Associate Director of Marketing

POSITION OVERVIEW

In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Sales, the Associate Director of Marketing develops and implements strategic marketing plans to achieve goals for ticket sales and understands CST’s target audience’s motivations and behaviors. The Associate Director also collaborates with and supports the Education Department to help formulate and execute their strategic efforts to engage teachers and students with CST. Works closely with Graphic Designer, Tessitura Administrator, Box Office Manager, Director of Communications, PR Manager, and Education staff to execute these plans and achieve sales and engagement goals.  Coordinates and project manages all day-to-day marketing functions across the organization to ensure a consistent brand in the community.    

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
 

• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace.

Marketing – Planning, Implementation and Execution

• Collaborate with Director of Marketing and Sales and Director of Communications in the creation of marketing plans and strategies for single ticket, subscription, and group sales campaigns for each production, including participation in creating strategic and tactical marketing plans, media strategy, creative concepting, budgeting, and social media strategy.
• Coordinate the day-to-day execution of marketing strategies, implementing and tracking planned advertising spend and promotional activities, and monitoring departmental budget.
• Project manage and implement the annual subscription campaign for renewals and acquisitions. Coordinate the execution of print, mailing, e-mail, social media, and advertising plans, workflow, and timeline.
• Generate effective messaging that highlights compelling aspects of productions and speaks to specific audience segments. Help increase multi-show and cross-season attendance increasing use of customized messaging and personalized content.
• Maintain Marketing Department annual expense budgets, including participation in developing budgets for upcoming campaigns and fiscal years; work with Marketing Assistant to insure invoicing and purchase orders are completed to ensure accuracy in account management and tracking.  Provide monthly budget status reports to Director of Marketing.
• Work with external media buying agency to finalize media mix for each production and ensure assets are delivered on schedule. Develop strategy for internal Google Grants activation (with implementation by Digital Marketing Manager) that work in tandem with efforts of the agency’s digital plan.
• Interpret statistics provided by media buying agency alongside our internal Google Analytics, Google Grants, Meta Business Suite, and Prospect2 Email Platform to hone digital strategy, as well as maximize reach, engagement, and web traffic.
• In active coordination with Digital Marketing Manager, oversee email scheduling, design, and execution for the organization, in collaborations with communications, development, and education.
• Supervise Digital Marketing Manager and Marketing Assistant to ensure that all assets created, whether digital or in-person, are current, engaging, and helping build brand affinity.
• Study and understand consumer behavior in general and CST’s audience's motivations to stay current on changing consumer behavior in Illinois. Adjust plans and thinking to keep CST’s brand relevant.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute audience engagement opportunities such as promotional and community events and connections.
• With goals of increased patron loyalty and a high level of audience satisfaction, regularly monitor and report on KPIs for a variety of audience segments and retention/reactivation efforts.
• Work with CSTs CRM system Tessitura, Box Office Manager, and Tessitura System Administrator to ensure data plays a relevant role in marketing decisions.
• Support and implement CST’s Education Department marketing to sell registrations for training programs, student matinees and other public events.
• Maintain an ongoing awareness of the advertising opportunities, publications, broadcast media, display media, and other promotional opportunities in the market.
• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Sales and Director of Communications to create long-term plans for the department.
• Be an active participant in departmental meetings and ideation sessions.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed.

COMPENTENCIES

• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
• Emotional intelligence
• Mission-driven
• Communication, excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to positively contribute to an anti-racist organization.
• Management Skills – Ability to organize and direct oneself and effectively motivate and supervise other colleagues.
• Project management skills – Ability to plan and manage workflows and personnel in a holistic and integrated fashion to ensure progress of projects, and awareness of responsibilities among staff.
• Collaboration – Ability to work with others and be a positive team member contributing to a positive culture.
• Inclusive – Skill and value of providing equal access of opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
• Adaptability – Ability to adapt to rapid pace in a changing workplace.
• Nimbleness – Ability to quickly shift direction or focus to respond to changing market conditions or new opportunities.
• Time Management – Ability to manage the available time to organize and complete work efficiently and effectively within given deadlines.
• Decision Making – Ability to make critical decisions while following company procedures.
• Budget – Ability to plan and work within budget parameters.
• Computer skills – Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, web, social media and email tools and technology.
• Ticketing software knowledge – understanding of use and function of data driven ticketing software, such as Tessitura.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work hours are generally 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
• Evening, weekend, and holiday hours as needed, depending on programming schedule and project demands..
• Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as the City Parks and other off-site performance venues.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

•  Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Able to lift to 10 pounds at times.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years of progressive marketing experience. 
• Demonstrated broad marketing experience, preferably in non-profit arts, theaters or other cultural institutions.
• Demonstrated experience with designing and executing marketing campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively, managing staff, and delegating projects
• Electronic media experience, including email and social media campaign work
• Strong communication and project management skills
• Strong writing and editing skills; ability to internalize brand standards and apply to written and visual communications

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.

Visit our website to learn more about our IDEA to Action platform. www.chicagoshakes.com/ideatoaction