Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience

The Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience is responsible for the strategic development and oversight of all communications and marketing activities for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis—including digital strategies, public relations, advertising, social media, and audience development efforts—as well as visitor services, which includes front-of-house operations, shop, café, bar, and the Museum’s facility rental program. This individual seeks to creatively promote CAM’s brand and reputation throughout the region and beyond; attract diverse audiences to the Museum’s wide array of exhibitions, programs, and events (on-site and online); ensure a visitor experience that is welcoming, accessible, and engaging; and grow CAM’s earned income. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience supervises the Communications Specialist, Marketing Manager, and Visitor Experience and Events Manager, and contributes to the overall strategic direction of the Museum as a key member of the senior management team.

Responsibilities

Marketing and Communications

• Develop and implement strategic communications and marketing plans to build awareness of the Museum and attract audiences for its exhibitions, programs, and events.
• In collaboration with the Communications Specialist and Marketing Manager, craft CAM’s visual identity and organizational voice across print and digital platforms, ensuring style, voice, and brand consistency.
• Provide creative direction to photographers, videographers, designers, web developers, printers, and other creative collaborators.
• Oversee the writing, design, and production of CAM’s digital and print media, including the website, newsletters, gallery guides, exhibition didactics, email marketing, brochures, event collateral, fundraising campaigns, and Mesh, the Museum’s annual magazine.
• Oversee the Museum’s media relations strategy. Identify story opportunities, counsel leadership on public appearances, and advise on crisis communications.
• Work closely with Curatorial, Learning and Engagement, and Development to devise appropriate communications and strategies to support new programs, exhibitions, events, and campaigns.
• Develop and implement web strategies for camstl.org and associated platforms.
• Analyze metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the Museum’s website, social media, email marketing, advertising, and promotional initiatives.
• Work with other departments on the implementation and integration of the CRM platform.
• Develop strong and mutually beneficial relationships to enhance public awareness of the Museum and its unique contributions to the community.

Visitor Experience

• Oversee management of front-of-house operations, including staffing, shop, café, bar, and the Museum’s facility rental program, with the goal of providing an excellent visitor experience in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment.
• Supervise policy and protocols to ensure that the Visitor Experience team communicates knowledgeably and enthusiastically about exhibitions, programs, and Museum activities.
• Strategize the visitor experience, from planning-the-visit and in-gallery learning to data capture, evaluation, and ongoing relationship management.
• Develop and implement attendance metrics, tracking, reporting, and analysis.
• Work with the Visitor Experience and Events Manager to oversee management of CAM’s shop; monitor merchandising strategy, sales, budget, promotions, the creation of artist-designed projects, and overall connectedness to Museum’s brand and exhibitions.
• Direct the facility rental program, working with the Visitor Experience and Events Manager, to advise on and approve event rental inquiries, pricing, contracts, vendor management, and logistics.
• Develop and manage annual sales goals.
• Work with the Visitor Experience and Events Manager to oversee CAM’s bar, including development of bar packages for event rentals, protocols for beverage service, oversight of staff hires, and adherence to city health and safety codes.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Finance and Administration, strategize activation of CAM’s café. Seek operating partners, develop business plans, supervise café management, and assess financial viability.

Leadership

• Directly supervise Communications Specialist, Marketing Manager, and Visitor Experience and Events Manager.
• Supervise the management of Lead Visitor Experience Associates, Visitor Experience Associates, security guards, and bartenders.
• Oversee contractors and consultants connected to café, bar, design, website, photography, videography, and Mesh magazine advertising sales.
• Develop and oversee the management of budgets for Marketing and Communications, Visitor Experience, Facility Rentals, Café, Bar, and Shop.
• Identify best practices and improve internal systems with an eye towards future needs and institutional resources.
• Work toward achieving institutional goals, including increasing and diversifying audiences (on-site and online), growing earned income, and ensuring visitor satisfaction.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Represent the Museum and build partnerships in citywide promotion and tourism efforts.
• Support the Executive Director, Director of Development, and Board of Directors in cultivation and fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years relevant experience, with at least five years supervisory experience.
• Experience in marketing and communications for visitor-centric organizations such as cultural, arts, or tourism preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field; MBA/master’s degree in arts administration or similar preferred.
• Deep curiosity about contemporary art and culture and passion for CAM’s mission, programs, and future plans.
• Creative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader skilled at building and supervising cross-functional teams.
• Ability to understand the sensitive nature of art as it relates to cultures and political climates.
• Superb writing skills and design sensibility are essential.
• Ability to collaborate with Museum leadership on the development of institutional messaging.
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication skills. This includes the ability to connect with people from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as being able to inspire others with CAM’s mission through written and in-person messaging.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
• Ability to work independently and effectively; self-directed; responsible and accountable for decisions.
• Demonstrated organizational planning, problem-solving, financial, and analytical skills.
• Willingness to be a hands-on leader, working alongside staff to create a welcoming visitor experience and ensure the success of Museum programs and events.
• Drive and ambition to pursue excellence while maintaining composure under pressure.
• Knowledge of website development and metrics; social media; media relations; advertising; photography and videography; email marketing; CRM systems; SEO; e-commerce; and graphic design tools (Adobe Creative Suite).
• Desire to connect with the St. Louis arts and culture community.

Compensation

This is a full-time position. Compensation, including benefits, is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary range for this position is $82,000–$90,000.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and resume to work@camstl.org with the subject line Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience. All inquiries and materials will be confidential. Applications will be acknowledged.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis is committed to embracing diversity, practicing equity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusion. We will continually strive to achieve a welcoming environment in all our spaces, where  staff, artists, board, and community feel reflected and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. DEAI values will guide and impact all the decisions the museum makes, both internal and external, so that we are choosing a path toward ongoing transformation.

CAM is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, family responsibilities, national origin, or veteran status.

About the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

Founded by civic and cultural leaders in 1980, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis transformed from a small gallery into an internationally-recognized arts institution, now permanently housed in a 27,000-square-foot building designed by renowned American architect Brad Cloepfil. Flexible, open, and inviting, the building reflects the organization’s values, and supports a dynamic range of exhibitions, public programs, and educational activities. CAM is the only museum in the St. Louis region solely dedicated to contemporary art and one of the preeminent non-collecting institutions of its kind in the United States. We are a site for discovery, a welcoming space, free and open to all.

Learn more at camstl.org.