VANCOUVER ART GALLERY ASSOCIATION

Permanent Full-Time Excluded Position

Director of Audience Development and Marketing

About Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery Association (Association) believes creativity is fundamental to an open and engaged world. The Association strives for art experiences that create paths of shared perspectives leading to engaged and diverse communities supporting a collective future together. The Association operates a museum located in downtown Vancouver on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

The Vancouver Art Gallery, one of the largest art museums in Canada, and the largest arts organization in Western Canada, is undergoing a multi-phase organizational transformation. With a permanent collection of over 12,000 works of art, the Gallery is implementing a campaign to build a new purpose-built gallery facility in downtown Vancouver, the Chan Centre for Visual Arts. This is a moment of growth, exploration and innovation, as the Gallery re-articulates its relationship to community and audiences to re-imagine what an art museum in the 21^st century can be.

As a not-for-profit organization incorporated under the BC Societies Act and a recognized charity, the Association’s funding is dependent on contributed and earned revenue and municipal, provincial, and federal grants, as well as foundation support and the generosity of its donors.  The Association had over 150 employees pre-COVID and has put in place the foundation for post-COVID recovery and strategic development.

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer this position is responsible for the development and implementation of innovative engagement strategies to advance the Gallery and its programs including ensuring a positive and engaging visitor experience.

Directs all direct response marketing activities to generate long-term support from the community through the membership campaigns. Oversees market and audience research, interprets results and translates into targeted engagement activities.

Oversees annual giving campaigns to generate donation revenue in support of the Gallery. Oversees the planning and execution of the Department’s activities, determines general priorities, monitors progress, and evaluates the effectiveness of the activities and procedures.

Working with a team across the Gallery, responsible for the coordination of the overall visitor experience within Vancouver Art Gallery, delivering performance standards and targets to ensure excellent levels of visitor satisfaction, while maximizing key commercial, financial and development objectives, to ensure the Gallery is sustainable.

Works closely with Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Publishing and Content, Director of Strategic Communications and Branding, and other staff across organization to market and promote creative content in broad contexts, multiple languages, formats and platforms.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develops the strategies and plan for Audience Development within the context of the Gallery’s 5-year Strategic Plan, campaign plan and annual business plan.

Prepares, administers and monitors the departmental budget.

Participates in the program development process, projecting audience engagement. Oversees the development and execution of specific direct response marketing strategies to meet annual giving, membership and admission revenue targets.

Works closely with all divisions to promote the Gallery in its various markets. Determines priorities, tracks progress, revises plan as needed.

Directs and implements social media strategy for the Gallery, in consultation with Program leadership, and ensuring consistency with branding and strategic objectives.

Directs and implements destination marketing strategies to tourist markets.

Oversees the development of advertising plans to meet institutional goals and objectives and maintain high and continuous public exposure of the Gallery. Based on market and audience research directs the creation of direct response marketing to targeted markets.

Oversees annual giving campaigns to generate revenue from existing members and to cultivate a life-long relationship with the Gallery.  Works to move patrons and members up the giving ladder to create more donors within the existing membership base.

Oversees the planning and implementation of membership acquisition/retention campaigns; writing of persuasive direct mail and other collateral materials; designing the promotional campaigns to attract member prospects and retain current members; coordinating the cultivation, solicitation and recognition process for assigned supporters and identifying opportunities for graduating members to higher membership levels.

Leadership and Staff Management

Provides leadership, training and support to marketing staff to implement established goals and objectives.  Selects, communicates, guides and directs all those involved to contribute fully to the realization of the Gallery’s annual and campaign goals.

Represents the Gallery with a high level of integrity and professionalism.

Adheres to Gallery policies and supports management decisions in a positive, professional manner.

Monitors and supports accessibility of communications content to foster a diverse and inclusive organization.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree in a related field (art, literature, writing, journalism, marketing) humanities, or related academic discipline preferred. Background in writing and art history including 20th and 21st century art desirable. with
• Five to seven years’ experience in a senior marketing management position with non-profit, cultural or entertainment organizations; extensive experience developing and implementing marketing plans, communication strategies and membership activities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of marketing and communications concepts, practices and techniques as well as tourism and hospitality.
• Experience in supervising staff, financial analysis and managing budgets required.
• Excellent communication skills including public speaking, proposal writing and formal presentation skills.
• Excellent ability to work in a leadership role with staff, gallery and community contacts as well as Board members.
• Extensive experience with advertising, media relations, issues management tourism and market research.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills, creativity and imagination.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills and great attention to detail.
• An additional language is preferred.

Please send your cover letter and resumé, in confidence to the Director of Human Resources, Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H7, Fax: (604) 682-1086 or email: .  This position is open until filled.

The Vancouver Art Gallery commits to providing equitable access to everyone. We actively support accessibility, anti-racism, LGBTQ2S+ inclusion and encourage diversity in our staff, visitors, volunteers, and programming. We cultivate a safer space where all voices are heard, valued, and represented. The Gallery stands against hatred, discrimination, racism, homophobia, and transphobia.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those short-listed will be contacted.