- Job Title: Manager of Marketing and Communications (Hybrid) - Sam Fox School
- Company: Washington University in St. Louis
- Location: Kemper Art Museum, Washington University Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
- Category: Marketing & Communications
- Date Posted: May 19, 2025
- Experience Level: 5-10 years
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies to promote the Kemper Art Museum and build its audiences.
- Overseeing the membership program and coordinating with various university departments to enhance the Museum's visibility.
- Managing a team of two, including a part-time Membership Coordinator and a full-time Digital Initiatives & Marketing Coordinator.
- Collaborating with the Sam Fox School's Communications Office and the University's offices of Advancement and Marketing & Communications.
- Participating in strategic short- and long-term institutional planning and representing the Museum on campus, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, self-direction, and collaboration with various stakeholders to effectively promote the Museum and its programs.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Develops, manages, and directs marketing and communications, coordinating a cohesive institutional identity:
- Ensures that all communications, including media relations, advertising, promotions, graphics, and digital communications, are working together in concert.
- Finds creative ways of reaching target audiences to market both specific programs and the Museum in general.
- Researches market and visitor analytics to help evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications strategies.
- Serves as project manager and supervisor for content creation and marketing communications:
- Manages the creation, design, and production of seasonal print communications, including the Museum’s biannual newsletter and event-related announcements.
- Creates, manages, and sustains an impactful online presence through social media, website, and targeted email marketing.
- Establishes and ensures adherence to budgets and schedules.
- Contracts and works with a variety of outside service providers, including designers, printers, and advertising venues.
- Supervises the full-time Digital Initiatives and Marketing Coordinator.
- Oversees the management of the Museum membership program in coordination with University Advancement. Supervises the part-time Membership Coordinator.
- Works with the Sam Fox School Communications office to coordinate communications, cross-marketing, and messaging for greater impact for both the Museum and the School. Works with the University Marketing & Communications office to raise public awareness of the Museum and its programs locally, nationally, and internationally. Liaises with other University communications staff to raise awareness of the Museum across campus and meet shared marketing goals.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, project management, and hands-on content creation, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, English, or related field.
- Experience: Relevant experience (3 years) with progressive responsibility in the area of marketing communications.
- Required Skills: Proven experience in non-profit marketing management, strategic communication planning, target marketing, team management, and project management.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in art history, English, communications, marketing, or equivalent.
- Five years of marketing and communications experience, with a focus on museum marketing and public relations.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe InDesign, and other relevant software.
- Strong leadership and change management skills.
- Experience with CRM systems and email campaign management.
- Knowledge of fundraising communications and community development.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $53,100.00 - $90,600.00 / Annually
- *ASSUMPTION:* This salary range is based on industry standards for a marketing manager role in the non-profit sector, considering the required and preferred qualifications, and the location in St. Louis, MO.
- Benefits:
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan with university contributions starting at 7%.
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
- 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with a new child and family care resources.
- Tuition coverage for employees and their families, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years of employment.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Higher Education & Research
- Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
- Founded: 1853
- Company Description: Washington University in St. Louis is a top-ranked research institution known for its commitment to improving lives in St. Louis and around the world. The university offers more than 90 programs and 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a broad range of academic disciplines.
- Company Specialties: Research, Education, Healthcare, Technology, and Innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-Senior level
- Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Publications, with supervisory responsibilities for a part-time Membership Coordinator and a full-time Digital Initiatives & Marketing Coordinator.
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with the option to work a hybrid schedule after six months of employment.
- Growth Opportunities: This role offers opportunities to grow within the Marketing & Communications department, as well as potential career advancement within the broader university structure.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work.
- Office Location(s): Kemper Art Museum, Washington University Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Geographic Context: St. Louis, MO, USA, with a population of approximately 300,000 people, is a major U.S. city known for its cultural attractions, including the Gateway Arch National Park, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The city has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool, mild winters.
- Work Schedule: Full-time, with a standard workweek of 37.5 hours, typically Monday through Friday, with flexibility for occasional evening and weekend work as needed.
ASSUMPTION: This role may require occasional travel to on- and off-campus locations, as well as work outside typical office hours as needed.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: 1. Online application submission, 2. Phone or video screen, 3. In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager, 4. Final interview with the Head of Publications, 5. Background check and reference check, 6. Job offer.
- Key Assessment Areas: Marketing and communications strategy, project management, team leadership, creativity, and cultural fit.
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing and communications experience, as well as your ability to manage projects and teams.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with non-profit marketing management and your familiarity with museum marketing and public relations.
- Research the Kemper Art Museum and Washington University in St. Louis to demonstrate your interest in and understanding of the role and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, CRM systems, email campaign management tools, and project management software.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Excellence, integrity, collaboration, diversity, and inclusion.
- Work Style: The ideal candidate will be a creative, self-directed individual with strong communication skills, able to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with the company's values?
- How do you approach working collaboratively with various stakeholders, both within and outside the organization?
- How do you balance creativity and strategic thinking in your approach to marketing and communications?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing multiple projects and priorities, often with tight deadlines.
- Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, each with their own priorities and expectations.
- Adapting to changes in the university's marketing and communications strategies, as well as shifts in the Museum's programming and exhibitions.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- How this role differs from related positions: This role is focused on marketing and communications for a specific museum within a larger university, requiring a strong understanding of both the museum's unique identity and the broader university's brand and messaging. It also involves supervisory responsibilities and collaboration with various university departments.
- Industry-specific context: The non-profit sector, particularly in higher education, has unique marketing and communications challenges, including limited budgets, competing priorities, and the need to balance institutional branding with the distinct identities of individual schools, departments, and programs.
- Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for growth within the Marketing & Communications department, as well as potential career advancement within the broader university structure, including roles in university-wide marketing and communications, or leadership positions within other schools or departments.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive marketing and communications plan for an upcoming exhibition, including print and digital advertising, social media campaigns, and event promotion.
- Managing the creation and production of the Museum's biannual newsletter, including coordinating with designers, printers, and other vendors to ensure timely delivery and adherence to budget.
- Collaborating with the Sam Fox School Communications office to create cross-promotional materials for a joint event or exhibition, highlighting the unique aspects of both the Museum and the School.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most pressing marketing and communications challenges facing the Kemper Art Museum, and how can this role address them?
- How does this role collaborate with the Sam Fox School Communications office and the University's Marketing & Communications department to raise the Museum's visibility and enhance its reputation?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within this role and the broader Marketing & Communications department?
- How does the Museum balance its commitment to artistic excellence with its responsibility to engage and educate diverse audiences?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the following link: [Application URL]
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing and communications experience, as well as your ability to manage projects and teams.
- Prepare for your interview by researching the Kemper Art Museum and Washington University in St. Louis, and be ready to discuss your experience with non-profit marketing management and museum marketing and public relations.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the position and inquire about the status of your application.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
