Hybrid Communications Manager bei Chicago Childrens Museum

Description

Title:  Communications Manager 

Department:  Marketing Department 

Reports to: Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Guest Operations 

Supervises:  Interns, volunteers, contract staff, as needed  

About Chicago Children’s Museum: Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) is committed to improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. We embrace creativity and collaboration, we never stop learning, and we remember to stop and play along the way. CCM’s staff is a dedicated group of curious individuals who embrace the playful spirit of childhood. Every employee is empowered to reach their potential and recognized for the impact they have on our organization, visitors, and the community we serve. Over its 43-year history, Chicago Children’s Museum has provided innovative exhibits, arts programs, STEM experiments, imaginative play, and more to over 11 million children and their caregivers. Located at Navy Pier, the museum is intentionally designed for experimentation, creativity, and the universal pursuits of childhood. CCM focuses on accessibility, inclusion, and learning for all children, ensuring valuable and memorable experiences for all visitors.
 

General Job Function: An integral member of the Marketing function, the Communications Manager leads the strategic communications of the museum, highlighting the museum’s exhibits, events, fundraising campaigns, community impact, and thought leadership. The Manager will be the key relationship holder with local and national media and oversee the development and deployment of messaging about Chicago Children’s Museum that reaffirms and highlights the museum’s brand and impact. As part of this integral work, the Manager will oversee the museum’s social media, spearhead crisis and policy communications, and garner earned media (overseeing the operations behind interviews/onsite recordings/etc.).  

Principal Job Duties and Responsibilities  

• Manage and develop communications content for press outreach, social media, websites, and email campaigns under the general direction of senior marketing leadership.  
• Work collaboratively across the museum to shape the communications strategy and develop campaigns, communications, and materials capturing staff, family and partner voices that tell the museum’s story and impact. 
• Help to solidify the museum’s local and national reputation, supporting brand building and policy communications, key meetings with stakeholders, and decision-making on when the museum should publicly comment on issues. 

Social Media 

• Be the key decision maker on social media, including the tempo and timing of posts, what content to use, and how to leverage trends when appropriate. 
• Grow social media following by creating dynamic content that represents playful learning and opportunities for families visiting the museum. 
• Interact with and engage social media followers, especially answering questions from prospective visitors on frequently asked questions and responding to complaints about past experiences. 
• Monitor social media content for appropriateness of comments, moderating when necessary. 
• Review social media content from external sources and third-party partners to ensure messaging is consistent with the Chicago Children’s Museum brand voice.  
• Leverage best practices, analyze content performance, and establish benchmarks and metrics for content optimization on social. 
• Prepare reports on social media metrics to staff, board members, and other stakeholders, providing context and impact. 

Public Relations 

• Write, edit, and publish copy for press releases, web pages, thought leadership, crisis communications, policy briefings, and public statements.  
• Build ongoing relationships with key media partners and social media influencers with the goal of raising the museum’s visibility. 
• Solicit and organize media coverage of the museum, including on-site filming and interviews with key staff members. 
• Prepare museum staff for interviews/meetings with key talking points and media training. 
• Prepare reports on earned media to staff, board members, and other stakeholders, providing context and impact. 

Requirements

Skills and Qualifications 

• 5+ years in communications, social media, or public relations roles. 
• Ability to think strategically and leverage institutional knowledge and best practices to develop copy/content aligned with business objectives  
• Strong attention to detail – excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven work environment 
• Willingness to work in a team with many perspectives and backgrounds, weaving together many stories 
• Willingness to regularly contribute ideas and solutions for departments supported by Marketing. 
• Strong work ethic, flexibility, willingness to handle new and different tasks and capable of independent decision-making 
• Driven marketer, continually seeking new marketing and communication opportunities 
• Ability to own, drive, and support the achievement of the museum’s goals. 
• Social Media proficient (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, new platforms) possessing the ability to navigate various platforms, create rich content and build audience to drive engagement and attendance.   
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and SharePoint 
• Proven experience following brand and design guidelines 
• Goal oriented and possess a commitment to excellence 
• Motivated by and committed to the museum’s mission to “Improve children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect.”   
• Possess an equity mindset and cultural humility 
• Enthusiasm for learning and mastering new skills on an ongoing basis; willingness to be informed/certified/trained through institution-offered courses and to work within Diversity, Equity, Access, Inclusion (DEAI) frameworks and actively engage in learning about these frameworks. 
• Photo and video skills a plus 
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus 

Hours/Physical Requirements of the Position:  

Full-time position, Monday through Friday, including some weekday evenings and with occasionally early morning, late evening and weekend hours related to meeting or events.   

Salary Range:  

$58,000 - $63,000  

Benefits:  

Full-time: This position is eligible for very competitive medical, dental, vision, Life, Long-term Disability, and Short-term Disability insurances, 401k after six months of service with matching contributions pending eligibility, as well as 14 days PTO and 12 Sick Days annually (accrued monthly and the accrual rate increases after 2 years of service).