Director of Marketing & Communications

ACT Contemporary Theatre (ACT) is in the midst of a transformative organizational change as we greatly anticipate and plan for an upcoming merger with Seattle Shakespeare Company, effective July 2025. ACT is excited to announce this phenomenal opportunity for a highly skilled and motivated Director of Marketing & Communications (DMC) to join their dedicated, creative, and collaborative team, at a crucially important time in their shared journey.

The DMC strategically and collaboratively creates the most compelling narrative and branding strategy to support ACT & Seattle Shakespeare. They will build brand and mission awareness for the soon to be merged companies, as of July 2025, drive earned revenue through ticket sales and create strategies to maximize community interest in the groundbreaking work of ACT & Seattle Shakespeare.

The DMC is a visionary and inclusive bridge builder that works diligently to develop an audience as diverse as the larger community by the ability to effectively communicate to all potential patrons via culturally relevant and aware marketing materials, social media platforms, and press strategies. This position leads innovative and talented Marketing and Box Office departments and is responsible for the planning, implementation, and promotion of multiple subscription campaigns, single tickets promotions, and advertising. They meaningfully partner with the Director of Development to ensure that all advertising campaigns, public relations, and messaging fully represent the mission, vision, and values of the organization to our larger community.

The DMC is primarily responsible for reaching earned revenue goals through marketing campaigns and sales strategies. They will maintain a deep understanding of current technologies in marketing and ticketing, as well as the skills to analyze and use data to guide the work of their teams. They are innovative in their engagement efforts by championing the use of digital and new media to foster a culture of experimentation and fast learning, testing a variety of channels, messages, and touchpoints in the customer journey.

This role directly supervises Marketing & Box Office teams, as well as relevant contractors. They support meaningful connections within the organization, notably with the Development and Education departments, to ensure both specific project success and the overall success of this ambitious organization.

The DMC is a hybrid position with 3 days per week minimum onsite. The salary for this position is $120,000 annually. ACT provides comprehensive benefits, including access to medical insurance, with ACT paying 92% of monthly deductible for the HMO plan, dental and vision insurance with employee contribution. Long term and life insurance premiums are fully covered by ACT. They offer 11 paid holidays, access to a 403b plan and $5 downtown parking (except during major conventions), and free tickets to ACT productions. PTO begins at 20 days per year and employees accrue sick time per Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST).

Responsibilities:

Brand Marketing Strategy & Audience Development
• Develop and implement effective and creative marketing strategies to increase brand awareness, brand engagement, and reinforce ACT & Seattle Shakespeare’s values, mission, and commitment to groundbreaking theatre
• Create brand awareness strategies to reach different customer segments; leverage user research, market insights, and an understanding of our industry to identify, attract, educate, and retain patrons
• Actively collaborate with the Managing and Artistic Directors and other staff on season planning and implementation of all marketing, public relations, and sales programs
• Provide inspirational leadership in the creation of visual assets in partnership with the Creative Brand Manager that dynamically tells the story of ACT & Seattle Shakespeare’s season, programming, and/or other campaigns
• Create and direct the implementation of an integrated marketing strategy and sales plan to support subscription, single ticket, and group sales goals
• Develop and implement distinct plans to increase the engagement and retention of current subscribers as well as grow ACT’s audience base by attracting new patrons
• Implement creative audience engagement plans based on quantitative and qualitative research on attending and non-attending audiences, evolving market trends, and contemporary outreach strategies
• Evaluate and set pricing strategies that maximize revenue while ensuring ACT remains accessible to the widest possible audience
• Support marketing and communication efforts across the organization, including development, education, and community partnership needs

Data Analytics, Earned Revenue, and Financial Accountability
• Grow the organization’s visibility in the arts and entertainment space, optimizing ROI, and exceed annual sales goals
• Regularly conduct and analyze audience and market research to assess audience satisfaction and use data to refine tactics for increasing audience size and market footprint
• Responsible for developing and overseeing departmental annual operating expense
• Monitor sales and forecast revenue; provide analysis of subscription and single ticket sales throughout the season
• Fully utilize the CRM system (Tessitura) ensuring the data integrity of subscription, ticket, and group sales information and records management

