles, and hone audience-building strategies

Brand & Content Management (10%)
Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy and plan to achieve organizational goals for branding, public relations, partnerships, sales and awareness. Manage and cultivate Porchlight’s brand and key messaging in local, regional and national markets, including high-level institutional content management of all web, digital and print projects, marketing collateral and advertising campaigns, providing creative direction and approval.

Media Relations & Corporate Communications (10%)
Manage and collaborate with external media relations firm on institutional and programmatic communications that generate consistent local, regional, and national media interest. Collaborate with ED on corporate communications, including talking points, board communications and strategic updates.

Other (10%)
Manage Marketing Department staff, calendar, budget and processes. Oversee comprehensive organizational communications calendar, including all artistic, fundraising and education/outreach programs. Negotiate favorable terms and sponsorships with major vendors such as designers, printers, mailing house, and media (for ad placement). Serve as staff liaison to board Marketing & Engagement Committee.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years experience in performing arts marketing with a proven track record in setting and executing strategy, and achieving goals
• Strong organizational, planning and personnel management skills with ability to focus on strategic vision as well as day-to-day plans
• Excellent interpersonal, written/verbal communication and presentation skills
• Strong analytical abilities, creativity and unwavering interest in detail
• Evidence of maturity, drive and enthusiasm
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills
• Proficiency in digital media best practices (social, SEO, display, etc.)
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Familiarity with CRM databases (ex: PatronManager/Salesforce)
• Love of theatre/performing arts
• Cultural competency to work with individuals and groups from diverse racial, religious, ethnic, educational, ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as members of the LGBTQ and gender non-conforming communities
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as performances, events or meetings require
• Local to the Chicago area. Porchlight has a hybrid work structure but the nature of this position and the industry requires some in-person work and events.

Compensation/Benefits:
Salary: $75,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: optional individual health insurance with 80% employer contribution; optional dental/vision coverage; generous paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays

TO APPLY
Please send cover letter and resume via email to employment-intern@porchlightmusictheatre.org. Full job description posted at porchlightmusictheatre.org/about/opportunity/. No phone calls, please. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre field are strongly encouraged to apply.