Senior Manager of Communications [Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY]

Description

The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) is the world’s leading museum devoted to the art, science, history and technology of glass. For the last 65 years, CMoG has been at the forefront of helping people connect with and appreciate the artists and engineers who bring glass to life. CMoG is well-funded, enjoying support from Corning Incorporated, the public, and artists. This backing enables the Museum to innovate and make the kinds of investments that can push the boundaries of what a museum can be and do. In 2015 the Museum added a 26,000 sq. ft. Art + Design Wing to showcase contemporary glass and a 500-seat state-of-the-art amphitheater for glass demonstrations, bringing the total square footage of the Museum to 325,000.

Position Summary:

This is an exciting and empowered position to direct the communications initiatives of The Corning Museum of Glass. The Senior Manager of Communications will develop short- and long-term strategies to enhance the Museum’s reputation internationally as well as locally and nationally. Reporting to the Senior Director of Creative Services and Marketing, this leader will manage the external media relations agency and oversee media relations, social media, graphic design, digital communications, and some marketing communications activities. Working collaboratively with dynamic senior leaders and across the organization at all levels, this manager will execute the communications campaigns in support of exhibitions, programs, resources, acquisitions and special events.

Principal Responsibilities:

Strategy/Messaging

• Works closely with the senior executive and leadership teams to help construct the ongoing narrative about the unique and important role the Museum plays in the worlds of glass, art, and science.
• Develops messages to maintain the Museum’s reputation and to promote new initiatives, exhibitions, and programs. Manages the release of information, ensuring that consistent and strategic messages are disseminated across appropriate channels at the appropriate time.
• Develops short- and long-range communications plans to maximize exposure, build reputation, and attract audiences to the Museum in support of exhibitions, programs, retail shop, membership, classes, and earned income activities.
• Develops social media strategy and oversees dissemination of Museum information on social networks. Works closely with digital media team to evaluate and launch new channels and to manage Museum stories on the Museum’s blog and other digital channels.
• Works collaboratively with the sales and marketing team to plan the Museum’s email and direct mail strategy. Develops content strategy for these materials, as well as for other marketing communications efforts, such as ads, billboards, radio sponsorship messages, etc.

External/Media Relations

• Oversees overall media relations activities for the Museum. Works collaboratively with media relations staff to develop press outreach schedule, establish relationships with local, regional, national, and international media, responding to press requests, and overseeing press events. Serves as a media spokesperson and trains key staff to interact with media.
• Oversees the documentation of Museum activities and programs through video and photo. Imagines, develops, and/or oversees the creation of video and imagery to support marketing and communications efforts in print and online. Oversees the management of Marketing and Communications’ visual and digital assets.
• Monitors and responds to media coverage and online discussions about the Museum and its activities.

• Writes and/or manages the creation of copy for public relations, advertising, and marketing materials and materials used by all departments across the Museum.
• Builds relationships with outside organizations, artists, and designers to coordinate communications efforts around joint programming, exhibitions, and other museum activities.
• Manages consultants and contractors, including national media relations agency, ensuring they have required information and product to effectively fulfill their responsibilities.  Reviews work product.

• Works collaboratively with media relations staff to reports on media and social media activity. Uses analytics to measure effectiveness of media, marketing, email, and other communications efforts.

Management

• Hires, trains, and coaches Communications Department staff, as well as temporary staff.
• Works collaboratively with and provides counsel to Museum staff regarding opportunities to gain exposure and build awareness about Museum exhibitions, events, and special programs. Coordinates communications projects with all levels of Museum staff.
• Provides counsel to Museum executives regarding communications strategies. Provides executive communications support in the form of media messages, board communications, crisis communications, and speeches and presentations.
• Leads crisis communications preparation efforts for the Museum. Co-leads Incident Response Team, maintains crisis materials and assists Museum leadership in communicating about and managing crisis situations.
• Oversees graphic design management. Works with Museum stakeholders to determine graphics needs, manages development and review of print and digital graphics projects, and ensures consistency in design and branding.
• With the Senior Director of Creative Services & Marketing, creates and monitors the annual communications budget.

