The Marketing Director is responsible for devising and executing comprehensive marketing, communication, content, and advertising and outreach strategies to enhance our brand, grow audiences and community connections, and achieve revenue goals. This role involves managing the marketing team to ensure timely, cohesive, and high-quality outputs, while fostering professional growth, and working with our development, programming, and cinema teams to promote synergy across departments. Budget creation and maintenance are also key responsibilities.

Please note that a 1-2 page cover letter is required. Applicants without a cover letter will not be further considered for the role.

Priority will be given to applicants whose materials are received by August 1, 2025.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and lead the organization's marketing, communication, and outreach strategies, ensuring effective, timely, and cohesive marketing and fundraising communications.
• Develop, launch and manage new audience development strategies (e.g. street team, partnerships)
• Lead and mentor the marketing team.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

Develop and lead the organization's marketing and communication strategies, assuring timeliness and effectiveness of marketing output:

• Guide the evolution and implementation of Milwaukee Film's dynamic and consistent image, reputation, communication policies, visual brand, and brand voice to grow brand awareness and trust for various audiences
• Set and measure goals for marketing-driven revenue and overall performance, both in earned revenue such as ticket sales and merchandise and contributed revenue such as new memberships.
• Enhance awareness of programs, special events, and the organization's impact.
• Continuously improve data collection and analysis to optimize marketing performance and to share with other departments for holistic data-driven decision making across the organization
• Lead and manage marketing strategies and plans for specific projects like festival campaigns, fundraising drives, and program awareness efforts.
• Serve as a spokesperson and strategist for media and public interactions.
• Oversee the maintenance of a dynamic, multi-platform digital presence
• Collaborate with various teams (e.g development, programming) to develop marketing materials, define outreach tactics, and guide implementation of marketing plans for varying stakeholders
• Execute targeted marketing efforts through effective audience segmentation.

Develop, launch and manage new audience development strategies

• Develop new and manage existing audience development strategies (street team, community partnerships, eventizing programmatic offerings, etc) in collaboration with other departments
• Evaluate audience development successes using data while striving for constant quality improvement of strategies
• Manage ad sales revenue streams for in-cinema opportunities

Lead and mentor the marketing team: 

• Set and pursue clear goals for the marketing team, fostering a positive and collaborative environment.
• Supervise individual members of the marketing team in a way that supports their growth and professional development.
• Manage the marketing budget within the organization's overall budget.
• Ensure consistent, quality work from the marketing team.
• Oversee marketing and communications technology vendors and platforms.
• Supervise marketing contractors (designers, photo/video)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience interacting with diverse, multicultural, and intergenerational populations.
• 5+ years of successful marketing management experience.
• Proven success in marketing leadership, team leadership, audience development, promotional partnerships, and budget management.
• Evidence of success across the range of marketing channels we use (print, social, email, and other digital; paid, earned, and organic) and use of data and analytics to guide decision making

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Understanding of and connection to Milwaukee Film and its mission.
• Ability to lead teams, plans, and processes effectively.
• Proven self-starter with a strong sense of possibility and adaptability.
• Ability to handle difficult questions and issues with professionalism.
• Comfortable with public speaking to a variety of audience sizes and backgrounds
• Proficiency in information sharing, planning, and time management.
• Exceptional written communication skills and knowledge of different writing styles.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify growth opportunities.
• High level of personal and professional integrity and sound judgment.

Work Relationships & Scope

• Reports to the Executive Director.
• Frequent collaboration with Artistic Director, Managing Director, and development team leadership.
• Occasional contact with other team members in Programming, Development, and Operations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands/Mental Demands

• General office environment for most work; ~15% on-site at historic cinemas.
• Ability to work at a computer ~75% of the time and in meetings ~20% of the time.
• Availability for longer hours, evenings, or weekends, especially during the Milwaukee Film Festival.
• Ability to travel between multiple Milwaukee locations and occasionally outside Milwaukee.
• Manage occasional stress in healthy ways.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, external partners, and audiences.
• Read and interpret digital and paper documents.
• Physical dexterity to operate a computer and other equipment.