Communications Manager - New Jersey Symphony Orchestra : Job Details

The New Jersey Symphony is looking for an experienced communications professional to fill the position of Communications Manager. This position plays a critical role in the organization's relationship with stakeholders and the media by creating stories and press releases about the organization and its events while elevating its brand identity.

Core responsibility: to be a lead storyteller of the New Jersey Symphony's activities, achievements and personalities, in alignment with the organization's strategic goals, and to elevate the New Jersey Symphony's brand identity. Areas of particular focus include increasing the Symphony's visibility within New Jersey's diverse communities, create concert-related PR opportunities to maximize ticket sales for classical, holiday, educational and special presentation concerts, and create and edit all communications to successfully promote the Symphony.

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS

• Grow and maximize press relationships and awareness of the New Jersey Symphony as an institution, with a heavy focus on New Jersey and New York media.
• Work closely with other departments towards the goal of optimizing institutional communications and messaging to all stakeholder groups including donors, board, patrons, musicians, and community partners.
• Copy write, edit and proofread materials for the organization.

Department: Marketing, External Affairs & Patron ServicesReports to: Vice President of Marketing & External AffairsSupervises: NoneLocation: Principal Office – Newark, New Jersey until Symphony Center opens, at which point Jersey CityStatus: Full Time, ExemptSalary: $55,000 to $60,000 annually

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

As an integral part of the musical landscape in the country's most vibrant cultural corridor, the New Jersey Symphony (Symphony) has for over one hundred years continued to enrich lives through a passion for musical excellence and a commitment to New Jersey, its people, and its communities. The Symphony has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as “a vital, artistically significant musical organization,” led by Music Director Xian Zhang —a “dynamic podium presence”—since 2016. The New York Times has praised Zhang for her “technical abilities, musicianship, and maturity.”

The New Jersey Symphony, with an annual operating budget of more than $17 million, a contributed revenue budget of $13 million, and a modest endowment, currently serves as the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with additional performance series in four other outstanding venues throughout New Jersey. With more than 140,000 New Jerseyans of all ages enjoying more than 160 concerts, education and community events each year, and with numerous partnerships with arts organizations, universities, and civic organizations, the Symphony has cultivated broad support, including approximately 3,000 donors and a rebuilding subscriber base of 3,300 post-pandemic.

In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the New Jersey Symphony presents a suite of nationally recognized education and community engagement (ECE) programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music, annually serving as many as 60,000 New Jerseyans in nearly all of its 21 counties. Core program offerings include Concerts for Young People; the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra; Preschool Program; and the touring chamber music program, New Jersey Symphony Community Partners. Through its diverse array of programs, the Symphony expands access to quality music instruction as well as provides vital arts learning experiences that reinforce social and emotional learning outcomes, foster confidence, and bring joy.

Fresh off its blockbuster 2022–23 Centennial Season, the New Jersey Symphony is riding a wave of momentum as it enters an exciting new phase in history. The Symphony adeptly navigated the pandemic, earning Emmy awards for its virtual concerts featured on NJ PBS; completing its first-ever professional branding engagement with an outside branding agency; and moving to a new ticketing, CRM and eCommerce system, which has resulted in single ticket sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

With a new strategic plan, the New Jersey Symphony now embarks on a bold vision for the future, the centerpiece of which will be a new Symphony Center that includes a 550-seat, versatile performance space in Jersey City.

This transformational initiative and expansion into Jersey City will make the organization a community place-maker and will be the largest venue in Jersey City's Powerhouse Arts District – a city that is on track to surpass Newark as the most populated city in the state. The new 44,000-square-foot Symphony Center will also include space for administrative offices, establish a permanent rehearsal hall for the musicians, and expand performance, education programs and community engagement opportunities. The Symphony Center will diversify earned revenue through rentals and presenting activities, and increase contributed revenue associated with capital projects and expanded community programs. The city has recently announced its partnership with the New Jersey Symphony, which will activate and manage the venue, with final interior theater construction expected to be completed for a Fall 2026 expected public opening.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESPublic Relations & Communications

