Director of Communications for the Arts - 502578
University of Richmond

SUMMARY:

The Director of Communications for the Arts works collaboratively with the Executive Director of the Modlin Center, the Executive Director of University Museums, and the faculty in art and art history, music, theater & dance departments, and University Communications to develop and contribute to strategic messaging, marketing, and communications for the arts at the University of Richmond. The Director leads, develops, and oversees strategic communications for the Modlin Presenting series, University Museums, and the academic arts departments at UR to enhance the visibility of the arts at Richmond on campus and in the community, and to promote arts related programming, events, and stories. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement (APSICE) while sustaining a closely collaborative relationship with University Communications and the Director of Communications in Arts and Sciences, the Director will serve as a core member of the UR Arts Collaborative and the APSICE leadership team, and serve on the University Communications' storyboard group, working to align, coordinate, curate, and promote arts programming, events, create and share key messages and increase visibility for the wide-range of outstanding work happening across the arts at the University of Richmond.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads, develops, and implements a comprehensive arts communications strategy that uses best practices to promote the array of outstanding arts programming, teaching, and creative work happening at UR.
• Develops, aligns and implements key messages, visual identity and communication channels about the arts at UR including specific, targeted messaging and brand identity for the UR Museums, the Modlin Presenting series, and academic art departments, and the arts at Richmond overall.
• Leads, develops, and oversees communications, marketing, and branding strategies, in collaboration with Central Communications, for the Modlin Presenting Series, UR Museums, and all academic departments in the arts. Responsibilities include oversight of digital and print media, coordinating with units on their social media strategy, and planning, developing, coordinating major internal and external communications and facilitating strategic promotion in various local media outlets with Central Communications. Leads and manages comprehensive deadlines across constituents.
• Serves as a member of the university's editorial committee and storyboard group and other communications and marketing- based committees as needed
• Serves as key participant in the UR Arts Collaborative to source story ideas. Convenes and leads, as needed, an arts at UR group to gather ideas, coordinate communications, and drive communications strategy across the arts at Richmond and to inform liaison wok with University Communications
• Ensure brand and messaging consistency across all platforms in partnership with University Communications
• Serve as the hub for narrative development and storytelling for Modlin, Museums, and the art departments at Richmond, including the creation of shared internal and external communications about the arts offerings at Richmond.
• Supports partners in their digital and social media strategy and content creation, sharing current trends and best practices
• Supervises student assistants, other staff and contractors as needed.
• Advances inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging initiatives ensuring that priorities are incorporated and reflected in communications, marketing campaigns and materials.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and experience in communications, including design
• Knowledge and experience in social media and digital platforms
• Highly collaborative
• Exceptional and versatile writing, editing and verbal communications skills
• Strong project management skills
• Keen storyteller
• Experience in general communication strategy, social media, print, and digital marketing, and web development.
  High standards for accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to balance a variety of tasks with a high degree of competency and accuracy. Experience with performing arts industry marketing and messaging standards.
• Experience in implementing effective marketing campaign plans and projects.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Experience with demonstrating effective messaging of organizational impact including community engagement, patron services, artist relationships, partnerships, and collaborations.
• Experience with effective audience development relevant to organizational priorities and goals.
• Knowledge of effective brand development and management.
• Strong commitment to collaborative solution-finding processes.
• Strong interpersonal character, communication skills and demeanor.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
• Knowledge of the arts is helpful

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree.
• 7 years plus of experience in communications and marketing. Experience in communications, marketing, creative development, writing or graphic design preferred with higher education experience and/or experience in the arts strongly preferred.

WORK HOURS:

• Full-time, exempt position
• Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; 7.75 hrs./day; 38.75 hrs./week

SALARY STRUCTURE:

Pay Grade 9 (Hiring Range $74,672.00 to $102,669.00 annually)

ABOUT UR:

At the University of Richmond, we're creative, inclusive, and determined. We're Spiders, and our mission is to create positive change in the UR community and beyond. Located minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond (www.richmond.edu) blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. There's only one place like Richmond.

UR is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development and institutional success. In keeping with this commitment, our academic community welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and candidates who support diversity. EOE

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