Communications Director - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Communications Director - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is accepting applications for a Communications Director. Krannert Center is looking for an organized and collaborative communicator to lead a team of diversely skilled communications professionals in creating, implementing, and evaluating communications strategies and plans. The Communications Director manages the Communications team's workflow, fostering and empowering a collaborative work environment, positive team dynamic, efficient work processes, and creative, effective problem-solving in order to deepen and increase engagement with Krannert Center and the Performing Arts at Illinois.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are core values of the University of Illinois and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. We believe every member on our team enriches our efforts to fulfill our goals by demonstrating the broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities-

Communications Leadership

• Working with Krannert Center's Communications team and other stakeholders, collaboratively and proactively brainstorm, develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate integrated online/offline external communications strategies and plans that support business goals for Krannert Center and the performance related areas of Illinois Theatre, Lyric Theatre mailto:@ Illinois, and Dance at Illinois.

◦ Oversee and contribute to the Communications team's areas of responsibility, which include direct communications (digital and print), on-site environmental design and communications, paid advertising (digital, print, radio, TV, outdoor, other), publicity and media relations, social media, website content, photography, videography, performance program booklets, and other aspects of the student, customer, and employee journey.
◦ Lead the Communications team in collaboratively identifying and pursuing strategic promotional and paid advertisement opportunities.
◦ Provide creative briefs when appropriate.
◦ Keep clients up-to-date on the progress of their communications projects.
◦ Oversee the ongoing development and enhancement of the Center's website, developing and maintaining a roadmap for the Center's web initiatives, based on input from relevant stakeholders and working in collaboration with a partner web development company.
◦ Working with the Ticket Services Director, manage the relationship between the Center's website and its ticketing software, identifying and pursuing opportunities for enhanced communications and increased ticket sales.
◦ Oversee the management and enhancement of photography and videography resources.

• Build and maintain Krannert Center's brand through communications work.

• Develop and implement standards to measure the success of communications work in order to make wise decisions about opportunities and the use of resources. Seek, research, and collaboratively implement best practices in external and internal communications.

• Lead the communications team's budget management process.

• Build relationships with staff, students, and faculty involved with Krannert Center and the Performing Arts at Illinois and stay well informed about the Center's creative processes and performances.

• Stay informed about campus life, campus policies and procedures, and community life in order to create current, relevant, and responsive communications.

• Maintain knowledge of Krannert Center's diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts and actively apply DEIA principles to the work.

• Across Krannert Center communications, ensure visual unity and consistency in messaging along with adherence to Krannert Center, College of Fine and Applied Arts, and University of Illinois writing and identity standards.

• Lead management and maintenance of Krannert Center's physical and digital communications archives.

• Contribute to crisis communications planning and management, both external and internal.

Staff Management

• Supervise, guide, and empower the members of the Communications team: Assistant Communications Director, Program and Web Editor, Art Director, and freelance partners. This work includes but is not limited to,

◦ Assign projects and ensure deadlines are met, projects are routed to appropriate stakeholders, work is completed in a satisfactory manner, and solutions stay within budget.
◦ Identify crossover between projects to streamline work processes as well as create opportunities for collaboration.
◦ As appropriate, use technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Krannert Center's communications work and collaborations.
◦ Facilitate resource-gathering for the team; provide coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluation as appropriate.
◦ Facilitate learning experiences as part of the team's work to stay up to date in the industry.
◦ Determine need for and budget available for freelance specialists to complete necessary work; areas could include but are not limited to graphic design, photography, and videography.

Other Collaborative, Administrative, and Committee work

• As appropriate, participate in various committees and initiatives at Krannert Center, in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, and at the campus level.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work requires some evening and weekend shifts at Krannert Center events.

Position Qualifications-

Required

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations, or a closely related field.

• Three (3) years (36 months)of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, or a related professional area.

• Demonstrated supervisory experience.

Preferred

• Master's degree

• Experience working or volunteering directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Experience with communications analytics, market research, competitive analysis, content management systems, and graphic design production (digital and print).

• Experience with collaborative software such as Microsoft Teams, project management software, and proofing management programs.

Successful candidates will have the following-

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts at Krannert Center.

• Must possess and be able to put into action a passion for connecting people with arts experiences.

• Excellent collaboration, planning, organizational, time management, public relations, and verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to develop, coordinate, and manage team-based projects across a complex organization, usually in a deadline-based context.

• Good independent judgment; ability to creatively resolve issues as they arise, adjust priorities as needed, and thrive in a fast paced environment.

• Ability to work professionally, flexibly, respectfully, and effectively with colleagues and the public, with sensitivity to the diverse perspectives of stakeholders.

• Understanding of the principles of effective written communication and graphic design.

• Ability to find and implement technology to improve working conditions, efficiency, and effectiveness.

• Ability to solve communications, work flow, and managerial issues imaginatively and create support for those solutions.

• Ability to use analytical and organizational skills to both perform day-to-day operations and to be proactive concerning larger picture issues and trends.

• Knowledge, experience, and/or skills in an artistic discipline.
Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5004 - Marketing Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on January 5, 2023. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Jennifer Steiling at mailto:steiling@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit https://go.uillinois.edu/noticesandposters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations https://illinois-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing mailto:accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1021680
Job Category: Administrative

To apply, visit .

Requisition ID: 1021680
Job Category: Administrative

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/4856431