Marketing Manager

Writers Theatre
Position: Marketing Manager
Location: Glencoe/Chicago, IL
Department: Marketing
Classification: Full-time contract, covering family leave. Mid-January – April 1, 2025
Salary: $22/hour

About Writers Theatre
Writers Theatre (WT) is a nationally-recognized, award-winning theatre company located on the North Shore of Chicago with an annual operating budget of $5.7 Million. Known for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its productions, WT is focused on the power of the written word and dedicated to the artists who bring that word to life. Having captivated audiences for years with its commitment to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible, the theatre is now a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called “America’s finest regional theater company” by The Wall Street Journal. Under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, the company is charting a path forward for its future.

Position Summary

Writers Theatre seeks a full-time (contract) Marketing Manager to support its Marketing function in a variety of areas. This position will work 40 hours per week to plan and implement strategies for Writers Theatre’s social media channels that align with the Marketing Department’s strategic vision for the season. The candidate will also provide expertise and coordination of print collateral, media plan evaluation and community partnerships. Strong candidates will have experience managing social media channels for arts and/or nonprofit organizations, have experience in theatre company marketing and the ability to meet deadlines while working independently. This role can work a mix of on-site and remotely, with the expectation to be available by request for remote/hybrid team meetings and on-site at Writers Theatre when the work necessitates it (First Rehearsals, Opening Nights, etc.) This person should have an innate desire to understand, celebrate and amplify the work on stage & the mission of WT.

Responsibilities

• Own Writers Theatre social media channels—including strategies, tactics and investments to grow the digital audience with innovative thinking and connect social following to the physical theatre
• Perform research on and stay up to date with current benchmark trends and audience preferences
• Report social media metrics / audience trends of all WT platforms regularly
• Design and implement social media strategies to align with departmental and organizational goals
• Generate, edit, publish, and share engaging content daily (e.g., original text, photos, videos and news)
• Engage, reply, and interact with followers in a timely manner
• Work with community partners and third-party advertisers on a production-to-production basis to bring awareness to our ongoing productions and to maximize marketing reach
• Work in collaboration with a designer and the heads of each department to create, edit, and print the physical and digital programs for each production
• Work with printing partners to facilitate print collateral mailings
• Work with Direction Tour Marketing to facilitate print collateral and poster distribution for each production, ensuring maximization of targeted placement areas
• Facilitate department administration (processing invoices, maintaining marketing calendar, streamlining marketing SharePoint)
• Devise and collect post-show surveys
• Represent marketing department at events, as needed
• Organize and facilitate audience reaction videos with dept. Members
• Work with data analyst on targeted analysis of audience trends.
• Communicate directly with outside publicist to coordinate press releases and any press-related items as needed
• Work with engagement team to create interactive lobby displays and photo opportunities for productions

Qualifications and Key Competencies

• Three years’ experience in arts or nonprofit marketing preferred
• Strong interest in and passion for live theatre
• Creative, energetic thinker with the initiative and ability to work independently
• Excellent verbal and writing skills with previous copywriting and editing experience a plus
• Comfortable meeting deadlines

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
WT is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment conducive to professional and personal growth. A successful candidate will share these values.

WT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, or veteran status.

Please find more information on our culture and specific policies at the following links:

• https://www.writerstheatre.org/working-at-wt
• https://www.writerstheatre.org/our-code-of-conduct
• https://www.writerstheatre.org/edi-at-wt