EMPLOYMENT

Director of Marketing & Communications

Position Profile

Contemporary American Theater Festival seeks a visionary Director of Marketing and Communications to lead the external relations strategy for the company. The Director of Marketing and Communications will oversee marketing, public relations, sales, and box office. CATF is on a mission to grow our audience and connect with our community in deep and meaningful ways. The marketing department is positioned to be the experts on our current and future audiences and develop strategies to serve them effectively. This will require cross-departmental collaboration and working closely with the Artistic Director and Managing Director. Additionally, the successful candidate will value and practice Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive (ARAO) efforts. Click here to learn about CATF’s ARAO Values.

History

Founded by Ed Herendeen in 1991 with the mission to produce and develop new American theater, CATF has grown to a $2.5M organization at the center of new play development and production in the nation.  CATF’s core values of fearless art, diverse stories, inclusivity, and community guide all its actions from play selection to human resource management.  Nestled in Shepherdstown, WV, approximately 1.5 hours from Washington, DC and Baltimore, CATF produces a summer festival of 5 plays on the campus of Shepherd University along with new play development and educational programming year-round. Over the course of 35 seasons, CATF has produced 144 new plays by 104 playwrights including 66 world premieres and 11 plays commissioned by the Festival.  CATF premieres have gone on to Broadway, London, off-Broadway, and regional theaters as well as adapted into major motion pictures. Learn more here. 

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of a marketing strategy that creates strong audience loyalty and recognition.
• Develop single ticket, subscription, and group sales goals and implement strategies, including dynamic pricing strategies, to achieve those goals.
• Identify target audiences including out of market/regional marketing, and develop cost-effective strategies to reach and convert patrons.
• Monitor sales on a daily basis, staying nimble in the strategic direction and tailoring plan as needed to maximize sales.
• Work closely with the Artistic Director to effectively communicate the artistic vision of the organization through all marketing and development initiatives.
• Manage and execute the presentation and promotion of CATF’s mission, vision, values, message, and image internally and externally.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Department to provide an integrated approach between fundraising and marketing to increase patron engagement and loyalty.
• Act as a brand steward and drive consistency in all communications. 
• Develop and implement web and e-marketing partnerships and social media strategy.
• Provide creative direction for all marketing collateral and advertising campaigns, including direct mail campaigns.
• Oversee public relations and communications in collaboration with contracted Publicist.
• Contract and oversee relationships with outside vendors/consultants for PR, digital marketing, advertising, etc.
• In collaboration with the Director of Development, supervise the Marketing & Development Assistant.
• During the Summer Festival, directly supervise Box Office Manager and Marketing Intern and indirectly supervise Front of House, Box Office, and Concessions teams.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, develop and manage marketing budget.
• Provide detailed reporting and analysis through use of Spektrix, CATF’s customer relationship management tool.
• Prepare and present concise, regular reports on sales, campaign performance, strategies and learnings to CATF leadership including Board of Directors.
• Build and maintain non-transactional relationships with organizations and affinity groups.
• Serve as a public representative for CATF to the community.

Qualifications and Core Competencies

• A minimum of 5 years of marketing experience in the non-profit sector, preferably in the performing arts, with demonstrated growth and success
• Excellent organizational, written/oral communication, and interpersonal skills
• Creative and strategic thinking, with an ability to grasp the organization’s big picture
• A belief that art makes our world a better place
• Motivated self-starter, with the ability to work as part of a small, dedicated team
• High level of personal integrity and strong work ethic
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to handle complex situations with tact and poise, appropriately representing the company in our community
• Ability to foster strong relationships both outside and inside the organization
• Experience with ticket sales/database platforms such as Tessitura, Sales Force, Spektrix (Spektrix experience a plus)
• Excellent computer skills including CRMs, Microsoft Office and the Google Workplace Suite
• Strong commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression practices

Salary and Benefits

Salary range $70,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience. Our benefits package includes 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees; a Simple IRA retirement plan with company match; a generous PTO policy; and 10 paid company holidays per year.

Application Process

Apply online through CATF’s website, applications submitted through other portals will not be reviewed. On the website, you will be asked to upload a cover letter, resume, and professional writing sample.

Apply Here

Join us!

We value multiple perspectives and viewpoints from diverse constituencies because we recognize that diversity informs more effective solutions. We value the wide-ranging perspectives that our colleagues and collaborators bring to the table and we create an environment for all voices to be heard. CATF is an equal opportunity employer.