The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD, seeks a strategic, visionary, and energetic professional to lead the museum’s Marketing & Communications department. In 2016, the museum launched an ambitious new strategic plan. To energize its audiences and reflect this new vision, the Marketing and Communications team created a new brand identity and website that will launch in spring 2018. The Walters now seeks a visionary marketing and communications leader who can raise the museum’s profile as a destination and cultural anchor in the greater Baltimore and Washington region.

This position is responsible for the planning and oversight of all marketing and communications-related functions within the museum. This includes the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy that will serve to define and enhance public perceptions of the museum, deliver key institutional messages, increase awareness of collections, exhibitions, and programs, and increase visitation both on-site and online. The Director leads a team of approximately seven professionals, guiding the day-to-day operations of the team and aligning their work with other divisions within the museum.

The Director of Marketing Communications reports to the Deputy Director of Museum Advancement. The Advancement Division encompasses Marketing and Communications, Development, and Visitor Services, and aims to attract, welcome, and expand audiences and supporters to the museum.

Key responsibilities:

• Set vision and priorities to promote the museum and its activities, in partnership with museum leadership. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the museum’s mission, brand, and core activities and an ability to engage both key constituencies and new audiences. Determine short and long-range planning (including goals, policies, and budgets) for the department to support the museum’s strategic plan.
• Establish strategic communications plan for the museum. Determine messaging strategy and stories for key internal and external audiences. Oversee all publications and marketing and communications materials, and ensure they are of the highest quality. Develop communication strategies for Director, other senior executives, and Board leadership to deliver effective presentations and messages to audiences. Lead any crisis communication needs that may arise.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a creative and energetic team of marketing, communications, PR, digital and social media, and editorial and graphic design professionals, as well as an external cadre of consultants, vendors, and freelancers.
• Oversee the development of an innovative digital marketing strategy for the museum, leveraging creative approaches to engage audiences across digital platforms, including digital marketing, social media, website, and email and newsletter campaigns. Leverage external experts and consultants as appropriate. Employ a range of up-to-date tools and metrics to keep the museum’s strategy current with digital trends.
• Collaborate with peers to identify opportunities and create campaigns to enhance contributed and earned revenues. Develop media sponsorships and promotional partnerships.
• Serve as a passionate advocate for the museum’s mission and brand to various audiences and stakeholders, and as a key leader in the institution. Reflect the museum’s values and a belief in every team members’ role in fulfilling that brand promise. Represent the museum in the broader community and field, and participate, as needed, in events organized by the museum.
• Develop and execute marketing and communications plans that increase engagement and attendance. Take primary responsibility for the planning, creative direction, and implementation of marketing campaigns for the overall institution, special exhibitions, collections reinstallations, programs, special events, and new initiatives. Work in concert with other museum divisions and departments to assess audience and visitor data and develop strategies based on these.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required experience and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required. An MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of increasing responsibility in marketing, strategic communications, public and media relations, or a related field.
• Prior experience working in museum or cultural institutions preferred.
• Track record leading creative teams.
• Proven ability to establish and execute marketing and communications strategy.
• Experience in digital marketing and communications; understands the role of digital marketing; proven ability to create and execute a digital marketing plan.
• Experience in working with data analysis as it applies to visitor behavior and audience segmentation.
• Data driven—uses data to evaluate work and set priorities.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills. Utilizes a variety of software programs, databases, and other tools. Demonstrates curiosity and willingness to learn new tools and approaches.
• Outstanding team leader. Motivates and leads by example. Develops team members and advocates for team. Able to set priorities, formulate goals, and establish a course of action. Takes responsibility and accountability for the outcome of work. Highly collaborative—able to work successfully with others including museum staff and trustees, and a diverse group of external constituencies including volunteers and donors.
• Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the changing dynamics in the arts field and in audiences for cultural institutions.
• Manages multiple projects and priorities and delivers them on time.
• Able to successfully manage department budgetary responsibilities, including projections and cost estimates for proposals and grants. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. We offer an attractive benefits package. For consideration, send your resume, cover letter and salary requirement to jobs@thewalters.org. Application end date is May 15, 2018.

An Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Employer

A smoke and drug free workplace

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