Marketing and Communications Manager

NewFest is currently seeking a full-time Marketing and Communications Manager to help expand the reach and profile of New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media arts organization. The position will help create and implement a short- and long-term marketing and communications strategy to support year-round programs, institutional growth, and the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Founded in 1988, NewFest is New York’s largest presenter of LGBTQ+ film & media and the largest convener of queer audiences in the city. NewFest’s mission is to give voice and visibility to the wide scope of LGBTQ+ experiences through year-round film screenings and events, including the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival. NewFest creates spaces and conversations that have the capacity to open minds, shift cultural bias, and create positive change. We are dedicated to bringing together filmmakers and audiences to strengthen a community that encompasses the full range of LGBTQ+ representations.

The Marketing and Communications Manager will report directly to the Executive Director, and will work with programming, development, production, and operations staff to oversee all of NewFest's marketing and communications, including ticket and pass sales, advertising, public relations, audience development/outreach, community partnerships, social media platforms (paid and organic), website and email marketing. This role will supervise a year-round part-time Social Media Manager and part-time Community Outreach Coordinator, and will manage relationships with an external publicity team and graphic designer. In the lead-up to the annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival every October, this role will hire, onboard, and supervise a 5-person marketing and communications team.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in communication, marketing and sales, audience development, publicity, website maintenance, and content creation, and is a digital native with an instinctive understanding of digital products and social media. They are passionate about LGBTQ+ media and content, as well as LGBTQ+ issues, news, politics, and pop culture.

Responsibilities may include some or all of the following, and may change as the needs and priorities of the organization evolve:

• Developing strategic marketing plans for Festival, year-round series and programming, and artist development initiatives
• Maintain the organization’s brand appearance and voice across physical, digital, and theatrical platforms to attract, excite and engage audiences, filmmakers and followers
• Promote Festival and year-round events and programs and identify new opportunities to increase ticket, pass, and membership sales, as well as donations
• Optimize ticket sales by utilizing various marketing strategies tailored to each particular film or event
• Develop strategy and content for advertising campaigns for year-round events, festival, and individual films, and track and analyze KPIs and performance
• Conduct regular audience post-series/fest surveys and general audience research to better understand audiences
• Collaborate with programming and development departments to create compelling content that supports attendance, reaches wider communities, and drives engagement
• Manage relationship with external press agency, and ensure red carpet coverage and on-site support
• Coordinate content capture of red carpets, events and Q&As, including scheduling photographers and videographers
• Manage Social Media Manager to develop overall social media strategy to drive engagement and increase following, engagement and attendance
  • Ensure coverage at events
  • Remain aware of news and events and media cycles, and engage with journalists, LGBTQ+ activists and influencers in the social media world to assist in the attendance and/or coverage of films and events
• Lead on all email communication efforts, including creating eblasts for various audience segments
• Manage and maintain website, including
  • Making regular updates to structure, navigation and content
  • Managing launch of website and ticketing system for all events and series
  • Work with web developer to request website fixes and iterative updates
• Lead work with graphic designer on
  • Asset design and production, including printed collateral, including direct mail campaigns, print advertising, sponsorship decks, signage, step & repeats, etc.
  • Key art and additional promotional materials for Queering the Canon, NewFest Pride, and artist development programs
• Oversee Community Outreach Coordinator to
  • Correspond and coordinate with existing and new community partners on promotional efforts for partner events
  • Coordinate activations and tabling efforts with partner organizations and events Facilitate Student Ambassador Program
• Collaborate with Development team to provide the following via communication channels:
  • Promote membership programs
  • Promote donation campaigns
  • Fulfill media sponsorships
• Provide sponsor and partner visibility
• Oversee development of Festival merchandise
• Hire, train and manage additional members of marketing and communications team and interns, both year-round and ahead of the Festival in October
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Candidates must have experience with social media and web-based email and database platforms, preferably Mailchimp, Airtable and Wordpress. Candidates should also possess a strong attention to detail, good writing, proofreading and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work independently, juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines. Basic graphic design skills required.

NewFest is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization and welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates.

Please prepare a cover letter that describes your specific interest in NewFest and outlines your qualifications for the position and submit with a resume and contact information for three professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the candidate’s knowledge and agreement.