Career Opportunity: Director of Marketing and Communications
OPPORTUNITY
This is an exciting time to work at Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) – one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. We are in a position of strength and are well-positioned for the future, financially solid and debt free. After two rigorous national searches, OBT has appointed two visionary leaders to guide the company’s exciting next chapter: Artistic Director Dani Rowe and Executive Director Shane Jewell. The Director of Development will round out this senior leadership team, providing critical thought leadership and support as OBT launches into its exciting next chapter.Artistic Director Dani Rowe comes to OBT after an expansive professional career as an acclaimed principal dancer with The Australian Ballet and Houston Ballet, and artist of Nederlands Dans Theater 1. She is an award-winning choreographer, having created renowned works for companies like San Francisco Ballet, New Zealand Ballet, Ballet Idaho, and more. Her rich career of performing, choreographing, and directing at the highest levels of classical and contemporary dance worlds has cultivated in her a curatorial aesthetic that is already revitalizing OBT with a dazzling mix of innovative and cutting-edge programming. Her vast network and deep relationships with top-level artistic collaborators will usher in a new era for OBT. The Director of Development will play a key role in leveraging the excitement of audience members as well as current and future donors and patrons.
Executive Director Shane Jewell has over twenty years of experience working in performing arts administration and production. Most recently, Mr. Jewell was the General Manager of Gibney Company in New York City, a newly formed contemporary dance company that performed in NYC and toured internationally, where he built the infrastructure and led strategic planning that led to substantial growth and expansion. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the Orlando Ballet, Executive Director of Oklahoma City Ballet, and Executive Director of OK Mozart International Music Festival. Shane has raised over thirty million dollars for the various nonprofits of his employ, successfully completing two capital campaigns and a multi-million-dollar sustainability campaign while maintaining and driving growth in operational contributed income. The Director of Development will work alongside Shane to build and execute a strategic development plan to increase the contributed income and launch an exciting new capital campaign.
In addition to our energizing new leadership and strategic plan, our growing Board is actively engaged in oversight and stewardship. Our 250 employees are resilient and energized. We are adding two new studios to facilitate growth. Programmatically, OBT is robust, and we are changing lives through dance. Our professional company of 27 dancers performs an annual season of five programs, featuring both classical and contemporary work. OBT2, our junior company, boasts an average of 20 dancers of exceptional talent. Our nationally renowned School trains hundreds of elite students from across the country. Our community education programs reach thousands of students in classrooms across the region. Through all our endeavors, we are committed to advancing equity and creating a culture of kindness.
Portland, Oregon is a cultural hub where the arts, sports, live music, and small businesses thrive, while also leading the way in sustainability with a robust mass transit system, bike friendly infrastructure and unique, walkable neighborhoods. The city is home to dozens of microbreweries, coffee shops, world-class restaurants, and is just a short drive to nationally renowned Willamette Valley wineries. Portland’s proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Hood allows for easy access to nature’s playground. Acclaimed for its beauty, vitality and livability, the City of Roses has become a destination for young professionals, families, and world travelers alike, with no shortage of activities from outdoorsy adventures to cosmopolitan delights.
EQUITY
OBT is committed to the vitality of ballet as an art form that is accessible to everyone. We seek people who have lived, volunteer and/or have professional experience partnering, communicating, and engaging with communities of color, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other communities.POSITION
The Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for leading a team in their broad-based support of implementing policies, procedures, strategies, and tactics related to the marketing, sales, and communication efforts throughout all aspects of Oregon Ballet Theatre. The position reports to the Executive Director and Artistic Director and works closely with the School, Community Engagement, and Development staff to meet specific revenue goals including, but not limited to, ticket sales, tuition enrollment, and contributed income. Direct reports include Marketing Manager, and Freelance Graphic and Website Designer. The position will protect and build the Oregon Ballet Theatre brand within the organization, the regional community, state of Oregon, nationally, and internationally.RESPONSIBILITIES
Functional areas of Marketing and Sales:- develop all marketing, sales, and promotional strategies for OBT programs.
- set, monitor, and achieve subscription, ticket sales and other earned income goals for the season.
- develop/manage departmental budgets.
- manage vendors.
- develop and execute annual photoshoot with Artistic Director and manager all rehearsal, class, and performance photography.
- develop and execute media placement.
- manage Front of House marketing displays and kiosk staffing.
- oversee the development of all advertising and brochure copy, press releases and media alerts.
- manage relationships with key members of media as well as external “influencers”.
- review and edit all external communications across departments for brand consistency of message.
- communicate and apprise internal company members on marketing and promotional activities.
- lead Oregon Ballet Theatre brand development and protection efforts.
- collaborate with the Artistic Director on the visual look and feel of all advertising, promotional and communication materials.
- manage and oversee all content and communication through social media sources.
- participate fully as a key member of the OBT Leadership Team.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; minimum 5 years progressive responsibility in marketing, sales and managerial experience; excellent leadership and communication skills; Must have exceptionally strong project management skills with an ability to prioritize/manage multiple, and sometimes competing priorities. Thrives working both independently and collaboratively to execute the operational and strategic plans of the Marketing department. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.), knowledgeable of Adobe Suite, emphasis on Photoshop, and CRM databases, experience in Tessiture preferred.Candidates must be able to pass a thorough background check. While not required, successful candidates will have specific experience within dance and the arts. Must have current COVID vaccinations, including boosters, as eligible.
