APAP Career Center

Marketing Director Position Overview: The Marketing Director is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive marketing plans to elevate the company's visibility and increase revenue through expanding its audience, student, and patron base. Overseeing a team of four dedicated staff members, the director ensures alignment with the company’s artistic vision and mission. Key responsibilities include managing branding initiatives, digital and traditional advertising campaigns, public relations, social media strategy, and audience engagement programs. The Marketing Director collaborates closely with all areas of the organization, especially the artistic, development, and education departments to create cohesive messaging and innovative campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences, fostering a strong community connection and ensuring the company's financial and reputational growth.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Strategic Planning and Execution
   • Develop and implement annual marketing plans that support the organization’s performances, school programs, and overall mission.
   • Work with senior leadership and department heads to set and achieve goals for audience development, enrollment growth, and revenue generation through ticket sales, tuition, and fundraising initiatives.
2. Brand Management and Communications
   • Ensure consistent and compelling branding across all communication platforms, including print, digital, and in-person events.
   • Act as the primary steward of the organization’s brand identity, voice, and visual style.
3. Campaign Management
   • Create and execute marketing campaigns for performances, school enrollment periods, and special events.
   • Collaborate with designers, writers, and external vendors to produce promotional materials, such as brochures, playbills, and advertisements.
4. Digital Marketing and Social Media
   • Oversee the organization’s website, ensuring it remains up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with SEO best practices.
   • Develop and manage social media strategies to increase engagement, expand reach, and drive conversions.
   • Monitor digital ad performance and optimize campaigns using analytics tools.
5. Audience and Enrollment Development
   • Conduct market research to understand audience and student demographics, behavior, and preferences.
   • Develop targeted outreach programs to attract and retain diverse audiences and students.
6. Public Relations and Media Relations
   • Serve as the organization’s spokesperson for marketing-related communications.
   • Cultivate relationships with media outlets to secure press coverage for performances, school programs, and community initiatives.
7. Team Leadership and Collaboration
   • Supervise a team of marketing staff, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance evaluations.
   • Collaborate with artistic, educational, and development teams to ensure cohesive messaging and shared goals.
8. Budget Management
   • Develop and manage the marketing department’s budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
   • Track ROI for all marketing initiatives and adjust strategies based on performance.
9. Performance/Event Promotion
   • Create and execute promotional plans for events, including performances, school showcases, and community programs.
   • Partner with other departments and staff to ensure successful execution of marketing strategies on-site.
10. Data Analysis and Reporting
    • Analyze marketing data, audience trends, and campaign performance metrics to inform future strategies.
    • Present regular reports to senior leadership on marketing activities and results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or commensurate experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in a professional marketing role in the performing arts (ballet, dance, theatre, orchestra, opera, etc).
• 1-2 years’ experience managing staff.
• Exceptional skills to collaborate and partner across the Ballet organization with the artistic, education and development teams.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills; strong editing and proofreading skills are essential.
• Experience creating and managing calendars of work deliverables.
• Experience writing articles, features, press releases, newsletters.
• The ability to interpret, communicate and represent the interests of The Sarasota Ballet and the voice of its Directors effectively to the community, the audiences, donors, partners and collaborators, and other constituents and key stakeholders.
• Ability to oversee sensitive information with diplomacy and discretion.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple priorities and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Organizational and project-planning skills are paramount, as is the management and coordination of multiple institutional partnerships.
• Appreciation and understanding of the performing arts.
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends, as needed, in support of performances and donor events.
• Graphic design, editing, eblast, Adobe suite and social media skills in a variety of platforms are required.
• Proficiency with management software, including database, communication, ticketing, and event management programs is a strong plus.
• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office, Zoom, websites and other relevant applications.