Director, Public Relations and Communications

National Museum of African American Music

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Job Summary

The Director of Public Relations and Communications will be key to the development, integration and promotion of the National Museum of African American Music brand. As the communications leader and brand guardian, the Director will maintain brand integrity across all Museum marketing initiatives and communications.  

NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the accomplishments of the many music genres created, influenced, or inspired by African Americans. The Museum will share the story of the American Soundtrack, integrating history and interactive technology to bring the musical heroes of the past into the present. This is a developing leadership role for one who is equally comfortable with big picture strategic planning and rolling up sleeves to dig into the detail. 

Job Responsibilities

Key Corporate Objectives: 

• Begin to emerge as the epicenter, headquarters, and home of black music 
• Generate revenue that exceeds budgeted expenses and achieves growth in diverse revenue streams 
• Build and healthy and durable organization through operational excellence 

Key Marketing and Communications Objectives: 

• Raise regional brand awareness amongst individual travelers, group tourists, and convention attendees 
• Become a recognized participant in the black music industry such that it draws strategic engagement and support from among its constituents (artists and executives) and attracts corporate support for Museum programs and activations 
• Become recognized as a new leader in African American culture to include arts and entertainment, education, and social justice 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Strategic Planning 

• Work with internal and external teammates to develop annual communications, activation, and marketing plans; including leading brainstorming and development of strategies to support museum and brand key objectives.  
• Collaborating with curatorial, programming, marketing and revenue leaders to create annual strategies for new and existing programs and initiatives.  
• Creating and implementing KPI’s and best practices for marketing department and third party agencies; clearly identify objectives, target audiences, and timelines of deliverables. 
• Create and manage Marketing department budget to ensure program appropriate fulfillment and resource allocation.  
• Maximize market share and improve the organization’s competitive position. 
• Identify new strategic partners to help create brand extensions in diverse spaces with innovative business models, designed to drive new revenue. 

Publicity 

• Oversee writing and distribution of press releases, media alerts, press kits, and other materials 
• Pitch and secure national, regional, and local print, web, and broadcast media placements for NMAAM across a range of media including art & design, museum, music and entertainment, popular culture, hospitality trade, business, etc. 
• Report trends and insights for museum and travel/hospitality industry to remain aware of public perception.   

Media Relations 

• Cultivate and maintain great working relationships with members of the national, regional, and local media specializing in travel, museum, art & design, business, hospitality trade and multicultural media partners.  
• Development and maintenance of NMAAM’s media database, target lists and crisis communication protocol.  

Event Management / Planning 

• Oversee all aspects of event planning for key brand initiatives, brand partnerships and activations, fund- and friend-raising, press conferences, media events/tours, press 
• Lead PR efforts to maximize success by developing an integrated communications plan in collaboration with the brand marketing team and property teams; 
• Develop activation plans to ensure flawless execution and financial reporting.  
• Remain a steward of the brand, offering a nonbiased opinion on all brand partnerships, talent recommendations, and events.  

Team Leadership and Agency Oversight 

• Lead and manage agencies, department employees, vendors/contractors, and supplemental staff to ensure NMAAM brand remains on strategy.  
• Manage PR agency relationships 

Monitor, Reporting, and Infrastructure 

• Distribute big media hits as they occur 
• Distribute month-end reporting that includes a roundup of media hits, upcoming coverage, active pitches, media visits planned, etc. 
• Develop and maintain SOPs related to public relations activities at both property and brand level to ensure that expectations are aligned and teams are clear on proper procedure 

Qualifications

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s preferred 
• Minimum 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in brand public relations, communications, and/or marketing 
• Has worked in the music and entertainment or consumer packaged goods sectors in a communications and/or marketing capacity, routinely engaging multicultural audiences  
• Proven track record in performing well in a fast-paced environment and organizational skills to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines effectively 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities 

• Supports the mission, vision, values and strategic objectives of NMAAM to serve both internal and external customers. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills. 
• Proven leadership and management capabilities 
• Experience in handling confidential information and maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information. 
• Conducts self in a professional manner; maintains appropriate professional appearance. 
• Follows and supports policies and procedures of NMAAM. 
• Participates as a team member utilizing a collaborative style to achieve mutual goals. 
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously 
• Timely follow up and ability to adhere to deadlines 
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated through clear, concise verbal and written communication 
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with media, team members, third party agencies and vendors, and guests 
• Ability to act as ambassador of NMAAM and demonstrate confidence in knowledge of the history, brand values, vision, and direction 
• Proficiency in public relations best practices 
• Ability to identify opportunities for improving corporate infrastructure as it relates to brand communications and to develop plans, offer solutions and implement strategies. 
• Ability to travel frequently 
• Holds existing relationships with media outlets, press contacts, ambassadors and influencers of culture 
• Has an understanding of the professional museum and music world 

All Staff Duties: 

• Serves as leader to assure strong communications between NMAAM and all external constituents. 
• Actively seeks to learn the history of NMAAM. 
• Supports and promotes the museum’s mission. 
• Assist in the planning and implementation of special events. 
• Attend staff meetings. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

To apply, please follow this link.

Details

• Date Posted: July 18, 2022
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Communications / Marketing / PR
• Service Area: Arts / Culture
• Start Date: 08/16/2022
• Salary Range: DOE
• Working Hours: M-F 8:30-5:30