Job Specifications
About The Apollo
In December 2024, The Apollo Theater became the first organization honored by the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the performing arts. From the longest-running talent show in America with Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill, to performances from beloved legends like Smokey Robinson and Lil’ Kim and today’s biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences to see incredible music and art from legendary artists.
The Apollo is an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant non-profit organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages people from around New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for social and civic advocacy. Today, The Apollo is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity.
Description
WHO ARE YOU?
Are you passionate and driven, with an entrepreneurial spirit? And are you resourceful, innovative, forward-thinking, and collaborative? Do you have an interest in culture, performing arts, or entertainment? At Apollo Theater Foundation, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications embraces these qualities!
THE JOB
The Vice President of Marketing and Communications is a member of the senior leadership team and reports the Chief Growth Officer. The VP oversees all strategies for marketing and audience development at the Apollo Theater, including media relations, branding, advertising, owned, paid and social media, and ticketing sales operations. As a vital member of the leadership team, the Vice President collaborates in setting annual and long-term organizational goals, enjoys representing The Apollo externally in the community, and advocates for a thriving company culture. This individual values collaboration, artistic integrity, an organizational culture of belonging, and respect, and brings these values into their day-to-day work.
This role requires a visionary leader who can drive innovative marketing strategies, enhance brand visibility, lead audience engagement and effectively communicate the organization’s mission to various constituents. The Vice President will work closely with The Apollo’s cross-functional teams to identify and maximize opportunities to raise brand awareness, deepen engagement and broaden reach for The Apollo’s mission and achievements. This should be achieved through a diverse mix of marketing, advertising, media, social and community engagement campaigns using the full range of traditional and digital tools available.
This leader brings end-to-end development and implementation of strategic messaging and marketing materials with external audiences, donor constituents and corporate sponsors. The Vice President also leads annual ticket revenue goals and oversees The Apollo’s media agencies of record.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:
Lead and mentor a team of marketing and community engagement professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment
Provide regular feedback, professional development opportunities, and performance evaluations to team members
Manage departmental budgets and allocate resources effectively
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including members, partners, sponsors, and the media
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment of marketing efforts with organizational goals
Strategic Planning:
Develop and implement comprehensive marketing, brand and messaging strategies aligned with The Apollo’s mission and objectives
Conduct market research to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges in the industry
Set measurable goals and KPIs to track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and initiatives
Brand Management and Communications:
Enhance and maintain the organization’s brand identity, ensuring consistency across all marketing and communication materials
With graphics designers leading the day-to-day, the Vice President manages development of creative content, including graphics, videos, and written materials that resonate with target audiences
Manage the organization’s visual and verbal brand guidelines
With a PR manager leading the day-to-day, the Vice President manages communications strategies in collaboration with other key stakeholders such as the Board of Trustees, development and operations departments, visiting artists and corporate sponsors, incorporating a holistic approach to the entire guest and donor experience
Campaign Development and Execution:
In partnership with marketing managers, the Vice President approves, plans, executes, and evaluates integrated brand, programming and development mark