ICA Marketing and Communications Manager - School of Art - College of Fine Arts

Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Marketing and Communications Manager will lead communications, marketing, and audience-engagement efforts for the ICA Pittsburgh. Reporting directly to the Director of the ICA, this position will shape how the ICA presents its exhibitions, programs, artists, institutional identity, and impact to local, regional, national, and international audiences. The role requires flexibility, excellence, and passion, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity and share the values of the university, supporting its mission through their work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant professional experience.
Three to five years of communications, marketing, public relations, editorial, or audience-engagement experience, preferably within a contemporary art organization, museum, gallery, cultural institution, university, or nonprofit.
Strong Analytical Skills
Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills
3-5 Years in Marketing Experience
Successful background check

Responsibilities

Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy aligned with the ICA’s mission, artistic program, institutional priorities, and audience-development goals.
Establish and maintain a distinctive, consistent, and accessible institutional voice across all communications platforms.
Develop messaging and materials that introduce the new ICA Pittsburgh, communicate its role within the city’s cultural landscape, and build awareness among local, national, and international audiences.
Maintain an organization-wide communications calendar encompassing exhibitions, public programs, announcements, partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and institutional milestones.
Serve as a central point of contact for the review, coordination, and distribution of institutional communications.
Manage and regularly update the ICA’s website, ensuring that information is current, accurate, accessible, and consistent with institutional messaging and visual standards.
Write, edit, and publish exhibition descriptions, artist profiles, news stories, interviews, program announcements, institutional updates, and other editorial content.
Coordinate website development, maintenance, and improvements, including managing external designers, developers, or contractors as needed.
Apply accessibility and search-engine optimization best practices to digital content.
Develop and execute strategic marketing plans for the ICA’s exhibitions, public programs, performances, lectures, screenings, educational initiatives, publications, and special events.
Produce or oversee the production of digital and print promotional materials, including invitations, posters, signage, advertisements, brochures, postcards, program guides, and exhibition-related collateral.
Coordinate the distribution of promotional materials through digital platforms, community networks, cultural partners, media outlets, and other appropriate channels.
Collaborate with artists, curators, designers, and program staff to translate artistic and curatorial concepts into compelling, audience-centered communications.
Develop targeted outreach strategies designed to reach both established contemporary art audiences and communities that have historically been underrepresented in museum and gallery spaces.
Plan, write, edit, and distribute the ICA’s regular email newsletter and other email campaigns.
Develop editorial calendars that balance timely program promotion with deeper storytelling about artists, exhibitions, partnerships, and the ICA’s institutional development.
Maintain and segment email lists to support targeted communications with visitors, artists, educators, students, donors, supporters, community partners, media contacts, and other stakeholders.
Monitor email performance and refine content, frequency, and audience segmentation based on engagement data.
Lead the strategy, management, and day-to-day content production for the ICA’s branded social media platforms.
Develop original written, photographic, and video content that communicates the ICA’s programs, values, artists, and behind-the-scenes work.
Maintain a social media calendar coordinated with exhibitions, public programs, press announcements, and institutional campaigns.
Monitor and respond appropriately to public engagement across social platforms, helping to foster an informed and welcoming digital community.
Track social media performance, audience growth, and engagement, using results to guide future strategy.
Stay informed about evolving digital platforms, audience behaviors, and communications practices within the contemporary art and nonprofit sectors.
Develop and maintain relationships with arts journalists, critics, editors, cultural publications, broadcast outlets, community media, and other relevant press contacts.
Write and distribute press releases, media alerts, exhibition announcements, artist biographies, institutional background materials, and press kits.
Respond to media inquiries and coordinate interviews, image requests, press previews, and other media opportunities.
Work with the Director and relevant staff to identify stories that strengthen the ICA’s visibility and position within Pittsburgh and the broader contemporary art field.
Track and archive press coverage and prepare periodic reports on media reach and impact.
Support the Director in preparing institutional talking points, public statements, presentations, and other external communications.
Serve as a steward of the ICA’s visual identity, ensuring consistent application of brand standards across digital, print, environmental, and promotional materials.
Manage relationships with graphic designers, photographers, videographers, printers, fabricators, media buyers, and other creative vendors.
Oversee project schedules, estimates, approvals, production, and delivery for communications materials.
Coordinate print production, including file preparation, proofing, prepress review, press checks, and quality control when applicable.
Ensure that all materials meet high standards of editorial accuracy, visual quality, accessibility, and brand consistency.
Coordinate or produce photographic and video documentation of exhibitions, installations, public programs, performances, educational activities, and special events.
Maintain organized systems for image files, captions, credits, permissions, usage rights, and artist approvals.
Ensure that the ICA has high-quality visual assets for editorial, archival, promotional, fundraising, and reporting purposes.
Hire and manage outside photographers and videographers as needed.
Develop and manage the ICA’s communications and marketing budget in collaboration with the Director.
Obtain estimates, negotiate with vendors, monitor expenses, and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
Establish measurable communications and audience-development goals.
Track and analyze website traffic, email engagement, social media performance, media coverage, advertising outcomes, attendance data, and other relevant indicators.
Prepare regular reports and use findings to improve campaign effectiveness, allocate resources, and refine strategy.
Perform additional responsibilities related to the ICA’s communications and institutional development as assigned by the Director.