• Serves as a member of and leads matrix teams, as appropriate.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, or a related field required.

• Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in public relations, preferably in a non-profit or museum setting.
• Media: Demonstrated experience in making and maintaining contacts with all types of media; Ability to represent the Museum professionally with the press and other outside resources; Knowledge of local, regional, national and other media contacts desired.
• Proven success with social media strategy.
• Outstanding writing skills; ability to write in different styles and voices.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally clearly and professionally in front of varied audiences.
• The stature, gravitas, and confidence to gain the credibility with and respect of high level constituencies (internally and externally).
• Exceptional judgement and project management skills with a strong attention to detail and ability to meet ongoing deadlines.
• Proven success in the management and development of full time and part time staff.
• Works well independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Effectively communicates and works with people at all levels.
• Basic knowledge of design and production: Print design, video and audio production and photography; Digital communications and design. Ability to maintain currency with and access new technologies.
• Ability to travel and work weekends and evenings as needed.

About the Museum:

The Corning Museum of Glass was founded in 1951 as a gift to the nation from Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) and the centerpiece of the company’s commemoration of its 100th anniversary as an industrial giant. Sixty-five years later, The Corning Museum of Glass is universally recognized as the world’s leading institution celebrating the role of glass in art, science, and human history. With over 50,000 objects in its collection, some as old as 3,500 years, The Corning Museum of Glass is the center of intellectual inquiry regarding the practical, the personal, and the professional evolution of glass as an enabling medium for industry and for artistic expression.

Everything about The Corning Museum of Glass is world class—its scale, its purpose, its reach, and its impact. You really cannot describe CMoG without repeated use of descriptors such as “world’s largest,” “world’s best,” or “most influential” when it comes to glass. And as a museum itself CMoG is impressive, with its 460,000 visitors in 2015, making it the 34th most-visited museum in the country. CMoG also has a unique relationship with Corning Incorporated, which provides substantial support to CMoG in terms of funding, partnership, and leadership. In turn, CMoG has a unique relationship with the local community, and is an incubator for a thriving colony of glass artists.

The Corning Museum of Glass has four primary public-facing units: Collections, Glassmaking, Research, and Programs. The collections feature the most extensive galleries and exhibitions of glass art anywhere as well as a large innovation center that explores the technology of glass. The glassmaking studios allow visitors to see and experience the making of glass through a rich set of demonstrations, classes, and other hands-on opportunities—and let artists  experiment with glass in state-of-the-art spaces. The research arm of CMoG is the Rakow Research Library, housing the world’s largest collection of materials on glass and glassmaking. The programs of CMoG include everything from lectures and demonstrations to providing guest artists access to one of the best glassmaking studios on the planet.

One of the most important roles of CMoG is helping to elevate the reputation in the art world of glass as an important artistic medium. CMoG not only displays the works from significant artists such as Klaus Moje, Karen LaMonte, Lino Tagliapietra, and Dale Chihuly—it helps promote the vitality of their art to the rest of the world.

www.CMoG.org

@corningmuseum

www.facebook.com/corningmuseumofglass/

www.youtube.com/user/corningmuseumofglass

www.flickr.com/photos/corningmuseumofglass/

www.instagram.com/corningmuseum/

About Corning, NY:

Corning, New York, is a small city with a cosmopolitan flair and a captivating history. Nestled in a river valley with steep hills, Corning is a southern gateway into the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Central New York. Corning is world-renowned for its glassmaking past and present.

Historic Market Street is at the center of Corning’s downtown Gaffer District. It flourishes with glassmaking studios, antiques, restaurants, and specialty shops. Corning has a large population of fine arts, from local glass artists to famous works featured in the Rockwell Museum, as well as notable entertainment performed by local theater, ballet, and music groups.

The Corning area has outstanding schools, affordable living, and a great small-town vibe that is sophisticated yet charming. Corning is the headquarters of Corning Incorporated, a Fortune 300 industrial giant.

Please send resume and cover letter to Jeanene Brunette at J@BrunetteAssoc.com