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Associate Director of Growth Marketing

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Full-time
On-site
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
๐Ÿš€ Growth Marketing

๐Ÿ“Œ Core Information

๐Ÿ”น Job Title: Associate Director of Growth Marketing

๐Ÿ”น Company: Boston Symphony Orchestra

๐Ÿ”น Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

๐Ÿ”น Job Type: Full-time

๐Ÿ”น Category: ๐Ÿš€ Growth Marketing


๐Ÿ“Œ Essential Job Details

๐Ÿš€ Job Overview

The Associate Director of Growth Marketing at the Boston Symphony Orchestra will lead efforts to expand audience reach, drive engagement, and generate revenue for the BSO's prestigious family of brands (BSO, Boston Pops, Tanglewood, and Boston's Fourth of July). This role combines creative marketing strategies with data-driven decision making to attract new audiences while deepening relationships with existing patrons, ultimately strengthening the organization's local, regional, and international impact.

ASSUMPTION: The job type is inferred to be full-time based on the comprehensive responsibilities and benefits package mentioned, though the original listing had a placeholder for job type.


๐Ÿ“‹ Key Responsibilities

โœ… New Audience Acquisition: Develop and implement strategies to attract new and diverse audiences; create tailored campaigns for existing target demographics

โœ… Existing Audience Engagement: Coordinate with email and social media teams for re-engagement; ensure marketing initiatives meet or exceed industry standards

โœ… Direct Mail Campaign Management: Plan, execute, and optimize direct mail campaigns; manage design, production, and distribution; analyze performance and optimize ROI

โœ… Paid Media Management: Oversee planning, implementation, and optimization across digital and traditional channels; collaborate with vendors and agency partners; adjust planning for discounting and inventory needs

โœ… Vendor Management: Serve as primary contact for external vendors; develop media briefs; collaborate with internal creative team; manage budgets and ensure deliverables meet standards

โœ… Data Analysis and Reporting: Track and report key performance metrics; identify trends and opportunities; present findings to senior leadership

โœ… Internal Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with Education & External Engagement, Group Sales, Event Services, and Development teams; support corporate partnerships; use project management software for tracking


๐ŸŽฏ Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: 5+ years of marketing experience with focus on growth marketing, demand generation, campaign or program management

Skills:

  • Direct mail campaign management
  • Paid media strategy expertise
  • Strong analytical and data interpretation abilities
  • Excellent project management skills
  • Experience managing external vendors and agencies
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred: Passion for classical music and arts/culture


๐Ÿ’ฐ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Not specified

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary and benefits package
  • 403b with match
  • HSA/FSA options
  • Dental, vision, and medical plan options
  • Vacation time and 12 paid holidays
  • Complimentary and discounted tickets to most BSO, Boston Pops, Tanglewood, and Symphony Hall events

Industry Comparison: The benefits package appears to be comprehensive for the non-profit arts sector, with the addition of event tickets representing a unique industry-specific perk.

ASSUMPTION: While no specific salary range is provided, growth marketing roles at this level in the non-profit arts sector in Boston typically range from $80,000-$110,000 annually based on experience, though this can vary significantly based on the specific organization's size and budget.


๐Ÿ“Œ Applicant Insights

๐Ÿ” Company Context

Industry Position: The Boston Symphony Orchestra is New England's largest non-profit performing arts organization with a storied history and multiple prestigious brands under its umbrella.

Company Size: Large cultural institution with multiple venues and performance groups

Company Stage: Established cultural institution seeking modernization and audience expansion

ASSUMPTION: While specific staff size is not mentioned, the BSO is a well-established cultural institution that likely employs 100+ staff members across multiple departments given its scope of operations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Tanglewood venue, and major events like Boston's Fourth of July celebration.


๐Ÿ“Š Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid to Senior level (Associate Director)

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Director or VP of Marketing

Team Size/Composition: Works collaboratively with multiple teams including email, social media, creative services, and external vendors

Growth Opportunities: Potential advancement to Director level; opportunity to make significant impact on a prestigious cultural institution's audience development strategy

ASSUMPTION: The reporting structure and team size are inferred based on the "Associate Director" title and the cross-functional collaboration mentioned throughout the job description. This appears to be a key marketing leadership role with significant autonomy and influence.


๐ŸŒ Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Likely in-office or hybrid

Geographic Context: Located in Boston, a major cultural hub with high cost of living, excellent public transportation, and rich arts community

Work Schedule: Standard business hours with potential evening/weekend work to coincide with performances and events

Regional Considerations: Boston offers rich cultural opportunities but has high living costs; the position offers access to premier cultural events and networking within the arts community

ASSUMPTION: The work environment details are inferred based on the nature of performing arts organizations, which typically require on-site presence for collaboration and attendance at performances. Given the need to coordinate with multiple departments and attend performances, some evening and weekend work is likely required.


