Manager, Marketing Communications

The School of Performing Arts comprises faculty with expertise in many areas who are dedicated to student success and celebrated for their successes as artists and educators. Our performing arts programs are designed for young artists seeking a career as a performer, designer, practitioner, teacher, and more. Our family includes musicians, musical theatre performers, actors, themed experience designers, stage managers, future educators, technicians, conductors, composers and clinicians.

The UCF Department of Music was established in 1968. The department is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), with the initial NASM accreditation being awarded in 1981. Our music education programs lead to teacher certification by the Florida Department of Education (FLDE). The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). UCF is Florida’s first All-Steinway School.

The Department of Theatre was established in 1969, and our first seasons were produced in a 124-foot tent. Today we present theatre and dance performances in a variety of venues, both on campus and in our partner, theatre spaces at Orlando Shakes and the Orlando REP. In 2016, the department earned full accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). We offer world-class MFAs in acting, theatre for young audiences, and Themed Experience.  Our students spend two years in classes on campus then go on to work in our partner theatres or the themed experience industry as interns in their third year.

The Opportunity: 

The University of Central Florida (UCF) School of Performing Arts is seeking qualified candidates for a Marketing Communications Manager. The Marketing Communications Manager is responsible for managing communications, marketing and sales strategies within the School of Performing Arts. This role promotes activities in music and theatre to internal and external audiences, markets services (like performances and camps), engages the local community, and collaborates with community partners. The Manager serves as the lead communicator for UCF Celebrates the Arts and works closely with the marketing and communications team in the College of Arts and Humanities. They manage a budget and make high-level decisions about strategy and tactics.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive communications and marketing plan that supports the school’s public performance and recruitment goals, reaching a diverse constituent base across all media including publications, advertisements, media relations, video, web, digital, and social media.

• Oversee marketing/communications planning and operations for UCF Celebrates the Arts, represent mar/comm on the festival Steering Committee, and direct marketing plan, ads, publications, website, media assets, staff schedule, and other marketing/communications activities related to UCF Celebrates the Arts.

• Manage communications plan for School of Performing Arts, managing public relations efforts to generate positive media coverage about the school.

• Develop, evaluate, and disseminate print and digital assets, ensuring that messages and materials are aligned with the strategic goals of the school.

• Advise and collaborate with faculty to develop and disseminate impactful creative activity/research-based stories to increase brand and reputation to a wide range of audiences, including current & prospective students, academics, industry professional, and community leaders.

• Measure the effectiveness of marketing and communications-related initiatives and make budgeting decisions based on these measurements.

• Optimize school's web presence for student recruitment and patron attendance, creating compelling content for the Wordpress site and collaborating with UCF marketing and communications.

• Allocate and spend budget on initiatives that will positively impact ticket sales, recruitment and reputation.

• Supervises the work of assigned personnel, including providing guidance and conducting performance evaluations.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in communications, marketing, writing, advertising or related field.

• Experience working in higher ed.

• Performing Arts industry knowledge.

• Experience with ticket sales and subscriptions.

• Excellent public speaking and writing capability.

• Experience managing brand campaigns on social media.

• Experience with publication management and photo/video editing.

• Previous use of email newsletter system, WordPress, or other WYSIWYG CMS/communications tools.

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva or other design programs.

• Knowledge of AP style.

Additional Application Materials Required: 

• Cover letter and resume.

• Two longer form writing samples (press releases, feature articles, blog posts, or similar).

• Two short-form writing samples (social media, sales copy, brochures, captions, or similar).

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Applicant must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer, as sponsorship is not available for this position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?  

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck. 

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers: 

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program   

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays  

• Retirement savings options   

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions   

• Education assistance   

• Flexible work environment 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.   

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF. 

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.