Marketing & Communications Director

Rare opportunity to join the marketing team for one of the leading Children's Museums in the nation as our Marketing and Communications Director. Join Port Discovery Children's Museum in downtown Baltimore and manage the marketing, communications, and outreach in a fast-paced, rewarding environment. Help tell the story of how Port Discovery educates and enriches the lives of children and families by helping children learn through playing.

Summary of the Job:

This position designs and manages a comprehensive marketing strategy that advances the goals of Port Discovery Children's Museum, with a focus on digital advertising, content development, and social media. The Marketing & Communications Director will work across departments to support the promotion, outreach, and sales as related to Museum exhibits, programming, and membership.

This position has two direct reports (Marketing & Communications Manager and Marketing & Communications Associate) as well as manages contracted individuals and vendors.

This position is expected to work approximately one to two weekend days per month (in rotation with other members of the marketing team).

The salary range for this position is $65k to $75k, based on experience.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Oversee the creation, implementation, analysis, and performance of marketing campaigns for the organization. Work with leadership and all Museum departments to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive strategy is planned that effectively represents the exhibits, programs, events, and other activities of the Museum.
• Manage consistent design and branding across all platforms for the organization. Cultivate and deepen community relationships to increase the organization's brand recognition across Baltimore and Maryland.
• In partnership with the Vice President of Advancement, manage consistent messaging of Port Discovery's current and ongoing initiatives, exhibits, and programming across all platforms and audiences.
• Oversee and manage the Museum's digital advertising campaign, and work strategically with contracted agency to execute paid advertising across multiple platforms and within a prescribed budget. Up to date on current trends and analytics regarding paid advertising required.
• Create and implement communications strategy for the organization as a whole, as well as signature exhibits, programs, and events. Work across the organization to identify unique storytelling opportunities for the organization and consistently and effectively communicate those stories through press pitches, press releases, and social media. Be the primary contact for media requests and scheduling.
• Prepare, oversee, and manage the Museum's marketing budget, including management of vendor relations, monitoring of receipts and payables, and reconciliation of expenses.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the Marketing and Communications Manager and Associate in executing the Marketing goals of the Museum. Strengthen the team's capacity to plan strategically, adapt efficiently, and default to forward-thinking.
• Work with the Education and Sales departments to develop and oversee marketing plans for departmental activity, including design, advertisement, website updates, ticketing, and press opportunities.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the Marketing and Communications Manager in developing the schedule of creative assets for Museum social media and advertising campaigns.
• Oversee the maintenance and updating of the Museum website. Experience with and understanding of website analytics and trafficking patterns required.

Essential Qualifications:

• Minimum 4-6 years of marketing or related leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit organization.
• Minimum 2 years of management, supervisory and/or team lead experience required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing and publicity campaigns and strategies across multiple platforms. Digital analytics experience required. Forward thinking and advanced planning skills required.
• Experience in creative writing/content creation from inception to publication, and the ability to quickly create engaging content for a variety of formats.
• Experience with paid digital advertising (e.g. Facebook/Instagram, Google, etc.), search engine optimization, and Google Analytics.
• Experience developing and managing budgets across shifting priorities and circumstances.
• Well organized, ability to multitask, and possess excellent time management and follow-up skills, and able to work under tight timelines.
• Ability to take ownership, prioritize, and efficiently complete tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be willing to work some irregular hours, weekends and/or public holidays.
• Excellent customer service skills and embodies a professional, diplomatic manner at all times.

Port Discovery provides you with the opportunity to make a difference in the community and in the lives of children. Additional benefits include:

• Free parking
• Free admission to the Museum for family
• Group medical, dental and / or vision insurance options
• Vacation, personal and sick leave
• Retirement savings with Museum match after 6 months
• Museum provided life and disability insurance, as well as EAP, travel assistance and grief counseling support

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Frequent sitting and sedentary office work for normal work duties.
• Occasional standing & walking throughout the museum, bending and reaching with hands and arms. Use of hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
• Must be comfortable working around large crowds.
• The noise level is typically moderate; it can be louder on busier days.
• Normal working hours for this position are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but 1-2 weekend days per month are required for gathering content and to support special events.
• Flexibility is needed for public relations and special events, requiring some evening and weekend work, a few times each month.

Send us your resume and cover letter, and let's start this journey together!

About Port Discovery:

The mission of Port Discovery Children's Museum is to provide unique opportunities and high-quality experiences that make play accessible, educational, and fun for all. Since 1998, Port Discovery has served over 5 million visitors as one of the mid-Atlantic's leading children's museums. Our core programming includes exhibits and creative activities in our 80,000 square foot museum, access programs for students and low-income families, educational programs and workshops for local school districts, and two generational programming for parents and early childhood educators.

On average, the Museum sees 220,000 annual visitors; and its reach includes 22,000+ email subscribers, over 2,200 museum members, and a social media audience of approximately 25,000. We provide direct service to over 19,000 students via educational field trips, over 60% of whom represent Title I schools. Our geographic reach extends across the region and state, with nearly 60% of our visitors coming from Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, 35% from across Maryland, and the remainder from out of state.

To learn more about Port Discovery Children's Museum, visit https://www.portdiscovery.org/. Port Discovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Port Discovery Children's Museum conducts a criminal background check after a conditional job offer.