Overview

Little Island is seeking a Director of Marketing & Communications to lead the development and execution of comprehensive marketing strategies. This role will position Little Island as a premier destination for the performing arts, a leader in public and community spaces, renowned for world-class design, and a key advocate for workforce development and community programs in New York City. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of press and marketing for the park and its programming, including branding, public relations and overseeing ticket sales. The Director ensures excellence in tone, messaging, and brand consistency across all platforms, while also handling the organization’s partnerships with external PR, advertising, and ticketing agencies.

Reporting jointly to the Executive Director and the Producing Artistic Director, the Director of Marketing & Communications plays a key role in shaping the public presence of Little Island, ensuring that the organization’s voice resonates with diverse audiences and reflects its mission.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of building and executing strategic marketing, communications, and social media plans that deliver measurable results. This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, strong data analysis abilities, and experience working with public/non-profit destinations, parks, theaters, or similar institutions, especially those with a broad range of performing arts offerings.

What You’ll Do

Department Management & Leadership

  • As head of a newly established department, ensuring cohesive storytelling for the park and performances, the Director of Marketing and Communications will ensure all day-to-day communications, public relations, marketing, design, ticketing, and partnership activities are executed with creativity and excellence to support Little Island’s mission.
  • Supervise and support the Marketing and Communications team, including 1 full-time Communications Manager and 1 full-time Communications Associate. Mentor and develop the team, fostering professional growth and development in support of new and evolving marketing and communications needs.
  • Manage relationships with external ticketing, PR, and digital marketing agencies, ensuring all partnerships meet Little Island’s standards of quality and deliver results.
  • Manage the Marketing and Communications budget, making strategic decisions to optimize resources and achieve organizational goals.
  • Oversee the department’s technology and software needs, including tools such as Little Island’s website, archival software, and digital communication platforms (e.g., MailChimp, Sprout Social, Cision, Canto, Canva), ensuring these tools support the organization’s marketing objectives.
  • Act as a spokesperson for Little Island when needed and collaborate with the Senior Director of Engagement and Strategic Programs on community outreach and government relations. Support the Communications Manager in handling media inquiries and building strong media relationships.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and service-oriented culture within the Marketing and Communications team, while building and maintaining strong relationships on behalf of Little Island with both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Perform any additional marketing and communications tasks related to the park and its operations as needed by the Executive Director and Producing Artistic Director

Marketing & Communications Strategy

  • Oversee the implementation of marketing campaigns that drive attendance to Little Island’s events, performances, and experiences including educational programs and food and drink offerings.
  • Work with external partners and vendors on the development and timely execution of communication and marketing strategies across various channels – including social media, the website, press releases, email newsletters, and ads – to maximize Little Island’s visibility and impact.
  • Ensure brand consistency across all communications, including digital, print, social media, and on-site collateral.
  • Analyze market trends and audience insights to optimize outreach and engagement efforts.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (including programming, park operations and education) to maintain a cohesive narrative and messaging approach.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing efforts, adjusting strategies to meet attendance goals and audience growth.
  • Oversee the ongoing development and maintenance of Little Island’s public-facing website, ensuring it serves as the primary destination for all information regarding the park, its history, performances and ticketing details.

Sales & Ticketing Operations

  • Collaborate with external ticketing partners and the Communications Manager, Company Manager and Engagement department to manage all ticketing operations. Ensure smooth processes for direct purchases and third-party distributions, including partnerships with community organizations.
  • Create and implement ticketing policies that support community members, artists, and staff, with a focus on boosting sales and making events accessible to diverse audiences.
  • Establish a reconciliation process to track tickets sold versus actual attendance, identifying audience trends and adjusting strategies to maximize sales and engagement.
  • Work with external ticketing and advertising partners to regularly analyze and report on audience profiles and sales. Use this data to inform marketing strategies and improve future ticket sales performance.

What You Bring

  • 7+ years’ experience in Marketing or Communications.
  • A proven track record of achieving sales and ticketing goals for live events (If your experience is different but relevant, please explain in your cover letter.)
  • Experience with multi-channel ticketing system, preferably for live events or attractions.
  • Strong copywriting and storytelling skills across various mediums, including written, spoken, and visual communications.
  • Established relationships with advertising agencies, PR firms, and local design and media professionals.
    • An understanding of how to balance storytelling with analytics when creating a marketing and communications plan.
  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Experience and passion for leading a diverse team with various skills and experiences.
  • Higher education in Business, Marketing, or Communications is a plus.
  • Ability to speak another language is a plus.
  • Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
  • Ability to stay in one position for 50% of the time, walk, use stairs, and perform tasks with hands, including typing.
  • A genuine interest in contributing to a culture of teamwork and excellence by collaborating and solving problems across departments.
  • Passion for engaging with visitors and guests to ensure they feel welcome and have the information they need for a memorable experience.

For full job description including benefits details please visit our employment page: https://littleisland.org/employment/

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