Marketing and Communications Officer

at  Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is seeking a full-time Marketing and Communications Officer to implement our marketing, communications, and branding strategy ensuring that all projects and objectives are successfully achieved across the KIA.
The Marketing and Communications Officer serves as the Museum’s primary public relations, media, and marketing liaison, working closely with the Marketing and Senior Leadership teams to promote the Museum’s diverse offerings, including its collections, exhibitions, Kirk Newman Art School, events, programs, and facilities. This role is integral in positioning the Museum as a premier destination at both local and national levels across various media channels (print, electronic, and broadcast).
The Marketing and Communications Officer is responsible for developing, coordinating, and executing comprehensive marketing and advertising strategies to enhance the Museum’s branding, visibility, and audience engagement. By ensuring all marketing and public relations efforts are cohesive, impactful, and strategically aligned with the Museum’s mission and goals, the role contributes to increased visitor growth and strengthened institutional reputation.
The ideal candidate will possess exceptional communication skills and abilities, including copywriting, speaking, and active listening. Is personable, empathetic, has creative flair, is always thinking a step ahead, and has a keen understanding of marketing techniques and communication platforms to help bring awareness to the mission of the KIA and connect our work to the larger arts and culture community.
The Marketing and Communications Officer must be creative and enjoy working within a small, collaborative arts-based environment that is mission and results driven and community oriented.

WHO WE ARE

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, is located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. The mission of the KIA is to promote and cultivate the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in West Michigan. We believe the arts are for everyone; they inspire, fulfill, and transform. We recruit team members that are committed to a culture of belonging.
As the largest fine art museum and community-based art school in the region, the KIA provides access to art and art making experiences not otherwise available. The KIA holds more than 5,000 fine artworks in its permanent collection; presents touring and collection exhibitions in 10 galleries; offers four terms of art classes at the Kirk Newman Art School across various disciplines; houses the KIA Gallery Shop, featuring artwork by local artists and international artisans; and is home to the Mary & Edwin Meader Fine Arts Library. Our exhibitions and programs are designed to appeal to diverse, intergenerational audiences through broad representation, engaging content, and strong partner collaborations.
This year marks the grand finale of the KIA’s Centennial celebration, where we will honor 100 years of art and culture with a series of special exhibitions, events, and programs designed to commemorate this milestone.

WHO YOU ARE & KEYS TO SUCCESS (THE MUST-HAVES)

To be successful in this job, you will excel in these areas:

• Project Management skills: You stay on top of multiple content projects simultaneously, plans backwards, anticipates obstacles, identifies and involves stakeholders appropriately, uses resources wisely, completes work by due dates.
• Analytical & Critical Thinking Skills: You are able to assess how well communications are performing, draw insights to inform communication strategies. Analyzing data, understanding context, and making informed decisions are essential for developing targeted and effective communication plans.
• Media Relations and Public Relations: You understand how to pitch stories, handle media inquiries, develop and steward relationships with members of the media, and manage crises for positive coverage and a favorable public image.
• Writing & Storytelling: You can tell a clear and compelling story with great writing skills, attention to detail, including collaboration, visual communication, marketing, and technology. You can deliver a well-told story that is relatable and memorable.
• Editing: You can review written materials and make improvements ensuring materials are clear, well-organized, suitable for their intended audiences, accurate and free from grammatical errors.
• Office Technologies: You have high-level proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint) and Adobe (Acrobat), as well as Google Suite (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Forms), and able to quickly adapt to new technologies.
• Cross-cultural Communication and Cultural Competence: You respect cultural differences and adapt communication styles to be inclusive and respectful. Cultural competence fosters better relationships and ensures messages resonate with diverse audiences.
• Results-orientation: You have a track record of achievement and producing results.
• Experience: You have a minimum of 5 years of experience as communications manager or related role with proven ability to excel at the responsibilities of the role. You have experience working under pressure and managing multiple, competing tasks and priorities. A bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. As such, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.

If you were here right now, you would be:

• Collaborating with the team to align messaging, plan campaigns, and ensure consistent branding.
• Creating and managing communication plans, marketing content, and promotional materials.
• Engaging with media and partners to promote KIA programs and exhibitions.
• Evaluating campaign success and refining strategies to boost engagement and impact.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW

The position is full-time and is based in Kalamazoo County. The role requires occasional attendance at community events, extended workdays and periodic irregular work hours. You will work in a well-lit, pleasant, collaborative shared office space. Physical requirements include sitting, frequently standing, walking, and handling; and reaching with hands and arms, talk and hear. Language skill requirements include ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. You must be able to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before groups or individuals. The physical and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions.
The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $70,000, with a starting rate based on experience and internal pay equity. The KIA offers compensation and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, retirement program with employer contribution available at the completion of 12 months of service, paid time off including annual vacation, sick, and personal leave, flexible and hybrid schedule, 12 museum holidays, 2 floating holidays, discounts in the Museum’s Gallery Shop, a household membership to the institution, and discounted courses through the Kirk Newman Art School.

Reporting directly to the Director of Advancement, the Marketing and Communications Officer, who is preferably based in Kalamazoo County will:

• Collaborate with the Advancement Team and other departments to leverage unique strengths of the KIA, helping to bring awareness to our mission, while promoting programmatic areas, such as exhibitions, museum education, KNAS, memberships and guest services.
• Work closely with the Director of Advancement to create, implement, and maintain a communications plan, brand strategy, and guidelines to ensure that all aspects of KIA messaging are consistent and recognizable.
• Build a robust planning calendar for advertising/promotion campaigns for KIA departments in collaboration with the Digital Content Manager on a variety of media platforms (press releases, publications, print, digital, TV, radio).
• Develop new and revise existing internal and external marketing collateral which includes coordinating, writing, editing, proofing, and design layout adhering to project specifications, ensuring all materials meet the Museum’s brand voice, tone, and style guides for cohesive communication.
• Oversee the final development of creative assets, ensuring accuracy, attention to detail, and grammatical excellence.
• Research, recommend, and incorporate facts, quotes, and scenarios to inform and direct creative strategy and execution.
• Collaborate with team members to develop impactful campaigns that reflect the Museum’s mission and resonate with target audiences.
• Collaborate with department heads to develop content for press releases, the Annual Report, and other projects as assigned.
• Initiate and network with local, national, international press, media sources, tourism industry and arts organizations to ensure KIA exhibitions, programs, events, and the Kirk Newman Art School are recognized and receive proper coverage.
• Work closely with the Director of Advancement, Executive Director, Digital Content Manager, and select external vendors to shape organizational voice and visual continuity within digital content, helping to grow engagement, attendance, revenue, and impact through all platforms.
• Collaborate within the Advancement team to develop content for Sightlines publications, oversee distribution, sourcing printers, quotes, and timeline schedules.
• Conduct market research to identify opportunities for promotion and growth and see all ventures through to completion evaluating their success using various metrics and contributions to the marketing strategy.
• This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities as other relevant duties may be assigned by the Director of Advancement.