Communications Manager, Colby College Museum
- Employer
- Colby College
- Location
- Colby College
View moreView less
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Arts & Museum Administration, Communications & Marketing
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Communications Manager serves as a key member of the museum team, managing and executing communication strategy, building and supporting media relations, and designing and implementing print and digital outreach efforts for the Colby College Museum of Art and its Lunder Institute for American Art. The Manager will join the Museum team at an exciting moment of growth for one of the leading academic art museums in the United States. Its robust exhibition program, notable acquisitions, innovative programming of national and international scope, and Colby’s significant recent investments in the Waterville and Colby arts ecosystem have made it a destination for American art and attracted broad attention. New spaces and partnerships have resulted in expanded collaborative programming on campus, in downtown Waterville, and across the field of art.
Reporting to the Director of Museum Administration and External Affairs and guided by a mission of access and learning, the Communications Manager plays a pivotal role in communicating the museum in compelling and inviting ways to further elevate the museum’s visibility and reputation and to increase participation among campus, local/regional, national, and international audiences. The Communications Manager builds key relationships and coordinates communications efforts and workflows across the Museum to promote its exhibitions, publications, programs, and initiatives and to manage web and digital content. Importantly, they partner with the Colby College Office of Communications and with Colby’s Advancement Communications team to design and carry out strategies and tactics across a range of vehicles and media platforms. They also work with other partners on campus, regionally, and beyond on collaborative campaigns that increase the museum’s reach.
ABOUT THE COLBY MUSEUM
Founded in 1959 and located in Waterville, Maine, the Colby College Museum of Art opens access to art and artists, creating a forum for experimentation, research, dialogue, and joyful connection. The Colby Museum supports the education of Colby students, serves as a cultural resource in Central Maine, and shapes the field of American art through its exhibitions and programs. With over 40,000 feet of exhibition space–the largest in Maine–it stewards an outstanding collection of nearly 11,000 works of art. It is internationally known for its American art holdings, which include the Lunder Collection and the largest holdings in a public museum of the work of Alex Katz. The museum’s approach to American art is pluralistic and open, increasingly reflective of the complex indigenous, diasporic, and immigrant experiences characteristic of the Americas. Through the Lunder Institute for American Art, the museum brings together artists, scholars, students and others to incubate research and creative practices, and publish innovative scholarship that redefines how art is made, taught, studied, and shared.
A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Working to advance equity and inclusion in the field of American art—and, by doing so, in the wider world—is core to our mission. We feel the urgency of national and campus conversations on inequality and are keenly aware of the unique responsibility that we have as an academic art museum—as a place where we can listen, ask questions, and challenge assumptions—to engage in this dialogue, and to act. We affirm the Colby Museum’s commitment to multidisciplinary teaching and learning and our potential for deep engagement with students will be leveraged in this effort toward fighting racialized violence, injustice, and inequality. Colby College is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment where every member of the community feels a sense of respect and belonging.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Communications Planning: Develop and execute strategic communications plans aligned with the Museum's goals, leveraging digital technologies and multi-platform content distribution.
Media Relations: Collaborate with the College’s Office of Communications to craft a proactive media relations strategy. Identify media opportunities, pitch stories to arts and general media outlets, and cultivate relationships with journalists locally and nationwide.
Paid Media and Advertising: Identify priorities, develop strategies, and manage budgets for paid media exposure and targeted advertising campaigns to enhance the Museum’s visibility.
Internal communications: Oversee and ensure all internal project management platforms are being maintained and actively utilized; facilitate ongoing development and training for participating staff.
Content Development: Oversee the creation, production, and proofreading of print and digital communications and coordinate all marketing materials in collaboration with relevant departments.
Press Releases and Special Announcements: In collaboration with the College’s office of communications and other partners, write, proofread, and distribute press releases and special announcements targeting national and local audiences.
