Chief of External Affairs

About the role

The South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) is seeking an innovative and strategic Chief of External Affairs to lead efforts to strengthen the museum’s public presence and expand connections with audiences across South Carolina. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will oversee all external communications, brand management, media relations, digital strategy, and public information functions during a pivotal period of growth and transformation, including a $75 million capital campaign to reimagine the museum experience and expand educational impact statewide.

Enjoy living in South Carolina’s capital or surrounding cities where beaches, lakes, marshlands, and the Blue Ridge Mountains are all within a few hours.

Responsibilities

• Institutional Marketing & Brand Growth
  • Direct brand positioning to showcase the museum's educational and cultural value and vast collection of 1+ million artifacts.
  • Build data-driven campaigns to boost general museum, programmatic, and outreach attendance statewide.
  • Develop and execute promotional strategies for permanent, changing, and traveling statewide exhibitions and public programs.
  • Oversee digital strategy and engagement, including website and social media platforms.
• Communications & Media Relations
  • Oversee media development and communications, including pitching stories on new acquisitions and milestones.
  • Lead crisis communications regarding facility updates, safety protocols, and emergency messaging.
  • Support the museum’s accessibility initiatives, including programs such as Museums for All, Blue Star Summer, and first-Sunday discounts.
  • Align staff, volunteers, the State Museum Commission, and the SCSM Foundation staff and Board on internal goals and priorities.
• Private Rentals & Special Events
  • Drive a comprehensive B2B sales funnel to attract high-value corporate clients and event planners regionally and statewide.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Operations and Revenue Office and Director of Visitor Services on strategic development and monetization of premier facility spaces for corporate events, weddings, galas, and private conferences.
  • Maximize strategic and philanthropic value of museum rentals and special events by designing, executing, and leveraging private and internal events to cultivate stakeholder relationships, elevate the museum's profile, and support foundation fundraising goals.
• Creative Direction & Graphic Design Team Management
  • Set and enforce the museum’s comprehensive visual identity guidelines across all physical and digital platforms.
  • Provide oversight, professional development, and performance management for the internal graphic design team.
  • Partner with education, curatorial, and design staff to ensure exhibition and program signage, environmental graphics, and wayfinding meet institutional standards.
  • Oversee the end-to-end creative pipeline, including project scoping, designer assignment, and final print/digital asset production.
  • Manage relationships and contracts with external printers, fabricators, and creative agencies to maintain production quality.
• Fundraising Advancement & Liaison to the SCSM Foundation
  • Partner with South Carolina State Museum Foundation executive leadership to design integrated marketing campaigns for annual giving, capital campaigns, and major donor initiatives.
  • Create tailored development communications, including case for support materials, impact reports, grant collateral, and the museum's quarterly member magazine and annual report.
  • Collaborate on communication plans for donor, stakeholder, and partner appreciation, ensuring high-visibility brand recognition for corporate sponsors, foundations, and private benefactors.
  • Lead promotional, invitation, and public relations efforts for high-profile fundraising events, gala openings, and exclusive member-only preview nights.
  • Design strategic marketing flows to transition general museum visitors and event attendees into active Foundation members and recurring donors.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Creative Pipeline Efficiency: On-time and on-budget delivery of design assets across marketing, exhibition, and foundation requests.
• Attendance Growth: Annual percentage increase in general admission, theater/planetarium ticket sales, program and outreach initiatives, and special exhibition foot traffic.
• Earned Income Metrics: Total revenue generated from private rentals and corporate special events against baseline annual goals.
• Membership Conversion: Year-over-year growth in the museum membership base driven by visitor-to-member marketing funnels.
• Fundraising Support: Successful delivery of marketing and communication collateral meeting the Foundation's campaign timelines and revenue goals.
• Brand Consistency: High audit alignment across all departments regarding approved visual identity guidelines, tone, and strategic messaging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, business, digital media, or a related field.
• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated knowledge of journalistic principles and best practices for effective information dissemination.
• Proven ability to serve as an organizational spokesperson, including participation in on-camera interviews.
• Excellent writing, editing, and content-production skills across multiple formats and mediums.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff to achieve high-quality communication outcomes.
• Some travel, evening, and weekend work is required.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk, working on a computer, and filing documents.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, business, digital media, or a related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience, preferably in a museum or nonprofit institution.
• Ability to uphold and consistently apply organizational branding standards across all marketing and communication materials.
• Experience overseeing FOIA response processes and related public information requirements.
• Successful experience building and maintaining relationships with local, state, and national media partners.
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and effective strategies for public communication and engagement.
• Knowledge of methods and practices used to plan, execute, and oversee large-scale public relations initiatives.