Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

The historic Carolina Theatre of Durham is looking for a Senior Director to lead its marketing team. We strongly value a diversity of people and experiences and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Join a vibrant team dedicated to the performing arts and the theater's role in the community. As a small nonprofit organization, we offer many opportunities to get involved and learn about all aspects of this historic venue and its operations.

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications sets the strategic direction for institutional marketing, audience development, revenue growth, brand management, communications, and public relations. Reporting to the CEO, this position leads a multi-function marketing department and directly supervises the Marketing Manager, who oversees day-to-day workflows, campaign execution, quality control, reporting systems, and the Digital Content Specialist and Marketing Associate. If you want to help shape the next century of an organization committed to driving the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of the Triangle, this might be the job for you.

About the Carolina Theatre of Durham

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages the City-owned Carolina Theatre complex, including the 1,100-seat historic Fletcher Hall and two cinemas which screen independent films, as well as festivals and retrospectives, 365 days per year and up to 3,500 screenings per year. The organization presents more than 75 performances by national touring stars per year in Fletcher Hall and provides more than 35 educational performances for more than 15,000 school children from 12 counties in our Arts Discovery Educational series.

Fletcher Hall is also home to several performing arts resident companies and hosts a variety of non-profit and commercial community events throughout the year. The theater supports a number of events designed to ensure the whole community can experience arts programming, including free offerings such as sensory-friendly and family programs. The theater is celebrating a century in downtown Durham in 2026.

Our Values

As a City-owned, nonprofit-run facility, we believe that our entire community should be welcomed and celebrated here. We are committed to designing all our work, programs, and policies to ensure that all voices are heard and valued, and that each is respected and included. Our staff, volunteers, vendors, partners, and guests come from every imaginable walk of life. Diversity, equity, and access for all are the focus we also expect from all with whom we work, contract, or partner.

About Durham North Carolina

Durham will charm its way into your heart and get its hooks — er — horns into your soul. Droves move to Durham every day, and that’s not by accident. People relocating to Durham discover a city that delivers on quality of life – from a thriving job market and top-rated schools to award-winning restaurants and year-round outdoor activities. Durham is one of the best places in the U.S. to live, work and retire. We’ve got that sweet Carolina weather, equally hospitable people and access to some of the best education and healthcare in the country. What’s not to love?

A high quality of life and relatively low cost of living has made the City of Durham one of the fastest growing in America with a current population of 305,000. The Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill metropolitan area has a population of 2.3 million. Dubbed the Research Triangle, the region is the East Coast hub of the tech and bio-medical sectors. Nicknamed the City of Medicine, Durham is home to two large medical systems: Duke Health and UNC Health and WakeMed in nearby in Raleigh. The region has one of the highest education levels in the United States and boasts 17 colleges and universities including three major research universities: Duke University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. The region is also home to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and two technical institutes. In keeping with the state’s aviation history that began with the Wright Brothers’ historic flight, Raleigh-Durham International is a major regional airport served by 19 airlines with direct flights to many regions of the US, Canada and Mexico and a growing number of flights to Europe and the Caribbean. Durham is also a stop on multiple Amtrak rail lines.

A foodie paradise, Durham is home to numerous Michelin-listed restaurants and many James Beard Award-winning food and drink establishments. The Carolina Theatre is part of a vast eco-system of arts and entertainment venues in the region, making the Triangle an arts-centric destination. Almost centered between the state’s Atlantic beaches (and gorgeous Outer Banks islands) and the Blue Ridge Mountains and blessed with numerous lakes, the area is an outdoor paradise of walking, hiking, biking and boating. Known as Bull City, the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team is one of the winningest minor league teams in the nation and arguably the most famous after the Durham-filmed “Bull Durham” movie starring Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner premiered at the Carolina Theatre. With our generally mild weather, there is always something to do indoors or out.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications is responsible for developing and leading marketing and sales strategies that support revenue goals from ticket sales, sponsorships, memberships, fundraising, and other revenue streams that benefit from marketing and public relations. This position works closely with Development, Membership, Education, Film, Live Events, Ticketing, and other departments to ensure audiences know about and support all that the Carolina Theatre brings to the community.

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications leads a multi-function team responsible for brand strategy, digital and email marketing, social media, public relations, advertising, print materials, audience development, and sales reporting. This position is responsible for expanding, promoting, and protecting the Carolina Theatre brand across all forms of media, particularly those that reach and engage the theater’s most enthusiastic and influential supporters.

The Senior Director directly supervises the Marketing Manager, who serves as the department’s operational leader and who provides direct oversight of the Digital Content Specialist and Marketing Associate. The Senior Director sets departmental strategy and priorities, provides final-level guidance and approvals, develops staff leadership, and ensures the team’s work aligns with organizational goals.

This position requires strong instincts for identifying the right marketing angle and audience for the Carolina Theatre’s diverse programming. Effective language, visuals, audience development techniques, community partnerships and targeted marketing approaches are essential.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Marketing & Revenue Growth

• Develop and lead comprehensive marketing and sales plans that support ticket sales, sponsorships, memberships, fundraising, educational programs, and other organizational revenue goals.
• Set strategy for institutional messaging, advertising, media buying, digital communications, email marketing, social media, website content, printed collateral, and audience development.
• Identify new ways to increase the visibility and reach of the organization and expand existing audiences.
• Analyze market trends and economic factors that affect the Carolina Theatre and identify opportunities for audience and revenue growth.
• Evaluate the patron experience and identify touchpoints that strengthen satisfaction, loyalty, and connection.
• Ensure marketing and outreach efforts support the organization’s goals for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.

