Marketing and Memberships Manager

                                                                         STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

For over 40 years, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has been a cultural leader in Chicago and model for theatre companies in the United States and around the world. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble represents a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors, stage managers and playwrights. Steppenwolf’s artistic ambitions are made possible by its incredible workforce of individuals, who help create a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and accountability. To that end, we attempt to use an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens in our roles and everyday decision-making. Join us in this ongoing process, as we navigate, together, our complex world.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is seeking candidates for the full-time position of Marketing and Memberships Manager. This position is a member of the administrative staff and an active participant in the planning and execution of Departmental Marketing initiatives, and efforts to draw attention to the productions on our stages and expand our audience.  This position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in a performing arts organization, or comparable experience. With approximately 4,000 members with various package types (traditional or classic memberships to flexible memberships like Black and Red Cards), this position drives the evolution of Steppenwolf’s subscription offerings and package alternatives and executes our year-round membership campaigns. This role also works to develop and support single ticketing strategies as the industry shifts and Steppenwolf looks to expand its audience. The Marketing and Memberships Manager also leads our data reporting & analysis for sales and audience trends, and acts as the Marketing and Communications Department’s Tessitura expert staying on top of industry trends, identifying new opportunities for use of the CRM, and arranging internal trainings as needed. Experience with JCA’s Revenue Management Application Vivian a plus.

This role reports to the Deputy Director of Marketing, and supports the organization’s single ticket initiatives, membership campaigns, advertising campaigns, digital marketing strategies, and day-to-day departmental administration as needed. They also supervise the efforts of the Marketing Associate and Marketing Assistant and Apprentice. The successful candidate will need to have a) Strong project and time management skills; b) Excellent interpersonal, written & verbal communication skills; c) An eye for detail & organization; d) Self-starter with passion & curiosity for marketing, advertising & analytics.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Membership Campaign Promotion Strategy & Execution

• Coordinate, plan and execute year-round marketing campaigns for all areas of subscription/membership (acquisition, renewal, flex, virtual, etc.):
  • Develop multi-channel messaging, including copywriting and content direction for direct mailers, emails, website, events, audience services talking points, SMS campaigns, etc.
  • Drive cultivation plans and innovate ideas around the evolution of Steppenwolf’s multi-play packages and patron loyalty programs
  • Coordinate and plan marketing campaign for annual Holiday membership, gift card, or package offering
  • Help plan the annual Season Preview event and other member events
  • Point-person with related external consultants (strategy consultants, outbound sales call center, etc.) and close collaborator with members of the Audience Services team developing and executing member communications
  • Execute list trade management and list research
  • Conduct research and analysis on response from individual segments to evaluate ROI, etc.
  • Serve on the internal cross-departmental Tessitura (arts CRM software) task force and coordinate with database administrator to capitalize on customization opportunities

Advertising for Memberships, Single Tickets and Other Promotional Campaigns

• Provide strategic leadership for advertising around single ticket, membership and general branding campaigns:
  • Lead planning and execution of advertising campaigns by evaluating offers from ad reps and aligning with organization goals
  • Oversee ad trafficking by managing cross-functional workflows, (BaseCamp) ensuring timely delivery and quality of creative assets
  • Direct the development and copywriting of promotional assets, ensuring brand consistency and approving final deliverables
  • Analyze and interpret campaign performance data to optimize advertising effectiveness and provide strategic reporting to leadership
  • Identify and evaluate emerging advertising platforms and partnership opportunities to expand brand reach and enhance audience engagement
  • Monitor sales and execute efforts to fill houses and meet single ticket revenue goals
  • Ideate and implement innovative tactics to increase new to file ticket buyers and expand audiences
  • Build Relationships with current and potential community partners
  • Utilize Tessitura for patron communications and single ticket sales purposes:
  • Build extractions & lists for segmented and targeted patron communications
  • Pull patron analytics

Reporting & Analysis

• Track and disseminate accurate and up-to-date attendance and ticket sales data:
  • Current reports include daily sales emails, weekly cumulative sales emails, attendance reports, sales curves, etc.
  • Provide analysis and recommendations on revenue goals, sales benchmarks, and forecasting
  • Set up and test promo codes for marketing initiatives and report out on performance
  • Share analysis on institutional trends & initiatives (includes patron retention, ROI, demographic research, etc.) and assist other departments on reporting needs; support web, email and e-commerce analysis as needed
  • Participate on internal pricing and inventory management team as an active member (currently working with JCA Arts marketing)
  • Assist on research projects (past examples include focus groups informing the development of new membership products and benefits, and the Black Card/Gen-X research done as part of The Wallace Foundation’s Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative)

Digital Marketing

• Support the management of steppenwolf.org and execution of organization-wide email communications by:
  • Actively identify website needs, conducting quality assurance testing and ensure that functionality is working now and after the launch of the organization’s new site
  • Maintain website content through Episerver (CMS); Generate Membership and event specific pages for activations; Support transition to new website
  • Review and help maintain the email communications calendar
  • Execute best practices re campaign related communications and remarketing messages (abandons) via the email platform (WordFly)
  • Align web pages and emails with brand voice, aesthetic and grammar

Team Management

• Provide overall leadership and support to the team:
  • Assume a collaborative leadership role; Project Managing Membership Campaigns in Basecamp; Ensuring advertising, promotional, and event expenses stay on track
  • Keep track of materials in lobby spaces and refill as needed, install on-site show posters throughout building, coordinate distribution of materials in community
  • Maintain departmental and institutional archives
  • Manage select program stuffers and other collateral
  • Monitor lobby spaces re collateral orders and stocking, coordinate external material distribution and tracking
  • Manage Marketing Assistant and Marketing Apprentice/Summer Marketing Intern as needed
  • Maintain budgets under purview
  • Provide general support to the department on an ongoing basis:
    • That assistance may include assisting on departmental archives; scheduling meetings; and other assigned tasks as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in marketing at a professional performing arts institution, or equivalent experience
• Experience with Tessitura (other CRMs) and JCA’s Revenue Management Application Vivian a plus
• Accuracy in maintaining data records and managing data efficiently
• A polished and professional approach in presenting sales and campaign information
• Familiarity with membership or subscription package promotion and industry trends
• An interest in arts and culture
• An interest in or experience with marketing/sales, including digital communications
• Self-starter with passion and curiosity for marketing, advertising & analytics
• Exceptional project executor, with strong project management and time management skills
• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven
• Fantastic collaborator and team player with excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Experience and familiarity with the Chicago theatre community is a plus, but not required

Compensation: Salary range: $61,472-$67,620 with excellent benefit package for full time employees, including medical, dental, vision, life, and short and long-term disability insurance, critical illness, hospital indemnity, Ventra transit benefit program, employee assistance program and 401(k) matching retirement program. In addition, we offer a generous paid time off package that includes vacation pay, personal days, sick pay, 12 paid holidays and two cultural observance days of your choosing.

About Steppenwolf:

Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has been a cultural leader in Chicago and model for theatre companies in the United States and around the world. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble represents a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors, playwrights and stage managers. Steppenwolf’s artistic ambitions are made possible by its incredible workforce of individuals, who help create a culture of inclusivity, collaboration and accountability. To that end, we attempt to use an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens in our roles and everyday decision-making. Join us in this ongoing process, as we navigate, together, our complex world.

Steppenwolf’s Mission: 

Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr