Director of Marketing and Communications

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

The internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) has received “highest praise for their technical aplomb, their musicality, and their sheer human authenticity.” (Bloomberg News). Founded in 1980, the Dance Group performs the repertory of choreographer Mark Morris, hailed as the “the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical” (The New York Times), whose work is acclaimed for its ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity. Live music and community engagement are vital components of the Dance Group. It has toured with its own musicians, the MMDG Music Ensemble, since 1996, and regularly collaborates with orchestras and opera companies around the world. In addition to 12 full-time dancers, the organization currently employs approximately 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees.

In the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, the Mark Morris Dance Center, founded in 2001, is the hub of dance and music education in Brooklyn. The nine-studio building provides affordable classes in multiple genres for people of all ages, levels, with and without disabilities, accompanied by live music. The studios, a performance space, a Wellness Center, and ancillary spaces are all available to the community and to nonprofit organizations at subsidized rates. MMDG’s Community Education Programs partner with public and private schools and community centers to provide customized classes. MMDG also offers customized dance workshops for persons with Parkinson’s disease.

MMDG programs in NYC and worldwide engage over 100,000 people annually. Propelled by core values of community, access, excellence, and creativity, MMDG is committed to ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion work to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all.

The Mark Morris Dance Group is seeking a Director of Marketing and Communications to strategically advance our visibility, reputation, and audience engagement. The Director is responsible for promoting the Mark Morris Dance Group’s performing company, Dance Center, Dance for PD, school, and community programs. As we approach our 45th anniversary this position will play an integral role in ensuring the organization’s brand is effectively communicated to diverse audiences, including ticket buyers, donors, students, community members, press, presenters and other industry professionals.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director collaborates closely with the Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Development to align marketing efforts with institutional goals. The Director will also lead external communications, represent the organization publicly, and play a key role in driving messaging for major initiatives.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role manages branding, content strategy, digital and print communications, advertising, public relations, and audience development initiatives. This role oversees a team of three to four staff members, including a Marketing Manager, Creative Content; Marketing and Digital Engagement Associate; Dancer Social Media Liaison and external consultants.  

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Strategy and Leadership 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy to enhance local, national, and global awareness of the organization’s mission and programs. 
• Communicate regularly with the Executive Director and department heads to align marketing strategies with institutional priorities.
• Collaborate closely with the Development Department leveraging marketing strategies to design and execute integrated campaigns that build and diversify the organization’s base of support, strengthen donor relationships, and drive philanthropic engagement.  
• Lead and mentor a high-performing marketing team, providing strategic direction, professional development, and performance management.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and creative thinking, encouraging the team to experiment with new strategies to stay motivated and bring fresh ideas to the table.  
• Oversee and manage the marketing budget, effectively allocating resources to achieve marketing goals within budget.
• Develop and implement crisis communication strategies to safeguard the organization’s reputation and ensure clear, transparent messaging during challenging periods internally and externally. 

Audience Development and Revenue Growth 

• Drive audience development, engagement, and revenue growth by creating and managing marketing campaigns for performances, education programs, and community engagement initiatives.
• Develop and execute strategies to support the recruitment and retention of students across all education programs.
• Partner with the Development Department to enhance audience engagement through targeted email automation, segmentation, and personalized donor journeys that drive sustained support and increased giving.
• Support Artistic department and booking representative in the active promotion of the Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble to presenters, venues, and festivals, leveraging marketing materials, media campaigns, and strategic partnerships to expand performance opportunities.
• Advise, assist, and support presenters in their efforts to sell tickets to MMDG performances. 

Marketing Execution and Content Development 

• Manage all marketing efforts, including digital and social media advertising, SEO, and email marketing. 
• Lead brand management efforts, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all digital and print communications.
• Develop and implement comprehensive social media strategies to drive engagement, visibility, and community connections, including influencer and partner collaborations.
• Oversee content creation and media production, collaborating with designers, photographers, videographers, and copywriters to develop compelling storytelling materials.
• Leverage marketing and development automation tools to streamline campaigns and enhance personalization at scale.
• Create and execute inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible marketing strategies to engage a diverse audience.
• Lead e-commerce marketing strategies, including online merchandise, Digital Dance Center, and virtual offerings. 

Data, Analysis, and Innovation 

• Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance; use data-driven insights to optimize strategies and improve outcomes. 
• Implement testing frameworks (A/B testing and multivariate analysis) to continuously refine campaign strategies and ensure marketing initiatives deliver optimal results.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams—including IT, operations, and program leads—to ensure marketing technology and initiatives are fully integrated and support overall organizational objectives.
• Monitor industry trends in arts and culture to ensure the organization’s offerings remain relevant, competitive, and community focused.
• Conduct surveys and gather feedback from constituents to evaluate and enhance programming, ensuring offerings meet community needs and align with organizational goals.
• Oversee the ongoing integration of Salesforce, consolidating audience, donor, and participant data from multiple platforms. 

Partnerships and External Relations

• Develop strong relationships with press and external partners to maximize coverage and visibility. 
• Manage external consultants and vendors, including PR/media firms, digital agencies, freelance designers, and content creators. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:   

• Yes

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:  

• 8-10 years of marketing experience, preferably in the cultural or performing arts sector. 
• Proven expertise in branding, digital marketing, audience development, and content strategy.
• Strong background in campaign management, media relations, and storytelling.
• Experience with Salesforce (or other) CRM systems, Marketing Cloud Account Engagement, email marketing platforms, Google Analytics and other digital metrics platforms, and SEO.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data and analytics tools to measure campaign performance and inform strategy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft O365, MS SharePoint, Google Workspace and WordPress (or similar tools).

You will be successful in this role if you: 

• Are an Outstanding Leader – You have an inspiring creative vision and see obstacles as opportunities. Once you have a goal in sight, you are dedicated in your pursuit. You thrive on continued learning and professional development. 
• Have Launched New Programs and Initiatives – You know the ins and outs of audience/customer-base segmentation and development. You have a track record of significantly growing fans or customers.
• Have a Strong Aesthetic Sensibility – You have a great eye for design and understand how to support and interpret the artistic director’s aesthetic and vision.
• Are an Extraordinary Project Manager – You are incredibly organized and can manage multiple initiatives, keeping the larger group on track to meet deadlines.
• Love our Work and Align with our Core Values – You’re inspired by the ways in which we celebrate our diverse community, pursue excellence in all that we do, advance access, exposure and opportunity to dance and music, and cultivate creativity. You’ve seen a show or taken a class, and you’re hooked!

SCHEDULE: This is a full-time, exempt position that requires on-site work. A flexible hybrid schedule may be considered after the successful completion of a six-month on-site introductory period. 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:  

• Paid vacation, sick/personal leave, holidays and bonus days  
• Employee Health and Life insurance covered 100%, Flexible Spending Plan, Voluntary vision and dental coverage, Pre-tax commuter benefit, 403(b) retirement plan 
• Access to special events and MMDG performances (when available)  
• Access to free and discounted classes at the Dance Center and online  
• Invitations to cultural events are extended to staff members by community partners.  

To join our team, please include a cover letter addressed to Nancy Umanoff, Executive Director, with your resume submission. Your cover letter must highlight relevant experience; resume submittals without a cover letter will not be considered. 

EEO STATEMENT:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or veteran status. It is the policy of MMDG to comply with all the relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MMDG does not discriminate against any qualified employees or job applicants with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person’s physical or mental disability. MMDG makes reasonable accommodation wherever necessary for all employees or applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments connected with the job and provided that any accommodations made do not require significant difficulty or expense.