Director of Marketing and Communications
/Organization:
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
Deadline:
Apr. 11, 2025
Organization Description:
Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s largest professional Shakespeare festival, with a focus on providing accessible, inclusive, and vibrant theatrical works to the public. The Festival presents Shakespeare plays, related dramas and special events from June to September in two modern theatre tents, in the magnificent waterfront setting of Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park. Bard Education also offers programs throughout the year. Full details here: https://bardonthebeach.org/about-us/
Website:
Job Description:
The Director of Marketing and Communications provides strategic leadership for all aspects of audience development and retention, brand management, and box office services, to serve Bard’s mission and support its ticket revenue and attendance goals. You report to the Executive Director, work closely with the Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director and liaise with the entire Senior Management Team in planning Bard’s future strategies and implementing ongoing operations. You are a key member of a welcoming and collaborative staff team that is deeply committed to upholding and practicing Bard’s Company Commitments: https://bardonthebeach.org/about-us/company-commitments/
Responsibilities:
• Leads a dedicated Marketing team of four full-time year-round employees, contract employees, and external creative suppliers overseeing all the team’s initiatives to ensure consistency, effectiveness and alignment with the goals of the department and the organization
• Oversees the Bard Box Office, including staff management and operational strategies, projects and procedures, to ensure it supports and fulfills the Festival’s marketing, communications, and ticket sales and revenue goals
• Responsible for the creation and supervision of the Festival’s marketing and public relations plans
• Develops and manages the annual marketing budget, and works collaboratively with the sales analytics team to develop revenue and attendance projections, and pricing and inventory strategies, to maximize ticket revenue
• Oversees the creation of promotional and advertising materials, including all digital and print assets and physical displays
• Develops and oversees seasonal paid advertising campaigns, aligning with budget resources
• Oversees a graphic design agency’s work on season materials and year-round website services
• Responsible for negotiating media sponsorships and promotional partnerships, including tourism and hospitality-sector relationships
• Writes and/or delegates copywriting for all public positioning of the Festival including marketing materials, website copy, press releases, programming-themed articles, and strategic correspondence
• Oversees the compilation and use of sales and marketing research, reports and statistical data
• Supports the development of community engagement and access initiatives for the Festival, specifically to fulfill audience growth and diversification goals
• Advises on and implements communications and public relations strategies and tactics for the Society at large and acts as team lead when urgent communications and issues management are required
• Monitors current events and trends monitoring what’s happening in the arts sector and the community in general to anticipate issues
Qualifications:
• Minimum of 10 years of management experience in a senior marketing or communications role; director level preferred
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in a related field; equivalent experience considered
• Experience working in the not-for-profit arts sectors or in a performing arts organization is preferred
• Demonstrated capacity to assess and respond to market and sector conditions, to fuel sales/revenue strategies and to guide issues management for the organization as a whole
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, as applied to sales and marketing, editorial, and business-to-business copy
• Demonstrated experience leading and inspiring teams
• Experience in working with data analytics
• Exceptional attention to detail, deadlines and timelines, with the ability to multitask in a dynamic environment
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, and as part of a team
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with Microsoft Teams preferred; Bard will issue a PC computer.
• Familiarity with CRM systems
This is a full-time year-round position. The position allows for a hybrid (remote and in-person) work schedule in accordance with Bard’s policies.
How to Apply:
Please email your resume and a cover letter together in one PDF named “[First & Last Name] Director of Marketing and Communications,” summarizing your qualifications and experience, and your approach to attracting and retaining audiences to bardonthebeach.org/current-opportunities/apply-now/
Remuneration:
Wage range starts at $90,000 and could increase based on the successful candidate’s skills and experience plus 100% employer-paid extended health and dental benefits
Contact Name: Stacey Menzies
Contact Email: resumes@bardonthebeach.org
Contact Phone: (604) 737-0625
