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Advertising Summary: The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for the position of Director of Communications and Public Engagement.

Unit: Institute for Contemporary Art MBU

Department: Institute for Contemporary Art

Department Summary: Designed by Steven Holl Architects and located at the corner of Broad and Belvidere, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at VCU presents the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. With free admission, the ICA is a major resource for VCU, Richmond, and beyond.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for the position of Director of Communications and Public Engagement

The ICA is a non-collecting institution that showcases a changing slate of exhibitions, performances, and programs. With a mission to listen, create, and make art public, the ICA is a place to explore new ideas, providing an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and the world. Opened in 2018 in the LEED Gold-certified,Steven Holl-designed Markel Center, the ICA is a part of VCU’s School of the Arts, linking the campus and the city of Richmond to an international network of contemporary artists and organizations, and encouraging working partnerships with VCU departments, faculty, students, and the broader community. ICA admission is free  and open to all.

The ICA’s artistic program includes exhibitions, film screenings, talks and discussions, outdoor activations, publications and performances and serves a broad public. In 2020, in partnership with VPM, the VPM+ICA Community Media Center was launched, which presents the annual Levels Up Academy podcasting forum, and the Resonate podcast festival. The Director of Communications and Public Engagement will design and execute an integrated strategic marketing and communications plan for the ICA with focus on the following priorities: 

• Enhancing the ICA’s mission and brand through digital engagement, storytelling editorial strategies and public relations

• Expanding awareness of the ICA’s local, regional and international reputation 

• Engage audiences and publics in ways that embody the ICA’s mission to listen, create, and make art public

The Director of Communications and Public Engagement will work in close collaboration with other senior staff at the ICA, across VCU and with external consultants. They will lead and appropriately staff the communications team (Digital Strategist and Editor) in addition to project-specific graphic designers and part-time graduate student interns. 

Reporting directly to the ICA’s Executive Director, the Director of Communications and Public Engagement is a member of the ICA’s managing staff. In addition, the Director of Communications and Public Engagement has a dotted supervisory line to the VCUarts Director of Communications and Marketing.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop strategies that showcase the institute’s brand narrative. 

• Devise, implement and maintain the overall marketing, communications and storytelling strategies of the ICA.

• Hone effective communication techniques for reaching and motivating the ICA’s audiences to drive visitorship, program attendance, and giving

• Support the Digital Strategist in prioritizing innovative and effective digital engagement and storytelling content  aligned with the mission and strategic goals of the ICA.

• Lead and coordinate the production process for various media and platforms, working with in-house and external freelance IT specialists, programmers, designers, and developers to execute projects.

• Establishing systems and procedures that map departmental priorities onto project-related tasks aligned with the ICA institutional priorities

• Work with department heads to develop content for the ICA’s website and related digital products and initiativesEvaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of internal and external information; obtain feedback from the public and internal personnel through surveys, public opinion studies, and/or focus group meetings.

• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with VCU and VCUarts communications teams, and other VCU faculty and staff, community leaders, donors, and representatives of communications media and governmental organizations.

• Analyze situations accurately, adopt an effective course of action, and maintain sound decision-making in all situations; exercise authority of the position with diplomacy, honesty, integrity, humor, and tact.

• Provide motivation, professional development support, and daily project management for the Communications Team, comprising the Creative Director, Designers, Social Strategist, Interns, freelance writers, etc.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus three to five years of professional-level experience in marketing and communications, including experience of leading an agency or in-house creative team. Those who have a combination of professional training, experience, and education equivalent to a Bachelor's degree are invited to apply.

• Have demonstrated experience with various communications and content channels and platforms, successfully leading, developing, and implementing communications, marketing and digital strategy across organizations, ideally within the cultural sector

• Possess a strong business acumen and excellent leadership skills, and be able to demonstrate strategic thinking and planning over multi-year periods working on a variety of projects across multiple platforms.

• Be passionate about contemporary art and culture.

• Demonstrated experience working within and across teams, and working collaboratively to execute the vision of creatives

• Possesses exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including writing, editing, and proofreading.

• Be well organized, highly motivated, and able to work and lead in a fast-paced and digital environment.

• Must be self-motivated, strategic, creative, entrepreneurial, and detail-oriented

• Be able to problem-solve using sound judgment and professional discretion.

• Have demonstrated strong work ethic and time management skills.

• Be an adaptive leader.

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of leading an agency or in-house creative team in the museum or arts industry

• Graduate-level degree in a related field.

• A track record of innovative use of online platforms and digital technologies to drive engagement and interaction with audiences, spanning web, mobile, social media, and onsite interactive media.

• Experience developing digital products on the basis of user-centered research and of using data analytics to inform decisions.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $92,000

Application Deadline: For best consideration, application materials due by Monday, May 11.

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 1322S - Sr Communications Specialist Senior

Contact Information:
Contact Name: VCUarts HR
Contact Email: artshr@vcu.edu