Director of Marketing and Communications

CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM•Sacramento, CA

1d•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Marketing & Communications is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for shaping and executing the Foundation’s integrated communications and marketing strategy. This role is the Foundation’s single point of accountability for marketing, digital engagement, brand stewardship, and audience communications. These functions directly support earned revenue such as events and rail operations, membership growth, fundraising, and the Museum’s public-facing programs. Visibility is a core pillar of the Foundation’s strategic plan, and this role is its primary driver. The Director will build public awareness, expand the Foundation’s reach across channels, and deliver measurable results in audience growth and community engagement. Equally important, the Director is a champion for a culture of philanthropy, ensuring that communications consistently inspire generosity, honor donors, and reinforce that fundraising is a shared institutional value, not solely the work of the development team. This is a coach-and-player role. The Director sets strategy and executes it directly, with support from Publications Manager, cross-departmental colleagues, and contractors. Media relations and press outreach are handled by an external communications contractor; the Director ensures alignment of messaging and timing.

Requirements

Commitment to the mission and public-serving role of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation.
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
5 - 7 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing or digital communications, with demonstrated success in a strategic role.
Experience functioning as a coach and player: setting strategy while also executing hands-on implementation.
Proven ability to develop and execute communications plans with measurable outcomes.
Understanding of and commitment to a culture of philanthropy, with experience aligning communications to donor engagement and fundraising goals.
Demonstrated ability to advance organizational visibility through multi-channel strategies, with measurable results in audience growth or community engagement.
Strong writing and editing skills; experience with email platforms, digital analytics, and paid digital advertising.
Fluency across major social media platforms with the ability to maintain consistent, onbrand presence.
Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaborate across departments and with external partners.
Comfort influencing without direct authority in a collaborative environment that includes public-sector partners.
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a nonprofit, museum, or cultural institution with membership programs.
Familiarity with marketing for ticketed programs or visitor-focused experiences.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement an integrated communications strategy aligned with the Foundation’s mission, fundraising goals, membership growth, public programming, and events calendar.
Set annual and campaign-level objectives; recommend messages, channels, and activities; and evaluate and report on progress throughout the year.
Translate institutional priorities into actionable campaigns with defined goals, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
Coordinate marketing calendars, production schedules, and internal deadlines across departments.
Drive the Foundation’s Visibility strategic pillar through multi-channel campaigns that elevate public awareness of the Foundation’s programs, impact, and mission.
Build a consistent, compelling public presence across digital, print, earned media, and community platforms while expanding reach to prospective donors, members, and visitors to CSRM, Railtown 1897 as well as riders on the Sacramento Southern Railroad.
Develop measurable visibility goals, track progress against them, and report regularly.
Champion a culture of philanthropy across the organization, aligning communications strategies with donor-centered engagement and shared fundraising values.
Partner with development to craft narratives and campaigns that inspire giving, deepen donor loyalty, and integrate stewardship and impact storytelling across all channels.
Foster shared ownership of the Foundation’s philanthropic mission across departments through internal messaging and consistent language.
Lead the Foundation’s presence across digital platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and other platforms), maintaining consistent brand voice, posting cadence, and campaign alignment.
Plan and manage paid digital advertising (search, social, display) in coordination with operations and development goals within approved budgets.
Audit existing email marketing campaigns – including events, member communications, and fundraising appeals – while collaboratively managing segmentation, testing, and optimization for engagement and conversion.
Serve as primary marketing owner of the Foundation’s website, ensuring content is current and aligned with operations and fundraising priorities. Coordinate with California State Park colleagues as needed.
Develop and execute marketing strategies for ticketed programs, special events, and donor cultivation events, including The POLAR EXPRESS® Train ride and seasonal excursion train rides.
Support membership acquisition and retention through coordinated campaigns in close collaboration with the Associate Director of Development & Membership.
Ensure consistent brand voice, messaging, and visual standards across all digital and print channels.
Collaborate with the Publications Manager to align editorial and digital storytelling, reinforcing core narratives without duplication.
Develop and maintain key messages, talking points, and fact sheets for use by colleagues and across platforms.
Oversee select print and on-site materials, signage, flyers, membership and donor collateral to ensure alignment with digital campaigns.
Track and analyze performance metrics (web traffic, engagement, conversion, ROI); use insights to adjust strategy and report recommendations to the Foundation leadership.
Collaborate across Events, Development, Membership, Rail Operations, Retail, Finance, and California State Parks on shared initiatives.
Coordinate with the external communications contractor to align messaging and timing on press coverage and major announcements.