Director of Marketing

Job Description

Job Description

Art Academy of Cincinnati Director of Marketing

POSITION: Director of Marketing

SUPERVISOR: President

DEPARTMENT: Marketing

JOB SUMMARY:

The Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) seeks a creative and collaborative Director of Marketing to lead the institution's marketing, branding, and communications efforts. Reporting to the President, the Director will develop and implement marketing initiatives that strengthen institutional visibility, advance AAC's mission, and support institutional priorities.

This position combines institutional marketing leadership with hands-on creative execution. The Director will oversee institutional branding, digital marketing, content development, and campaign production while maintaining a consistent and compelling institutional identity across all platforms.

The Director supervises the Marketing & Communications Coordinator, oversees third-party marketing contracts and creative partners, and works collaboratively with departments across the institution to coordinate marketing initiatives and resources.

Essential duties include:

Institutional Marketing and Brand Awareness

• Develop and implement a comprehensive institutional marketing plan aligned with AAC's mission and strategic priorities in collaboration with Executive leadership.
• Oversee institutional branding, messaging, and visual identity, ensuring consistency across all communications.
• Develop and manage integrated marketing campaigns that strengthen institutional visibility, reputation, and engagement.
• Collaborate with Enrollment, Academic Affairs, Advancement, and other institutional departments to establish marketing priorities and coordinate campaigns, communications, events, and promotional initiatives.
• Develop and execute marketing campaigns and materials that support student recruitment, academic programs, exhibitions, institutional events, and community engagement while maintaining consistent institutional branding.

Digital Marketing and Communications

• Oversee the institution's social media, email marketing, digital advertising, and other digital communication channels to increase institutional awareness, engagement, and audience reach.
• Collaborate with Executive leadership and the Website Manager to coordinate website content, updates, and enhancements, ensuring alignment with institutional branding, marketing priorities, and user experience.
• Direct and actively create compelling written, visual, and multimedia content highlighting AAC's students, faculty, alumni, academic programs, and institutional achievements.
• Photograph, document, and coordinate multimedia coverage of institutional events, including exhibitions, lectures, Open Houses, recruitment events, and campus activities, for use across marketing and communications channels.
• Develop and distribute press releases, coordinate institutional communications, and manage public relations, media outreach, and promotional opportunities in collaboration with Executive leadership.
• Monitor digital marketing, ads and campaign performance, trends, and opportunities; and recommend strategies to improve engagement, and effectiveness.

Creative Direction and Department Management

• Direct and manage the design, production, procurement, and delivery of institutional marketing materials, including digital assets, printed publications, signage, promotional merchandise, and third-party advertising materials.
• Supervise the Marketing Coordinator, including project assignments, workflow management, and performance evaluation.
• Establish and manage institutional marketing workflows, prioritizing departmental requests, coordinating production schedules, and ensuring timely delivery of marketing initiatives.
• Oversee third-party marketing contracts, external vendors, and creative partners, including evaluation of services, contract deliverables, and performance.
• Manage the departmental marketing budget and ensure responsible allocation of institutional resources.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in marketing or communications.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated marketing strategies and campaigns.
• Strong creative judgment with experience in branding, visual communication, and content development.
• Experience with digital marketing, website management, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), AI-powered marketing tools, and marketing analytics.
• Excellent written, verbal, and editorial communication skills.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Experience managing third-party contracts, external vendors, and marketing budgets.
• Strong organizational, collaborative, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead marketing initiatives while actively contributing to creative production and execution.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support institutional events, exhibitions, and recruitment activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, arts and cultural organizations, or creative industries.
• Experience with institutional branding, rebranding, and website development.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, marketing automation, and digital advertising platforms.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and content management systems.
• Experience with photography, video production, and multimedia content development.
• Knowledge of contemporary art and design.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and examples of relevant marketing work demonstrating experience in campaign development, branding, content creation, or digital marketing.