Marketing Director

The Marketing Director plans, manages and evaluates comprehensive marketing initiatives designed to support ticket sales, audience growth and the overall visibility of the Symphony. Temporarily reporting to the interim President & CEO and later the Vice President of Marketing, the Marketing Specialist, as well as any other marketing staff, will be a direct report.

This role is responsible for campaign development and execution, budget oversight, coordination with internal teams and management of external vendors across digital, print and earned media channels. Working collaboratively with ticketing, development, artistic and operational partners, the Marketing Director ensures marketing strategies are aligned with organizational goals and patron engagement objectives. The successful candidate will be a versatile marketing professional with strong digital fluency, sound budget management skills, and the ability to translate organizational objectives into effective, results-driven marketing efforts.

This is a full-time, exempt position that requires regular availability during evenings, weekends, and organizational campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy & Revenue Alignment

• Develop and execute annual and per-concert marketing plans that support ticket revenue, subscription growth and audience diversification goals.
• Partner closely with the Director of Ticketing Operations to align campaign timing, offers, audience segments and sales targets.
• Translate sales goals and capacity considerations into actionable marketing strategies without direct responsibility for ticket system configuration or pricing setup.
• Monitor campaign performance and adjust tactics in real time to support revenue objectives.

Audience Development & Campaign Management

• Lead the planning and execution of subscription, single-ticket, group sales support campaigns and special initiatives.
• Own audience segmentation, targeting strategy and messaging frameworks across channels.
• Oversee creative development and deployment for print, digital, email, paid media and on-site promotional materials.
• Ensure consistent brand voice, visual identity and messaging across all marketing touchpoints.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

• Oversee all digital marketing efforts, including website content strategy, email marketing, social media and digital advertising.
• Manage paid digital media (search, social, display) in partnership with internal resources or external agencies.
• Set social media strategy and content priorities; ensure platforms support audience growth, engagement and ticket conversion.
• Use analytics to evaluate performance, optimize spending and improve customer journeys.

Budgeting & Vendor Management

• Contribute to the development of the annual marketing budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources and alignment with revenue goals.
• Oversee external agencies, designers, printers, media buyers and other marketing vendors; negotiate scopes and manage deliverables.
• Track marketing spends and ROI, providing clear reporting and recommendations to upline leadership.

Collaboration & Internal Alignment

• Serve as a key cross-functional partner to ticketing, development, artistic planning, education and operations teams.
• Support fundraising and development initiatives through coordinated messaging, campaign support and audience communications.
• Provide marketing insight and recommendations for programming, promotions and community engagement opportunities.
• This role supervises marketing specialist(s) and other marketing support staff

Reporting & Insights

• Establish and maintain marketing performance metrics across channels.
• Analyze campaign outcomes, audience trends and market conditions to inform future strategy.
• Present clear, actionable insights to leadership that connect marketing activity to revenue and attendance outcomes.
• Collaborate on campaign timing, offers, audience segmentation and performance targets to maximize ticket sales and attendance.
• Translate sales goals, capacity considerations and performance insights into effective marketing strategies and demand-generation initiatives.
• Maintain strong communication and shared planning rhythms to ensure a seamless patron journey from awareness through purchase.

Skills & Qualifications

• 4–7 years of experience in marketing, communications, or audience development, preferably in arts, entertainment, nonprofit or consumer-facing organizations is required.
• The ability to represent the organization in a variety of situations and to effectively communicate and work cooperatively and with flexibility with people of various backgrounds, including all levels of Symphony staff, board, donors and volunteers while maintaining tact, diplomacy and confidentiality is essential.
• Resourceful team player with problem solving ability and demonstrated written and verbal communication skills. Must have a great ability to multi-task, be a creative problem-solver, demonstrate a strong attention to detail and an ability to work through stress filled moments.
• Capacity to work effectively under pressure to support creation of the best product for the organization while meeting established deadlines.
• Eagerness to work within an organizational philosophy that stresses the importance of open communication, teamwork, confidentiality, and the desire to meet rising expectations.
• Ability to interact constructively with a broad range of constituents: conductors, musicians, staff, vendors, stage crew and others.
• Working knowledge of an orchestra and a musical background is preferred.
• Solution oriented with the ability to elevate co-workers to be more effective.
• Demonstrated experience managing integrated marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels.
• Strong working knowledge of digital marketing, social media platforms, email marketing and paid advertising.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.
• Experience in marketing live events, performances or subscription-based products is preferred.
• Familiarity with CRM or ticketing-adjacent data (e.g., Ticketmaster, Tessitura, Salesforce, or similar), without expectation of system administration is preferred.
• Experience managing ad budgets, vendors and external partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe products; additional experience with SharePoint, Dropbox, Google Suites, and Word Press preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

What We’re Offering

• Salary: Commensurate with Experience.
• Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance, LTD and Life Insurance, generous paid time off and holiday schedule, subsidized downtown parking and 401k.
• Variety - every day is different, and creativity is encouraged!

To apply for this position, please submit the following to GRS Human Resources via email at [email protected]; Cover Letter and Resume. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, February 26. Advancing applicants will be contacted directly, no phone calls, please.

For complete information about the Grand Rapids Symphony, visit

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person