Head of Marketing and Communications

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The California Academy of Sciences seeks a visionary Head of Marketing and Communications to lead its dynamic team into the next chapter. For 172 years, the Academy has been a beacon of wonder and discovery—home to the Steinhart Aquarium, world-class planetarium, and a collection of 46 million specimens that stretch back billions of years. Beyond its walls, the Academy is also a pioneering scientific institution, advancing bold research and regenerative action to protect fragile ecosystems across the globe.

As the Head of Marketing and Communications, you will shape how millions engage with science, nature, the future of our planet, and the evolving role of museums in civic life. We’re looking for a leader who can amplify the Academy’s voice, expand its reach, and inspire people everywhere to see themselves as part of Earth’s story.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff currently work on site at least 2–3 times per week, with flexibility as business needs evolve. We know great talent comes from many paths, and we welcome candidates whose backgrounds don’t align perfectly with every qualification. If you have the passion, creativity, and drive to lead at scale, we encourage you to apply.in

• POSITION SUMMARY
  Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, the Head of Marketing and Communications (SVP equivalent) is the Academy’s chief storyteller and strategic architect of audience engagement. This leader sits among the Academy’s Directors (VP equivalents), with a direct line to the Executive leaders and regular presentations to the Board of Trustees on 6–12 month strategy updates.
• The role oversees four direct reports leading brand marketing, digital engagement, communications and content, and marketing operations—together guiding a team of nearly 20. Equally critical, this leader will work side by side with the exhibits, planetarium, and products teams to ensure the Academy delivers on its brand promise. 
• This position will suit a strategic leader  who thrives in ambiguity, leads through influence rather than authority, and can distill the complexity of science and nature into illuminating  human experiences. 
• The ideal candidate is part visionary, part architect: a bold thinker who pushes beyond conventional museum marketing while aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared vision. You will grow audiences—local, regional, and global—through modern strategies that both market the Academy and reimagine how cultural institutions capture the public imagination.
• We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy. Explore Our Commitment to Racial Equity to learn about our intentional engagement of traditionally excluded groups in an effort to spark interest in or foster pathways to scientific careers.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least 2-3 times per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs.  

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Architect and champion a holistic marketing vision that positions the Academy as the definitive voice for regenerative science and a global cultural destination.
• Serve as the institution’s primary brand strategist, ensuring coherent storytelling across all touchpoints while balancing scientific rigor with emotional resonance.
• Lead a wholesale transformation from campaign-driven tactics to evergreen brand building that redefines what museum communications can be.
• Develop and implement innovative audience development strategies that both diversify and deepen engagement with Bay Area communities and beyond.
• Drive growth in attendance, membership, and revenue—creating conditions for sustainable success while building the next generation of Academy supporters.
• Establish and monitor key success measures, including membership growth (in partnership with Advancement (who oversee philanthropy orgs, donors, membership), expansion of new audience profiles, and brand equity.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Experience Studio to align brand narratives with the lived visitor experience, ensuring the Academy consistently delivers on its promises.

Organizational Influence & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the marketing organization’s chief advocate, securing resources and removing barriers that limit strategic impact.
• Partner with scientific leadership to translate groundbreaking research into narratives that inspire public understanding and global action.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure marketing strategy drives institutional priorities, aligning audience development with both revenue and mission outcomes.
• Build alignment across the Academy by bridging external storytelling with internal delivery.
• Oversee vendor and agency relationships with clarity of purpose and strong performance expectations.

Team Development & Operational Excellence

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of nearly 20, including four direct reports who oversee brand marketing, digital engagement, communications and content, and marketing operations.
• Establish performance frameworks that balance measurable results with long-term brand building.
• Champion professional development—including AI fluency—to expand the team’s capabilities and keep them at the forefront of cultural marketing.
• Build sustainable workflows and decision-making processes that empower autonomy while sharpening strategic focus.
• Onboard best-in-class operational tools and platforms to ensure the team is empowered to collaborate and do regular reporting.

Innovation & Market Leadership

• Anticipate and capitalize on emerging trends in cultural marketing, digital engagement, and audience behavior.
• Pilot bold approaches to community engagement that position the Academy as a forward-looking cultural institution.
• Forge partnerships with leading-edge collaborators to amplify the Academy’s reach and cultural relevance.
• Follow all Academy safety regulations.

Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following:

Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of senior marketing leadership experience, with demonstrated success in brand strategy, audience growth, and organizational transformation.
• Proven track record leading teams through periods of significant change while maintaining operational effectiveness.
• Experience marketing mission-driven organizations, cultural institutions, or experiential destinations strongly preferred.
• Background in both B2C consumer marketing and institutional communications.

Leadership and Strategic Thinking

• Exceptional ability to synthesize a complex organization with multiple programs and initiatives into clear, actionable strategies.
• Demonstrated success building consensus among diverse stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Experience managing substantial budgets (minimum $3M annually) with accountability for ROI and strategic outcomes.
• Track record of developing and retaining high-performing teams in creative and analytical disciplines.

Communication and Influence

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with ability to present confidently to senior leadership and board members.
• Proven ability to translate technical or scientific concepts into compelling public narratives.
• Experience in crisis communication and reputation management.
• Comfort with public speaking and representing the organization in external forums.

Innovation and Adaptability

• Demonstrated interest in emerging technologies, including AI, and their application to marketing and audience engagement.
• Experience with experimental marketing approaches and comfort with calculated risk-taking.
• Understanding of modern marketing technology and tooling, including social media, content marketing, and data analytics.
• Interest in environmental issues and scientific literacy.

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. (Cut and paste from the Job Description adding other requirements relevant to the position's responsibilities.)

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).