Department Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead the Marketing Department and directly supervise the Marketing Manager.
• Establish departmental strategy, priorities, performance expectations, and annual goals.
• Partner with the Marketing Manager to ensure day-to-day workflows, campaign timelines, quality control, reporting systems, and staff performance support departmental goals.
• Provide final-level guidance and approval for major campaigns, institutional messaging, brand initiatives, and high-profile communications.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and creative team culture that supports professional development and strong cross-functional work.
• Develop, monitor, and maximize annual budgets for marketing, advertising, and partnerships.

Brand, Communications & Public Relations

• Expand, promote, and protect the Carolina Theatre brand across all marketing and communications channels.
• Lead organizational messaging and storytelling related to the theater’s nonprofit mission, programs, community impact, and institutional priorities.
• Build and supervise public relations strategies, directly or in collaboration with external partners, and coordinate requests for media appearances and interviews.
• Manage strategic direction for the website, social media channels, digital communications, and adoption of technologies that improve efficiency and amplify communications.
• Ensure brand consistency and appropriate messaging across internal departments, external partners, and promotional materials.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Conceive, pursue, secure, and manage corporate and community partnerships for in-kind support, special outreach projects, and financial or mission-driven goals.
• Develop and foster relationships with local and state tourism and marketing organizations, arts and cultural organizations, media outlets, and industry affiliates to strengthen the theater’s regional and national profile.
• Collaborate on special events, including fundraising events, member events, open houses, tours, and other community-focused activities; these events may occur on weeknights or weekends.
• Collaborate on major donor relations and major donor prospect development.
• Attend Community Engagement Committee, board, senior staff, and other committee or ad hoc meetings as requested.

Cross-Departmental & External Collaboration

• Maintain effective working relationships with the CEO, board members, theater staff, vendors, partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Work closely with Development to coordinate marketing communications, content, collateral, campaigns, sponsorship recognition, membership promotion, and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with leaders of Live Events, Education and Community Engagement, Film, Ticketing, Community Partnerships and other departments to develop and implement effective marketing strategies for their programs.
• Collaborate with external booking and promoter partners to obtain collateral, coordinate communications, and identify creative opportunities for grassroots, partnership, and local marketing tactics.
• Coordinate with Box Office Management on event announcements, on-sales, ticketing requests, and patron communications.

Analytics, Reporting & Industry Engagement

• Track marketing performance and ticket sales through data analytics and provide regular reports and strategic insights to the CEO and Senior Staff.
• Oversee audits of customer data and email segmentation lists and use audience insights to guide strategy and goal-setting.
• Stay connected to peers, emerging practices, and industry standards through conferences, professional development, and regional meetings.
• Attend select events across the organization to maintain a strong understanding of the programs being marketed; these events will frequently occur on weeknights or weekends.
• Other duties as assigned to contribute to a small, hardworking, and dedicated team.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Arts Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of five years of successful and progressively responsible experience in event marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading marketing strategy, managing staff, and overseeing multiple campaigns and priorities.
• Experience using data to guide strategy, measure performance, and support revenue goals.

Preferred

• Experience in arts, entertainment, or event-based organizations, particularly marketing multiple one-off events simultaneously rather than season subscriptions.
• Proven experience marketing and selling tickets to live events.
• Established relationships in the local or regional market.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Proven ability to incorporate a diversity, equity, inclusion, and access lens into strategy, decision-making, and team leadership.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect organizational goals to actionable marketing plans.
• Strong understanding of traditional and digital marketing strategies, audience development, brand management, and public relations.
• Ability to use data to drive decisions and set goals while applying sound judgment to audience segmentation and campaign strategy.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, partnership building, project planning, prioritization, critical thinking, and independent decision-making.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational ability, diplomacy, and customer service skills.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, website content management systems, email marketing platforms, social media management, and reporting tools.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evening and weekend hours.

Preferred

• Proficiency in graphic design or video editing software.
• Knowledge of performing arts, film, nonprofit fundraising, membership, and live event marketing.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to perform routine office tasks and occasional event-related duties. Responsibilities may include sitting or standing for extended periods while working at a computer; walking throughout the theater complex and navigating stairs; lifting and carrying materials and equipment up to 30–50 pounds, such as signage, promotional materials, or event-related supplies; assisting with occasional setup and breakdown of marketing materials or event activations; and traveling locally for outreach, partnership meetings, or grassroots marketing efforts.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

TO APPLY:

Please send COVER LETTER explaining how your experience specifically fits our job description and requirements, plus RESUME & REFERENCES in PDF format to HR@carolinatheatre.org.

To ensure correct routing, email subject should read: SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, as we are currently recruiting multiple positions.

The Carolina Theatre of Durham is an Equal Opportunity Employer, values a diversity of people and experiences, and strongly encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.