Associate Director of Communications

Reports to: Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs

Department: Communications

Status: Full-time; Exempt

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Communications raises the profile and awareness of Curtis and its musicians, especially in collaboration with the Digital Strategy and Innovation, Musician Life Cycle, and Touring Office teams; explores and creates opportunities for public relations and media, outlets geared to prospective students, and global presenters; advances key messages and values via media placements and external communications; facilitates communications with internal and external stakeholders; fosters long-term engagement with alumni; and provides writing and editing expertise to all areas of the school.

Key Areas of Work

Communications and publications

• Maintain the Curtis website in collaboration with the Digital Strategy team
• Develop content strategy and draft content for aggregator/blog
• Identify opportunities, plan, and develop content for prospective students, audiences, donors, alumni, and touring partners in collaboration with musician lifecycle, artistic production, archives, touring, and artist management teams.
• Write interesting, creative, short form copy that connects and creates impact in both digital and print formats, in line with institutional style
• Collect and analyze reader feedback via surveys and focus groups
• Organize and distribute relevant communications content to internal stakeholders as appropriate
• Manage content development for monthly e-News, and monitor analytics
• Assist with planning, content, and production of semiannual Overtones magazine, performance program books, and annual report
• Participate in social media content curation as part of a team coordinated by the Marketing Manager, Content
• Assist with generating and maintaining catalogue of photography and visual assets that advance objectives of the school

Media relations and public perception

• Field media requests; assist with scheduling interviews, reporters, photographers, and film crews; and provide supporting material.
• Work with the Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs and external PR partners to expand local, national, and international media coverage and develop press pitches that support departmental goals, campaign priorities, and schoolwide performances and activities
• Monitor Curtis mentions in the media, report on coverage, and disseminate to stakeholders as needed.
• Write and distribute press releases for Curtis performances, touring activities, student and faculty achievements, and other newsworthy events. Assist with talking point creation and press database/contact lists maintenance
• Maintain press kits and related information
• Compile and update artist bios, promotional copy, press materials clippings for touring activities and managed artists through Curtis on Tour

Additional project management, supervisory, and support functions

• Provide writing and editing expertise to all areas of the school and ensure alignment with Curtis Style Guide
• Solicit, research, and compile student, faculty, and alumni Notations for use in web, social media, and Overtones; oversee storage of historic data in accessible and usable formats for staff
• Maintain student and faculty bios—coordinate process for creating and updating new and returning student and faculty bios
• Oversee storage and accessibility of photography assets
• Support research projects on such topics as alumni demographics to inform alumni communications strategy
• Manage 2–3 student workers in support of departmental functions
• Participate in event-related duties, such as greeting audience members, checking in press representatives, and other event support as needed.

Qualifications

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in communications functions
• Excellent and clear writer, skilled in a range of voices and styles
• Working knowledge of classical music and higher education
• Experience with national and international media markets, outlets, and journalists desired.
• Organized, with a customer service mindset
• Familiarity with interpreting communications data analytics
• Creative thinker, strong collaborator, and enthusiastic team player
• Previous work in higher education or the performing arts, especially classical music, industries desired
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Knowledge of Meltwater, Hootsuite, HubSpot, Airtable, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, and Raiser’s Edge (or similar products) desired.

Required Core Values

The ideal candidate must exhibit:

• A positive, “can-do” attitude.
• Devotion and dedication to Curtis, its students, alumni, and parents.
• Passion for their work, and contribution to the field and greater good.
• Commitment and accountability for their work, and their ability to effect change.
• Desire and willingness to collaborate, think creatively, and make data-driven decisions.
• Respect, courtesy, and patience for colleagues, other staff, faculty, patrons, core constituents, and volunteers.
• An eagerness to make Curtis a more diverse and inclusive institution

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Routine for office environment.
• Some night/weekend work required as needed.

To Apply:

For best consideration, interested and qualified applicants should electronically submit a cover letter, resume, a recent writing sample, three professional references, and salary requirements to: human.resources@curtis.edu. Position will remain open until filled. Curtis offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and an attractive benefit package. Hire is contingent upon the successful passing of PA Act 153 and criminal (ADP) background screenings. No phone calls, please. EOE. URL: http://www.curtis.edu