Title: Communications Manager
Department: Marketing & External Affairs
Reports to: Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs
Supervises: None
Location: Principal Office – Newark, New Jersey until Symphony Center opens, at which point Jersey City
Status: Full Time, Exempt
Salary: $55,000 to $60,000 annually

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 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.

Public 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 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.

To Apply

Email resume and cover letter to:
Geoffrey Anderson, Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs
ganderson@njsymphony.org (include “Communications Manager position” in the subject line)

• 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.

About New Jersey Symphony

The New Jersey Symphony will redefine what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. Through adventurous performances, hands-on educational experiences, and robust community programming, we encourage everyone to enjoy the power and creativity of orchestral music in all its forms. Across genres and venues, for audiences of all walks of life, we strive to bring music that’s meaningful to you, to you. As we look toward celebrating our centennial, we are renewing our deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be new; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of our organization—all to better reflect and serve our vibrant communities. Our expansive educational offerings—including our youth orchestras, masterclasses, and virtual learning opportunities—will build the next generation of listeners and musicians and help students grow, both musically and personally. And we will continue to seek new ways to connect with all New Jerseyans, through programs that resonate with a v...ariety of cultural and musical backgrounds, as well as digital innovations that make our orchestra accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime. We’re your New Jersey Symphony, and we’ll be here for you.

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