The HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTENT leads and oversees the strategic communications and creative production efforts for the Walker.  They will define and design an architecture for Walker communications and content that consistently reflects the Walker’s public voice; raises the institutions visibility among diverse audiences, and positions the Walker as a thought leader in the museum and design fields.

This senior leadership role oversees the teams, and cross-departmental efforts, that coordinate all communications to the wide variety of Walker constituents including media, artists, corporate partners, Walker Staff and the general public. This position has accountability for the quality, tone and execution of creative requests, ensuring consistent and accessible branding and design standards throughout all communications, including web, social media, print, video, and any other future technologies or channels.

In collaboration with Senior Leaders, this role will identify opportunities and develop messaging at the institutional level as well as support the Walker’s program, operational and earned income objectives.  They will lead the creative, collaborative approach to reaching Walker’s audiences and constituents.  They ensure the development and communication of innovative and compelling stories that illuminates Walker’s dynamic multi-platform programming, its position as a champion of experimental and innovative ideas, and the value of contemporary art and culture.  And they will actively build connections across the institution and open communication so all departments, and all staff members within the institution, are aligned and working together to strengthen the brand and voice of the Walker.  

 RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide the vision, leadership, and strategic framework for institutional communications that will deepen the experience for visitors and engage new audiences.
• Lead the Walker’s efforts to strategically communicate contemporary artistic expression to diverse individuals, communities, and cultures in our local community and globally.  Advancing the Walker’s mission to make its rich content and philosophies more broadly accessible.
• Develop and safeguard the Walker brand identity, both internally and externally; manage brand standards across the institution and lead ongoing development.
• Develop and implement a coordinated, informed, and integrated communications plan for the institution; setting institutional messaging priorities (short- and long-term) creating consistent communications and brand profile across all marketing, media relations, visitor, community engagement and communications platforms.
• Work with all programming departments to ensure that communications reflect Walker’s strategic messages and positioning; articulate core content and programmatic philosophy in compelling ways that support of the mission and values of the organization.
• In partnership with Head of Human Resources, develop internal communications strategies for select institutional efforts, projects, and crisis management.
• Provide direction for all aspects of publications, producing the highest quality print and digital materials in line with the Walker Art Center’s reputation for exceptional publications.        
• Develop a customer-centric organic content strategy across platform (i.e., Instagram, YouTube, etc.) and type (i.e. Instagram Stories, IGTV, etc.) and editorial calendar with a balanced approach of program marketing and brand/institutional storytelling.
• Establish short and long-term vision for digital assets with an understanding of the full omnichannel visitor/audience journey. Collaborate with cross-departmental leaders to ensure that social content, ecommerce and email is as cohesive as possible in terms of cross channel messaging.
• Work with Walker Design department to develop and maintain an accessible graphic identity of the Walker Art Center in all areas of visual communication including publications, exhibition and building graphics, special installations, institutional campaigns, and assorted ephemera.
• Work with the Web and Editorial teams to ensure the high quality of design and editorial practices in the production of all web-based projects.
• In partnership with the Marketing Director, develop audience-centric content strategies and concept briefs for the creation and continual improvement of social content and digital assets to achieve objectives, support marketing/promotions, increase social relevance and build brand heat. 
• Oversee copy and creative development of Walker promotional campaigns and collateral materials.
• Establish reporting standards that measure, monitor efforts to reach identified Walker’s audience and visitor benchmarks and their corresponding revenue goals.
• Provide institutional talking points for applicable situations such as challenging programming, media response and crisis communications efforts.
• Maintain the high profile of Walker design through participation in conferences, lectures, competitions, and local, national, and international dialogue.
• Oversee Design, Editorial, Marketing, PR and Web departments; working with dept managers to establish priorities, set goals, manage plans, and budgets for effective and efficient operations that align with key messages and strategic positioning.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

• Full-time (35 hours), Exempt
• Salary $150k-180k dependent on experience; excellent benefits package; generous 403(b)
• Walker membership, museum discount, and opportunity to work alongside talented individuals and support remarkable artists, events and programming.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Successful candidates will be curious, collaborative, innovative and comfortable with ambiguity.  They will come with a strong desire to uncover the story-telling opportunities aligned with this dynamic arts environment.  They will bring a deep expertise around communications, brand and content strategies as well as the tactical know-how to foster the work, and the mindset, required to assess, improve, grow and diversify the Walker's communication opportunities. 

• A minimum of 5-7 years related career experience showing progressively increasing levels of responsibility with a minimum of three years' experience in a leadership role managing teams.
• Strong commitment to equity, access and inclusion evident in employment experiences
• Exceptional, compelling writing and verbal communication skills
• Committed to the role of innovative design as a bridge between ideas and audiences
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing and implementing communication and marketing strategy across cultural, arts or educational organizations.
• Prior experience building and maintaining a team-oriented, diverse environment
• Ability to quickly develop trusting relationships with colleagues at all levels
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and lead teams with or without direct authority
• Sound project management skills with regard to schedule, budgets and resources
• Knowledge and passion for illuminating the work of contemporary artists.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position; they do not purport to describe all functions of the position. Walker employees may be assigned other duties and the essential functions of the position may change or be changed with or without notice. __