Description

The Cleveland Museum of Art seeks a highly motivated Director of Communications and Marketing who will report to the Director and President. The Director of Communications and Marketing leads the museum’s marketing and communications efforts, and—with the Department Director of Communications—is responsible for the implementation and day-to-day management of the museum’s public relations and media relations programs, advertising and promotions initiatives and digital communications strategies. The Director of Communications and Marketing currently has four direct reports.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Working closely with the Director and President, as well as with the members of his executive team and in collaboration with the Department Director of Communications and other key staff, oversees the development of a comprehensive, proactive, overall communications and marketing strategy for the museum. A member of the Executive Team, he/she participates in Executive Team and Senior Staff meetings, where he/she represents the perspective of the Communications and Marketing department.
  • Accountable for monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the museum’s communications and marketing strategy, and for advancing the reputation of the museum. Monitors departmental performance and work quality.
  • Responsible for developing/managing the museum’s brand and all related communications.
  • Responsible for developing the tools needed for communications consistency throughout the organization.
  • Oversees the work of all staff charged with media relations and with marketing the museum and its programs to a broad and diverse local, national, and international audience. He/she is responsible for effective human resource management including organizational planning and development, hiring, training, team-building, and compensation as well as performance management. Goals include identifying professional growth opportunities for staff, and attracting, retaining and rewarding individuals who help to accomplish the overall goals of the department and the museum. In collaboration with the museum’s Chief Information Officer, ensures that the department is current on and adapts to evolving technologies and best practices.
  • Liaises with key staff throughout the museum in identifying and helping to prioritize communications and marketing needs/opportunities. Works closely with the Director of Design and Architecture as well as with staff in the Collections and Education divisions to ensure that the objectives of the museum’s marketing plan are optimized in all signage.
  • Oversees the articulation and execution of communications plans for exhibitions, public programs, performing arts events, and other museum activities, as appropriate.
  • Attends meetings on exhibitions, public programs, digital strategy, strategic planning and external issues as appropriate, and represents the museum on external committees, as required.
  • Serves as liaison to Trustee-led Marketing Advisory Committee.
  • Manages the museum’s relationship with its external advertising agency in strategy development and the implementation of all digital, print, television and radio advertising.
  • Develops media plans for major special exhibitions and performing arts events, ensuring cost-effective media buys.
  • Establishes and maintains effective relationships with contractors and vendors and print and broadcast sales representatives.
  • Responsible for setting and attaining measurable communications and marketing goals.
  • Develops and maintains a balanced budget for the Communications and Marketing department.
  • Acts as museum spokesperson (when required).
  • Assists with special departmental projects (as assigned).

BACKGROUND:

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is known nationally and internationally for the quality and scope of its collection, which comprises some 45,000 objects and spans 6,000 years. Complementing the collections, the CMA’s Ingalls Library and Museum Archives is the third largest art research library in the United States and has over 470,000 volumes in its collection. Its educational and public programs, and its community engagement efforts, are of equal importance. Founded in 1913,the CMA is today one of the world’s most distinguished comprehensive art museums and one of the top five in the country.

The museum recently completed a $320 million renovation and expansion project, designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. The project called for the restoration of the CMA’s original 1916 building and 1971 Marcel Breuer addition, as well as the addition of symmetrical wings on both east and west sides. Central to the design is a large, light-filled courtyard enclosed by an elegantly soaring roof. The CMA is now considered one of the most beautiful and impressive civic spaces in Northeast Ohio, and its galleries are among the finest of any museum.

Key elements of the project included an increase of 33 percent in gallery space; Gallery One, a 12,000-square-foot interactive learning center that includes The Collection Wall, the largest multi-touch screen in the United States; the new glass-enclosed Ames Family Atrium, at 39,000 square feet Cleveland’s largest free public space; rededication of the Breuer building to its original, educational mission with renovated classrooms, lecture and performance halls and a distance learning studio; and improved and expanded special exhibition spaces for preeminent loan exhibitions from around the world.

The museum’s 2010 strategic plan, to be updated beginning in fall 2016, stresses the importance of the collection as the foundation for everything that the CMA does. It also underscores the primacy of the visitor experience and the museum’s participation in the life of the city and the surrounding community, while balancing local responsibility with a national and international presence. One of the first responsibilities and opportunities for the new Director of Communications and Marketing will be to work with the Director/CEO and other staff to update the plan and design its implementation.

The CMA has over 400 employees and an operating budget of more than $40 million. Its endowment stands at approximately $750 million. The expansion was funded by a successful capital campaign of $320 million. Begun “for the benefit of all the people forever,” the CMA remains free to all visitors with attendance of nearly 700,000 in Fiscal Year 2016.

START DATE:

The position is currently open and will be filled at the earliest opportunity.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please send cover letter, CV, 3 references, and a completed application to: Careers@clevelandart.org.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in communications or marketing from a four-year college or university; minimum ten years relevant experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Museum/arts experience strongly preferred.

The successful candidate must possess proven leadership ability with strong verbal and written communication skills; decision-making proficiency; and demonstrated reasoning and analytical acumen. He/she must have the ability to think strategically and maintain a grasp of the big picture. He/she must combine an orientation toward client service and the ability to react quickly, managing a forward-looking agenda in the midst of shifting events and needs. Ability to speak effectively and persuasively in public strongly desired.

Job Information
  • Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
  • 29679925
  • July 26, 2016
  • Director of Communications and Marketing
  • Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Public Relations/Marketing
  • Full-Time