• Proactively identify story opportunities to strategically pitch to media outlets that tie-back to the New Jersey Symphony story as an innovative and world-class orchestra in the local, national and international markets.
• Develop, implement, and measure the success of a comprehensive communications and public relations plan.
• Write, proof and send press releases that elevate the New Jersey Symphony brand in areas of artistic, education and community events; institution-wide and development news. Craft press pitches; facilitate press ticket, photography and video requests.
• Identify, forge, and develop relationships with media of key strategic importance, creating dialogue to facilitate outbound and inbound earned media opportunities.
• Create and implement press strategy for major announcements. Coordinate press events and media availability for New Jersey Symphony personnel.
• Strategize communications with the Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs and others on the senior leadership team.
• Lead the relationship with any New Jersey Symphony external PR consultants.
• Develop institutional responses to breaking news.
• Prepare New Jersey Symphony representatives for interviews. Draft quotes/talking points that reinforce brand messages, as part of any crisis public relations management.
• Ghost write for key organization leaders, in their voice and style.
• Working with the Director of Marketing, implement a vigorous media and content strategy that supports & drives ticket sales through positive stories profiling upcoming New Jersey Symphony events and featured artists in advertising, promotions and social media influencer marketing.
• Use social media to connect with media and influencers.
• Make communications content specialized for social media, recognizing that many news outlets are social first.
• Work with artists, artist management, and venue PR representatives on leveraging their PR efforts for New Jersey Symphony-associated events.

Support Organization's Communication Needs

• In conjunction with Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs, create and implement a strategy around internal communications to staff, board, musicians, and key stakeholders.
• Write, edit and proofread all produced text materials for all departments to ensure adherence to the New Jersey Symphony style guide, standards and brand messaging. Maintain organizational style guide.
• Be the primary proofreader and style guide ambassador for the organization, checking for correct grammar usage, style and messaging.
• Maintain the Style Guide for the organization, adapting as necessary.
• Oversee program book management; gathering, formatting and proofing content from all departments; working with Creative Director on layouts and managing the proofing process.
• Contract and work with program notes writer. Format and oversee proofing of program notes for print and digital distribution. Develop and implement strategy for community impact spotlights in program books.
• Project-manage and write the Annual Report, working with internal and external constituencies on gathering data, storyboarding and communicating to patrons, funders and the community the great work the Symphony does. Work with the Creative Director on design layout and production.
• Curate and write content for the website and email distribution, both for the Marketing department and inter-departmentally.
• In collaboration with the Creative Director, manage the New Jersey Symphony's photo shoots and digital assets and oversee the image representation of the Orchestra and symphony programs in all media.
• Maintain positive relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Attend concerts and represent the New Jersey Symphony to concertgoers throughout the state.
• Provide support to Marketing and other departments as needed.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for working in the non-profit arts community.
• Demonstrated experience in managing relationships externally and internally to support content and communication strategy and fulfillment.
• Bachelor's degree required; 4+ years of total professional experience required, preferably in a capacity directly related to communications, public relations, content or journalism.
• Excellent proofreading skills, both in editorial capacity and institutional messaging alignment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of or desire to learn Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe InDesign, Basecamp project management software, Tessitura patron database software and Prospect2 (Active Campaign) marketing automation software.
• Project management skills, especially in relation to content production.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $60,000 annually. The New Jersey Symphony offers a generous benefits package, including health, dental, insurance options and pension. Relocation reimbursement is not offered for this position.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Only applicants with the correct background will be contacted.
• Must be able to physically work in our Newark, NJ office, until Symphony Center opens, at which point Jersey City, NJ.
• Must be able to work evenings, weekends and some holidays.
• Valid driver's license and access to an automobile are necessary for considerable travel within New Jersey, for concerts and events.
• Must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.

Hours: Full time, evenings and weekends required, specifically for working at concerts and events in multiple locations throughout northern and central New Jersey.

The New Jersey Symphony celebrates the cultural vibrancy of our communities and builds meaningful relationships that elevate and strengthen them. We seek to create a culture of inclusion and a work environment that values hard work, professionalism and creativity. We are committed to diversity and equal opportunity in our recruitment and hiring. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are welcome to apply for open positions.

TO APPLY

Email resume and cover letter to:

Geoffrey Anderson, Vice President of Marketing & External [email protected] (include “Communications Manager position” in the subject line)

The New Jersey Symphony is an equal opportunity employer. No phone calls please.

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