Communications
• Collaborate with Director of Development on the analysis, strategy, and execution of donor appeals, as well as planning and execution of donor communications
• Lead the integration of marketing messaging and campaigns internally and externally
• Establish internal, external, and end-to-end customer and patron-facing calendars for all ACT campaigns, promotions, subscriptions, messaging, advertising, and sales initiatives
• Approve copy and creative direction for emails, internal and external facing publications, social media marketing, marketing automation, content writing, website, etc.
• Partner with PR consultant on press activities and engagement, media opportunities, and external communications
• Guide all media relations, including editing and approving press releases, providing timely responses to media requests, and building local, regional, and national media interest
• Establish and cultivate collaborative community relationships with industry leaders, board members, media, government and city officials, key business partners, promotional partners, performing arts organizations, and community leaders

Box Office Supervision
• Develop pricing and inventory management systems that maximize revenue potential
• Oversee access opportunities such as Pay What You Choose, Rush, TeenTix, groups, and other discount programs
• Support the implementation of customer service training, policies and procedures that incorporate ACT & Seattle Shakespeare’s values around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging
• Establish audience satisfaction benchmarks and a system for continuous feedback from audience members to support a service-oriented experience that spans all audience touchpoints
• Expand ACT & Seattle Shakespeare’s audience base by intentionally engaging with people of diverse backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic status, and accessibility needs; engage underrepresented and marginalized audiences that reflect the diversity of our community by centering on a feeling of belonging and cultivating opportunities that serve diverse backgrounds
• Supervise sales projections and corresponding pricing and inventory strategies to maximize revenue; recommend appropriate demand-based pricing adjustments resulting from sales analysis

Team Building and Administration
· Inspire a team centric and results-driven environment for the Marketing & Box Office teams by utilizing performance management best practices, supporting continuous learning opportunities, sharing research and results, and build rapport while demonstrating a genuine interest in the professional success of others
· Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding institutional racism, building cultural competency, and exhibiting a commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
· Collaborate with the Director of Development and Development department to integrate organizational strategy and customer relationship management in marketing and fundraising efforts
· Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding institutional racism, building cultural competency, and exhibiting a commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging

Requirements

· 5+ years of increasingly responsible and successful experience in marketing, sales, and communications within the arts + cultural community, with a proven track record in audience development
· Demonstrated leadership skills and experience managing a Marketing team, with an inclusive and collaborative approach with the ability to role model strategic and solutions-focused thinking, provide and receive feedback effectively, generate new ideas, and set priorities
· Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills – demonstrated by active listening skills, speaking and writing effectively, empathic and relationship-building communication style, and strong commitment to audience centric communication and community building
· Proven leadership ability in creative and brand strategy
· Solid understanding of traditional methods of marketing and ticketing, balanced with strong interest and experience in cutting edge methods to engage customers and build community
· Demonstrated ability to grow an audience in a highly competitive marketplace
· Experience managing audience research studies, digital marketing campaigns, brand management, loyalty and retention programs, as well as audience growth initiatives
· Experience managing multiple projects, overlapping events and sales campaigns with demonstrable project management skills
· Extensive knowledge of data analytics and tracking systems
· Strong relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, building trust and rapport, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
· Flexible and calm under pressure
· Excellent attention to detail, excelling in organization and prioritization
· CRM software experience required
· Knowledge of theatre in Seattle preferred
· Ability to attend evening and weekend events as needed
· Ability to pass a background check process that complies with the Fair Chance Employment Ordinance

Application Instructions

Please send a cover letter and resume to astrid.helgeson@acttheatre.org. Include in your cover letter any training or experience relevant to the position that you would like to highlight and specify why you are interested in joining ACT & Seattle Shakespeare.

If you are not sure if you meet all of our qualifications but believe you could excel in the role, you are encouraged to apply. ACT is committed to considering a wide range of applicants, including those with diverse experience and backgrounds. If reasonable accommodation is required to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact astrid.helgeson@acttheatre.org.