Director of Communications and Content
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Full-time
Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Posted on April 10, 2024
Director of Communications and Content
University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Director of Communications and Content
Job Profile Title
Director, Communications
Job Description Summary
About ICA:
The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania (ICA Philadelphia) is a global hub for contemporary art and ideas. Free and open to all, ICA Philadelphia is dedicated to supporting artistic practices across disciplines and to serving as a laboratory for risk-taking, community-building, and knowledge-creation. Since 1963, ICA Philadelphia has championed the University's commitment to cultivating the next generation of imaginative creators and thinkers. Through commissions, exhibitions, programs, publications, and special projects, ICA Philadelphia fosters bold experimentation, curiosity, and discovery. Learn more at icaphila.org
Our Vision:
ICA is a launchpad for contemporary art and ideas, a place of possibility.
Our Mission:
We create transformative experiences with art across disciplines and encourage bold experimentation, deep connection, and boundless curiosity with artists and audiences alike.
Our Values:
Job Description Summary:
The Director of Communications and Content leads and oversees communications and creative production efforts for the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania (ICA). They will define and design an architecture for ICA's communications and content that consistently reflects ICA's public voice, raises the institution's visibility among diverse audiences, and positions ICA as a thought leader across the fields of arts and culture.
This leadership role oversees and manages cross-departmental efforts that coordinate all communications to the wide variety of ICA's constituents including media, artists, staff, and the general public. They have accountability for the quality, tone and execution of messaging and communications, ensuring consistency and high-quality design throughout all communications, including web, social media, print, video, and any other future technologies or channels. They will lead a creative, collaborative approach to reaching ICA's audiences and constituents. They will ensure the development and communication of inventive and compelling stories across platforms online and off, that emphasize and give visibility to ICA's dynamic multi-platform programming, its mission as a champion of experimental and bold ideas, and the transformative role of contemporary art and culture. They will actively build connections across ICA and the University of Pennsylvania, opening lines of communication and building and maintaining relationships so departments and staff members within ICA and key stakeholders at Penn are aligned and working together to strengthen ICA's brand and voice.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
Institutional Communications Strategy
- Develop and evolve a strategic framework for institutional communications that will raise visibility for ICA, deepen engagement for visitors and engage new audiences.
- Develop a coordinated and integrated communications and marketing plan for the institution; setting institutional messaging priorities (short and long-term); creating consistent communications and brand profile across all marketing, media relations, visitor experience, community engagement, and communications platforms.
- Create alignment across all stakeholder groups internally and externally around ICA's mission and vision, from macro to micro.
- Collaborate with and be a thought partner to the leadership team on setting institutional priorities, goals, and benchmarks as they relate to communications, based on ICA's Strategic Visioning Process and forthcoming Strategic Plan.
- Partner with leadership team to set the vision, plan, goals, and decision-making criteria associated with partnerships, development, and external communications in service of ICA's mission.
Development and Management of Communications and Content Team
- Lead Communications and Content staff, as well as outside contractors and freelancers (graphic designers, photographers, communications consultants, and other core vendors, etc.) to establish priorities, set goals, manage plans, and budgets for effective and efficient operations that align with key messages and strategic positioning.
- Develop and implement plan for restructuring as needed and building the Communications and Content team internally at ICA (including up to two full-time staff) and externally through freelance engagements and support.
- Take a leadership role in ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are central to ICA's work across Communications and Content.
Communications Alignment and Implementation
- Lead efforts to strategically communicate ICA's mission and program to diverse individuals, communities, and cultures in ICA's local and global communities.
- In partnership with Director, Penn's Human Resources and external communications agency as appropriate, develop internal communications strategies and materials for select institutional efforts, projects, and crisis management.
- Develop select press materials; management of media relations in coordination with external communications agency.
- Draft and oversee copy for director's remarks and speeches.
- Provide institutional talking points for applicable situations such as challenging programming, media response and crisis communications efforts.
- Partner with ICA leadership and staff to ensure that all communications reflect ICA's strategic messages and positioning; articulate core content and programmatic philosophy in compelling ways that support of the mission and values of the organization.
- Establish cross-departmental pathways that support positive organizational culture.
Marketing and Branding
- Develop and safeguard ICA's brand identity, both internally and externally.
- Set and manage brand standards across the institution.
- Develop process for refreshing ICA's brand identity and deployment in all areas of visual communication including publications, exhibition and building graphics, special installations, institutional campaigns, and assorted ephemera.
- Draft and oversee copy and creative development of ICA promotional campaigns and collateral materials.
- Keep abreast of changes in the field and ensure ICA's commitment to high quality design and communications is made visible by participating in conferences, lectures, competitions, and local, national, and international dialogue.
Digital Strategy
- Develop and continuously evolve an audience-focused content strategy across platform (i.e., Instagram, YouTube, etc.) and type (i.e. Instagram Stories, IGTV, etc.) and editorial calendar with a balanced approach of program marketing and brand/institutional storytelling to increase social relevance and build brand recognition.
- Establish short and long-term vision for digital assets with an understanding of the full omnichannel audience journey.
- Collaborate with leadership team to ensure that social content and email is as cohesive as possible in terms of cross channel messaging.
- Ensure high quality design and editorial practices in the production of all web-based projects.
- Establish reporting standards that measure and monitor efforts to reach ICA's identified audiences.
Qualifications
Successful candidates will be curious, collaborative, and inventive. They will come with a strong desire to uncover the story-telling opportunities aligned with this dynamic arts environment. They will bring a deep expertise and hands-on experience and progressive leadership around creating communications, brand, and content strategies as well as the tactical know-how to foster the work, and the mindset, required to assess, improve, grow and diversify ICA's communication opportunities. Experience managing work across teams is a must with a high degree of emotional intelligence; a leadership style that is driven by active inquiry and learning; an ability to creatively synthesize ideas and input from multiple sources; and a commitment to excellence.
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field
- A minimum of 5-7 years (7-10 years preferred) related career experience showing progressively increasing levels of responsibility with a minimum of three years of experience in a leadership role managing teams.
- Strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access evident in employment experiences.
- Exceptional verbal communication skills.
- Fluency and ability to write a variety of content including speeches, message guidance, and briefing memos.
- Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and implementing communication and marketing strategies across cultural, arts or educational organizations.
- Advanced project management and multi-tasking skills.
- Prior experience building and maintaining a team-oriented, diverse environment.
- Ability to quickly develop trusting relationships with colleagues at all levels.
- Proven ability to collaborate across departments and lead teams with or without direct authority.
- Sound project management skills with regard to schedules, budgets and resources.
- Committed to the role of design as a bridge between ideas and audiences.
- Knowledge and passion for illuminating the work of contemporary artists.
Application Requirement
- A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Institute of Contemporary Art
Pay Range
$74,476.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
- Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
- Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
- Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
- Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
- Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
- Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
- University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
- Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
- Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
- Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
- Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Institute-for-Contemporary-Art/Director-of-Communications-and-Content_JR00083031
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