Media Management: Manage incoming media requests and serve as Museum spokesperson when necessary. Coordinate media presence at Museum events and ensure positive media coverage.
Website Oversight: Manage Museum website content, ensuring exhibitions, programs, and collection resources are prominently featured and align with the Museum’s mission and values.
Team Management: Supervise communications staff, oversee communications calendars, content creation, and project management.
Brand Management: Maintain brand identity and ensure consistency of style and graphic standards across all communication platforms.
Vendor and Partner Relations: Maintain relationships with Colby communications colleagues, cultural partners, external vendors, design firms, and production companies to facilitate content integration and delivery.
Data-Driven Insights: Develop and implement internal processes to apply best practices and data-driven assessment to future marketing and communications initiatives.
Strategic Initiatives: Participate in implementing strategic initiatives of the Museum, contributing insights and expertise in communications strategy.
Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned, adapting to evolving responsibilities and contributes to the overall success of the Museum.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Art History, or related field
Minimum of three to five years of experience in communications, with experience developing communications content for various audiences preferably in a cultural or academic institution
Proven track record in strategic communications planning, media relations, print and digital content creation.
Excellent writing skills; understanding of editorial style standards, copyediting, writing and proofreading skills with meticulous attention to detail.
Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment and to follow through.
Proficiency in digital marketing tools, social media platforms, and project management systems.
Experience managing annual budgets and overseeing paid media campaigns.
Demonstrated initiative and creativity; ability to work proactively and collaboratively as a member of a dynamic and diverse community; ability to work with people across a wide range of levels of power and influence.
Unwavering commitment to fostering an anti-racist, equitable work environment that supports people from different cultures, backgrounds, and life paths
Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
Reporting to the Museum’s Director of Administration and External Affairs, the Communications Manager works collaboratively with Museum leadership and staff from all teams (Curatorial, Education and Academic Programs, Collections, Lunder Institute of American Art, Advancement and Administration) to achieve strategic objectives, as well as with Colby faculty, staff, and a diverse array of external constituents. The Communications Manager works closely with members of the Administrative and Advancement teams and the Lunder Institute to ensure strategic coordination of communications efforts, and with the Barbara Alfond Manager of Exhibitions and Publications, Mirken Senior Coordinator of Programs and Audience Engagement, and Mirken Fellow in Museum Practice to manage content production, workflows, and timelines. The Communications Manager will also work in strategic alignment with Colby College’s Office of Communications, the Colby Arts office and regional partners to coordinate communications and marketing initiatives across multiple platforms.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary.
TO APPLY:
Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the "Apply Now" button on the Colby College website. A review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Colby is a private, coeducational liberal arts college that admits students and makes employment decisions on the basis of the individual's qualifications to contribute to Colby's educational objectives and institutional needs. Colby College does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, or military or veteran’s status. Colby is an equal opportunity employer and operates in accordance with federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination. Colby complies with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in an institution’s education programs and activities. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to Colby’s Title IX coordinator or to the federal Office of Civil Rights. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our college.
For more information about the College, please visit our website: www.colby.edu.
Organization
Working at Colby College
Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America’s most selective colleges. Serving only undergraduates, Colby’s rigorous academic program is rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close interaction with world-class faculty scholars. Students pursue intellectual passions, choosing among 57 majors or developing their own. Independent and collaborative research, study abroad, and internships offer robust opportunities to prepare students for postgraduate success. Colby is home to a community of 1,850 dedicated and diverse students from around the globe. Its Maine location provides easy access to world-class research institutions and civic engagement experiences.
Under the leadership of its new president, David A. Greene, Colby is building on this strong foundation while remaining committed to excellence, to supporting students and faculty at the highest levels, and to the College’s deep liberal arts traditions. This new chapter includes plans for creating innovative academic initiatives and partnerships, strengthening the connections between the liberal arts and the professional world, revitalizing downtown Waterville, and pursuing significant capital projects for performing arts and athletics.
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