Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Company: San Francisco Symphony

Location: San Francisco

Closing Date: 03/11/2024

Salary: £250 Per Annum

Hours: Full Time

Type: Permanent

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Job Requirements / Description

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Marketing and Communications Department

Leadership Team

Work Status:
Regular Full Time

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Location of Job:
Davies Symphony Hall
San Francisco, CA

Salary:
$188,286 - $223,995/yr

Schedule:
Hybrid

Regular Hours:
9 am-5 pm; intermittent evenings and weekends

Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer

Supervisory:
Yes (5 direct reports, 1 PT external contractor)

JOB SUMMARY

The San Francisco Symphony's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) serves as an energetic business strategist with broad responsibility for planning and leading the organization's customer-facing and earned revenue-generating activity. The CMCO reports to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a member of the Symphony's senior leadership team in a highly collaborative environment. The CMCO will provide vision and leadership as a critical partner to the Director of Artistic Planning in developing programming that is inspired by a deep understanding of both audiences and artists. This proactive leader will drive success by implementing and measuring strategies around audience development, brand, marketing, media and public relations, as well as the design, testing, development and ongoing support of the SF Symphony's suite of programming, digital platforms, and products. Audience development is one of the SF Symphony's most important initiatives, driving the organization's vision as the SF Symphony seeks to grow its earned revenue streams and provide an exceptional patron experience.

The CMCO is an accomplished leader capable of developing strategies to set and achieve earned revenue goals by guiding and motivating a broad team of professionals. This role leads the Marketing, Editorial, Creative, Public Relations, Patron Services, and Front of House functional areas. The CMCO works closely with the Board of Governors and acts as the staff liaison for topics related to marketing and communications.

A highly visible, collegial professional, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer maintains open and ongoing communication with constituent leadership, providing complete and accurate activity reports, revenue forecasts, and situation analyses on a regular basis. The CMCO is a skilled communicator and relationship builder who can articulate clear and compelling strategies for more deeply engaging current audiences and attracting the interest of new audiences from throughout the Bay Area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Build, lead, and inspire the Symphony's team of marketing, sales, editorial, creative, public relations, patron services, and front of house professionals by establishing an environment that emphasizes accountability, efficiency, creativity, collaboration, staff retention, and mutual respect.
Develop and implement creative, strategic marketing and sales plans to engage a broad population and maximize short-term and long-term audience growth potential connected to symphonic, film, recital, chamber, holiday, special event, and presentation concerts. Establish performance measures, monitor results, and evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing and communications programs, making changes as appropriate.
Work in partnership with members of the Symphony's leadership team in setting robust but achievable earned revenue forecasts and goals with clear metrics that promote accountability. Regularly and clearly report on progress towards goals, providing information about sales pacing, YOY performance, audience trends, and other insights.
Develop and rigorously manage the marketing and communications expense budgets for strong return on investment.
Build strong relationships among the Board of Governors, the Orchestra and Chorus, the Board Chair, the Music Director, the Chief Executive Officer, the Leadership Team, and other staff members and external stakeholders including subscribers, patrons, donors, community, and business and civic leaders.
In partnership with Artistic leadership, develop a programming process that integrates broad audience research and patron profiles as a foundation from which the artistic planning team can develop a broad range of creative programming that is both tailored to audience interests and responsive to artistic vision.
Build Marketing and Communication strategies that reflect a deep understanding of the artists and repertoire, the full breadth of the concert experience, and the tailored program features that are designed to connect artists and various prospective audiences.
Guide and build the Symphony's public reputation through management of all public relations, crisis communications, and patron and donor communications programs.
Identify and implement improvements to the patron experience in an effort to maximize revenue and drive more frequent attendance.
Be recognized as a committed, valued, and collegial SFS leader by musicians, conductors, artists, and administrative teams. Foster a culture of trust-based relationships across all stakeholders in the Symphony.
Represent the institution at public functions and events to raise the visibility of the San Francisco Symphony.
Serve as a member of the Leadership Team, participating in the development and execution of organizational strategy.
Serve as lead negotiator for Theatrical Employees Union Local B-18 contract negotiations, representing Patron Services and Usher staff.
Conduct job functions and activities in alignment with the principles of the SFS's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, and support the organization's DEI work through participation in working groups and other initiatives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A minimum ten years of senior-level leadership experience in leading successful marketing and/or communications teams, preferably in the arts sector.
Bachelor's degree required, preferably in marketing, communications, or business.
Deep knowledge of and passion for orchestral music and the orchestral industry.
A passionate, enthusiastic commitment to the mission of the San Francisco Symphony.
Proven experience as a member of the executive management team of a complex organization, including working closely with administrative staff, engaged boards, and volunteers.
Proven ability to lead, inspire, motivate, hire, and retain teams that achieve excellence and exceed goals.
A confident, flexible, and collaborative leadership style known for strategic thinking, innovation, integrity, and political astuteness.
Strong financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting, and planning.
Excellent communication skills with a persuasive ability, including strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
High degree of technological proficiency, including experience with patron management and arts enterprise applications and project management tools.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee a department of 29 FT staff, 54 PT staff, and 1 PT external contractor.

Direct supervision of: