Director of Marketing & Communications

ABOUT THE JOB

The Director, Marketing & Communications is a senior leadership team member responsible for the full audience lifecycle at The Reser, from first awareness through ticket purchase, event experience, and long-term loyalty. This role encompasses marketing and communications strategy, public relations, and box office and patron services operations, ensuring that all functions work together as an integrated, audience-centered system.

PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS

This is a strategic role requiring vision, market intelligence, and organizational authority to drive decisions. The Director leads a team of four full-time and multiple part-time staff across marketing and box office, and works in close collaboration with Programming, Donor Engagement, Production, and Administration. The incoming Director will step into a team in active motion, inheriting a new season launch and a fifth anniversary with significant brand and revenue potential.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Marketing Strategy and Campaign Execution

• Develop and lead the annual and multi-year marketing strategy for The Reser, with primary focus on Reser Presents programming including the art gallery, education programming, and supporting attention to rentals events.
• Plan and oversee integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns across digital, email, print, social media, and paid advertising, calibrated to drive single-ticket sales, build loyalty, and grow overall audience engagement.
• Establish and manage the annual marketing budget, which is close to $200K for FY 2027, maintaining discipline between marketing spend and earned revenue goals.
• Lead audience development strategy, including patron acquisition, retention, reactivation, and segmentation, in close collaboration with the Database Manager. Leverage patron data and purchasing behavior to inform campaign planning and offer development.
• Support the membership program by collaborating with the Donor Engagement team to drive revenue growth and patron retention.
• Serve as the organization's brand guardian, ensuring consistency across all public-facing touchpoints and materials, and building The Reser's identity and reputation.
• Lead marketing strategy for signature organizational initiatives and milestones, treating each as an opportunity for brand elevation, community engagement, and revenue growth.

Communications & Public Relations

• Develop and execute a public relations strategy to drive earned media coverage, manage press and media relationships, and position The Reser as a leading voice in Pacific Northwest arts and culture.
• Support and prepare the Executive Director as the organization's primary media spokesperson and public-facing institutional voice.
• Shape a compelling institutional narrative positioning The Reser as a cultural destination, community anchor, and essential part of life in the Portland metro region.
• Set editorial direction and content strategy across channels, with the Marketing & Communications Design Manager responsible for production and execution. Ensure messaging, tone, and content consistently reflect The Reser's brand and connect meaningfully with current and prospective audiences.
• Develop and execute internal communications strategy in partnership with the Executive Director, ensuring staff, board, and key stakeholders are informed, aligned, and connected to organizational priorities.
• Manage external communications vendors, PR support, and agency relationships, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and brand standards.

Partnership Marketing and Audience Development

• Identify and cultivate relationships with external organizations, brands, cultural institutions, and community groups whose audiences represent growth opportunities for The Reser.
• Develop and activate partnership programs that drive attendance and engagement, including co-promotions, cross-marketing initiatives, affinity group campaigns, and community presence.
• Translate partnership relationships into measurable attendance and revenue outcomes, tracking performance and embedding results into ongoing marketing planning.

Box Office and Patron Services

• Set the strategic vision for patron services, ensuring the Box Office & Patron Services team continues to deliver an experience that reflects The Reser’s brand and builds long-term audience loyalty.
• Ensure a welcoming, accessible, and high-quality patron experience across all box office and patron services touchpoints, from first inquiry through ticket purchase and arrival.
• Provide leadership for ticketing strategy, pricing, group sales, and accessibility programming.
• Partner with the Patron Services, Audience Services and Programming teams on house policies, capacity management, and revenue optimization.

Data, Systems, and Reporting

• Direct the Database Manager to ensure the organization's CRM and ticketing data infrastructure supports accurate reporting, audience segmentation, and campaign measurement.
• Establish regular reporting cadences on marketing performance, sales pacing, and patron metrics, utilizing consistent analysis to inform decision-making.
• Partner with the Database Manager and Managing Director to develop and maintain organization-wide health metrics for quarterly Board reporting, integrating sales data alongside broader organizational performance indicators.

CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION

The Director works closely with the Director of Programming and Executive Director on season marketing, artist promotional requirements, and co-production or partnership opportunities, and collaborates with the Director of Donor Engagement to ensure marketing and development initiatives reinforce one another, particularly around audience-to-donor cultivation and reputation-building. The Director collaborates with the Audience Services, Production, and Operations teams on ensuring an overall positive patron experience, and establishes the promotional framework and standards for rental client support in coordination with the Rentals team.

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

The Director leads, develops, and motivates a team across two distinct but connected functions, establishing clear roles, expectations, and accountability structures. This includes managing departmental workflow, workload distribution, and staff development across marketing and patron services, with a commitment to maximizing the contribution of every team member. The Director models a culture of high standards, creative ambition, and operational discipline.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 to 7+ years of progressive marketing experience, with at least three years in a director-level role; nonprofit performing arts, entertainment, or gate-driven venue experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success driving earned revenue through integrated marketing campaigns in a single-ticket and subscription environment
• Experience with CRM and ticketing systems; Tessitura or similar preferred
• Strong leadership and team management skills across multiple functional areas
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including media spokesperson experience
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Interested and qualified applicants are encouraged to submit a resume, accompanied by a cover letter describing why this position is of interest and the personal and professional experience that has prepared them to be successful. All applications will be held in confidence. Initial review of applications will begin on or about July 6th, 2026, and will continue until a pool of highly qualified finalists has been identified. Applicants should submit materials as soon as possible. Applications received after July 25th, 2026, may not be eligible for consideration.

All applications and/or inquiries should be sent via email only to:

John Haynes, Bard Arts Consulting

Jobs@TheReser.org

MS Word or PDF (preferred) attachments only, please

Subject Line: DIRECTOR OF MARKETING application

No phone calls please.

File names of all resumes and attachments should include applicant’s last name