Associate Director, Communications

Institutional Responsibilities

The Associate Director, Communications develops institutional communications strategies and manages communications projects including: publicity efforts for all exhibitions, programs, events, and institutional needs; press previews; writing press releases and materials; cultivating media relationships and pitching press coverage; managing on-site media production crews; and working with marketing on event and press photography to support OMCA’s photo asset needs. The Associate Director, Communications leads cross-functional communications strategies and meetings, including forecast planning for communications workflows and meetings between executive leadership and other departments. This position provides support to the Museum’s eNews program and blog, providing oversight of messaging and storytelling to ensure consistency with OMCA’s branding. The Associate Director, Communications participates in strategic planning meetings and provides consultation on promotional and marketing materials, media training for OMCA staff, as well as other strategies that will support OMCA’s institutional priorities and overall growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Communications and Publicity
• Works in collaboration with the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience to create and implement a Communications Strategy that aligns with OMCA’s goals and priorities.
• Manages publicity in partnership with Communications Specialist for exhibition projects, events, and programs.
• Led crisis communications for the institution in partnership with Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience and Director & CEO, serving as point of contact for press inquiries and drafting talking points for internal stakeholders.
• Manages work and relationships with communications agency partners to support timely projects related to crisis communications, national press outreach efforts, institutional storytelling, etc.
• Manages creation, distribution, and publication of press releases, statements, and other timely communications, including executive statements concerning Museum policy and positions.
• Leads strategy and preparation for press previews.
• Leads the development of strategic talking points for exhibitions and institutional positioning.
• Aligns messaging with the Museum’s commitment to community engagement, diversity and inclusion, equity and access, while also supporting the sustainability of the institution.
• Manages media relations outreach and press coverage needs, including on-site media visits, interviews with stakeholders, and video/photo shoots.
• Sets proactive opportunities to utilize OMCA spokespeople as thought leaders in the field, including speaking and awards opportunities.
• Supports internal communications in partnership with HR, including review of executive leadership communications and weekly staff newsletter developed by Communications Specialist.
• Represents OMCA at media events and press tours, locally and nationally.
• Cultivates relationships with key influencers and partners in the field, including local community organizations and arts networks.
• Manage content for press kits and attends project meetings to coordinate content with curators, designers, etc.
• Actively monitors trends and best practices in the field, including media research to grow outreach lists and build new relationships to reach target audiences.
• Actively pitches OMCA stories, programs, events, and collection to media sources with the goal of securing a range of coverage in local, regional, national, and international publications and outlets.
• Editorial and Online
• Leads development of OMCA style guide for voice, tone, and grammar.
• Leads and supports internal and external storytelling and communications strategy around OMCA’s anti-racism journey.
• Serves on all major exhibition and project teams that require Marketing & Communications support for cross-functional planning and positioning.
• Leads cross-department messaging meetings to support external communications across the institution.
• Serves on the Oakland Museum Women’s Board Marketing & Communications committee for White Elephant Sale.
• Contributes to cross-departmental messaging strategy, including content planning for social media, website, eNews, etc.
• Writes and/or edit exhibition and program positioning for external communications.
• Writes, edits, and proofreads various projects institution-wide, including Membership materials, visitor guides, video scripts, school program guides, etc.
• Department Support
• Serves on all major exhibition and project teams that require Marketing & Communications support for cross-functional planning and positioning.
• Supports partnership between Oakland Museum Women’s Board Marketing & Communications committee for White Elephant Sale.
• Contributes to strategic planning to meet department and center goals, including forecasting and updating the department work flow.
• Supports Marketing and Communications partnerships, including planning for onsite events and cross-promotion.
• Supports artist relations support when working with outside collaborators on exhibitions and projects, creating guidelines for working with the department.
• Administration and Management
• Works closely with Senior Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience as well as Associate Director of Marketing Strategy to determine department priorities, goals, and roadmaps.
• Responds to urgent and timely visitor inquiries in collaboration with OMCA stakeholders.
• Maintains media trainings for OMCA spokespeople to support stakeholders speaking on behalf of OMCA’s exhibitions, programs, and key initiatives.
• Serves as a point of contact for media inquiries and drafting talking points for internal stakeholders.
• Supports fulfillment of all media asset and content requests.
• Manages Communications Department budget.
• Actively updates and maintains best practices and processes to measure Communications KPIs and reports.
• Manages the performance and priorities of direct reports; participate in OMCA’s tri-annual performance management and staff development program.
• Ensures essential information is communicated consistently and in a timely manner within the department, between Centers, and to key partners.
• Supports Communications Specialist in answering email and phone inquiries on behalf of the Communications Office.