Marketing Director

Job Title: Marketing Director

Location: Chicago, IL 

Terms: Full-Time

About Us:

The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture is a not-for-profit organization whose mission and principal activities are to promote and support fine arts, cultural programming, and spiritual development for Catholics and the general public in Chicago, Illinois. Our mission is to invite people into encounters with Beauty and to revitalize the great Catholic tradition of the arts from our location in one of Chicago’s most unique religious, artistic, and civic buildings. 

Our performing arts center was built in 1911 as part of St. Alphonsus parish in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, as a place for the spiritual, physical, and intellectual growth of parishioners and the community. The Center has multiple performance and event spaces, including our 950-seat Historic Main Stage Theatre. At ACTC, we believe that Beauty has the capacity to build up culture, transform society, and change lives. We hope to help our patrons contemplate, encounter, and delight in Beauty.

Job Overview:
The Marketing Director at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture (ACTC) leads the organization’s marketing and communications strategy, overseeing promotional efforts for rental events, ACTC Presents internal events, and the Athenaeum Center Theatre (ACT) season. This role includes creating all marketing materials for venue rentals, facilities, and related services, as well as materials for development campaigns. Additionally, the Marketing Director oversees the Marketing & Design Associate role, ensuring cohesive and effective execution of campaigns and content creation. This leadership role includes managing ACTC’s digital presence, fostering community engagement, and leveraging innovative marketing strategies to build brand awareness, grow audiences, and strengthen ACTC’s presence locally and nationally.

Key Responsibilities:Strategic Planning and Growth

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy for ACTC’s diverse programming, including rental events, internal ACTC Presents productions, the ACT season, and facilities promotion.
• Expand ACTC’s brand awareness within the community and establish its reputation on the national Catholic radar as a premier event and conference space.
• Create strategies to build and maintain audience loyalty, including targeted campaigns and engagement initiatives for recurring patrons and new demographics.
• Identify and implement marketing strategies to support additional revenue streams, such as sponsorships, merchandising, or ancillary event programming.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure campaign success and overall marketing impact.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to align marketing strategies with organizational priorities and long-term goals.

Team Leadership and Oversight

• Lead, mentor, and manage the marketing team, including the Marketing & Design Associate, fostering creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
• Provide clear direction and feedback to ensure high-quality execution of all marketing initiatives, including social media, email campaigns, and visual design.
• Collaborate with programming, sales, and development teams to align marketing efforts with organizational priorities.
• Work closely with the development team to create impactful materials for fundraising and donor engagement campaigns.
• Oversee marketing processes related to renter communications, ensuring streamlined workflows and consistent branding.
• Delegate effectively to team members to balance workload and empower staff to execute initiatives.

Mission-Driven Leadership and Catholic Identity:

• Uphold and promote ACTC's mission and Catholic identity in all aspects of operations and decision-making.
• Ensure that programming, events, and partnerships align with Catholic values and contribute to the organization's mission.
• Foster a work environment that reflects Catholic teachings, emphasizing respect, integrity, and service to the community.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and leadership to implement strategic goals that advance ACTC's mission, evaluating the effectiveness of operations, programming, technical processes, and facilities management to identify areas for growth.
• Lead special initiatives to enhance ACTC's visibility and community impact, ensuring alignment with Catholic values and mission.

 Campaign Development and Execution

• Design and implement multi-channel marketing campaigns to promote ACTC’s events, facilities, and initiatives, leveraging digital, print, social media, and community outreach.
• Oversee the production of high-quality promotional materials, including brochures, posters, email campaigns, press releases, digital and physical billboards, and social media content.
• Use audience insights and demographic data to shape marketing strategies that increase engagement and attendance.
• Collaborate with renters to provide proactive support and data-driven marketing packages that demonstrate clear value and ROI.
• Ensure crisis-ready communication strategies are in place to handle unexpected event changes or public relations challenges swiftly and effectively.

Digital Marketing and Analytics

• Oversee and manage ACTC’s website, ensuring content is up-to-date, visually appealing, and aligned with the organization’s branding and mission.
• Implement website updates as needed to support events, campaigns, and organizational goals.
• Leverage data analytics to personalize marketing campaigns and improve customer experiences using platforms such as Tessitura and Google Analytics.
• Manage ACTC’s digital presence, including email marketing and social media strategy, while overseeing the execution and optimization of digital advertising campaigns.
• Monitor and analyze campaign performance across all platforms, providing regular reports and actionable insights to improve outcomes.
• Stay informed on digital marketing trends and technologies to enhance ACTC’s online engagement and audience reach.

Brand Management and Community Engagement

• Serve as a steward of ACTC’s brand, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity.
• Foster relationships with media outlets, local parishes, schools, cultural organizations, and other community partners to enhance ACTC’s visibility and reputation.
• Act as a spokesperson for ACTC when necessary, representing the organization at events and in the community.

Internal Communication and Operations

• Keep the executive team updated on marketing progress, metrics, and challenges through regular reporting and updates.
• Oversee and manage marketing-related CRM tools like Tessitura, using audience and ticketing data to inform marketing strategies and improve customer engagement.
• Support internal operations by organizing and maintaining marketing resources, including templates, workflows, and processes.
• Support the Executive Director by preparing marketing-related reports, visuals, and materials for board meetings and organizational management.

Budget Management

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop the annual marketing budget, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Manage the approved marketing budget, allocating resources efficiently to support campaigns that maximize audience engagement and revenue.
• Track and report on marketing expenses, identifying opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation.

Qualifications:Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in marketing, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success in developing and executing marketing strategies for arts, culture, or non-profit organizations.
• Experience creating development materials, fundraising campaigns, or facilities-related marketing is a plus.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior marketing staff.
• Experience working in mission-driven or faith-based organizations is a plus.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in website management, digital marketing tools, analytics platforms, and CRM systems.
• Creative thinker with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to stay informed about industry trends and tools.

Work Environment:

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for events or deadlines.
• Collaborative and dynamic workplace with opportunities for creativity and innovation.

Compensation:

• Salary Range: $65,000–$80,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package