๐Ÿ’ผ Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process: Initial screening, marketing portfolio review, panel interview with marketing team members, final interview with senior leadership

Key Assessment Areas: Growth marketing expertise, analytical capabilities, creative thinking, experience with direct mail and paid media, collaborative approach

Application Tips: Highlight quantifiable results from past marketing campaigns; demonstrate understanding of audience development in arts organizations; showcase experience with both traditional and digital marketing channels

ATS Keywords: growth marketing, demand generation, audience acquisition, direct mail campaigns, paid media management, data analysis, vendor management, ROI optimization

ASSUMPTION: These insights are based on standard practices in marketing roles within cultural institutions and are not specifically outlined in the job posting.


๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Tools & Technologies

While not explicitly mentioned, professionals in this role typically use:

  • Marketing analytics platforms
  • CRM systems (likely Tessitura or similar arts-specific CRM)
  • Project management software
  • Digital advertising platforms (Google Ads, social media advertising tools)
  • Email marketing systems
  • Data visualization tools

ASSUMPTION: These tools represent industry standards for performing arts marketing departments. The listing specifically mentions "project management software" but doesn't name specific platforms. Tessitura is assumed as it's the dominant CRM in the performing arts sector.


๐Ÿ‘” Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values: Excellence in performing arts, cultural enrichment, community engagement, innovation balanced with tradition

Work Style: Collaborative, detail-oriented, data-driven while respecting artistic mission, balance of traditional and innovative marketing approaches

Self-Assessment:

  • Are you passionate about classical music and performing arts?
  • Can you balance data-driven decision making with creative marketing approaches?
  • Are you comfortable working within a traditional institution while introducing innovative strategies?
  • Do you thrive in collaborative environments with diverse stakeholders?

ASSUMPTION: Cultural elements are inferred from the organization's status as a prestigious performing arts institution and the job description's emphasis on both traditional marketing (direct mail) and growth-oriented strategies.


โš ๏ธ Potential Challenges

  • Balancing tradition with innovation in a historic cultural institution
  • Managing multiple stakeholder relationships across various BSO entities
  • Coordinating across both traditional (direct mail) and digital marketing channels
  • Driving new audience growth while maintaining existing patron relationships
  • Working with potential budget constraints typical in non-profit arts organizations

ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inferred based on common issues in arts marketing roles and the specific mention of multiple brands, audience types, and marketing channels in the job description.


๐Ÿ“ˆ Similar Roles Comparison

This role differs from typical corporate growth marketing positions by its focus on cultural patronage rather than product sales. Compared to other arts marketing roles, it places stronger emphasis on data-driven acquisition strategies and paid media management than many traditional arts marketing positions, which often focus more on brand and program marketing. The BSO's multiple brands and venues create a more complex marketing environment than found at smaller arts organizations.

ASSUMPTION: This comparison is based on standard patterns in arts marketing versus corporate marketing positions.


๐Ÿ“ Sample Projects

  • Developing a segmented direct mail campaign targeting different audience demographics for a new Boston Pops concert series
  • Creating and optimizing a digital advertising strategy to attract first-time attendees to Tanglewood summer performances
  • Analyzing audience data to identify opportunities for cross-promotion between BSO and Boston Pops events
  • Collaborating with the Development team on a campaign to convert single-ticket buyers to subscription packages
  • Managing vendor relationships for a comprehensive holiday marketing campaign across multiple channels

ASSUMPTION: These projects are illustrative examples based directly on the responsibilities outlined in the job description and typical initiatives in performing arts marketing.


โ“ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

  1. How does the BSO define success for audience development initiatives? What metrics are prioritized?
  2. What is the balance between marketing for ticket sales versus broader brand awareness and community engagement?
  3. How does the marketing team collaborate with artistic planning to align marketing strategies with programming decisions?
  4. What audience segments present the greatest growth opportunity for the BSO in the next 3-5 years?
  5. How does the organization approach the balance between traditional marketing channels and digital innovation?
  6. What systems are currently in place for analyzing marketing campaign performance and tracking audience behavior?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are suggested based on common considerations in performing arts marketing roles and may need adaptation for specific interviews.


๐Ÿ“Œ Disclaimer

โš ๏ธ This enhanced job description was AI-generated based on the original job listing. Information has been organized and supplemented with industry-standard insights where details were not provided. All assumptions are explicitly labeled. Applicants should verify all details directly with the employer before making decisions based on this content.


๐Ÿ“Œ Next Steps for Applicants

  1. Research the BSO's brands: Familiarize yourself with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Tanglewood, and their programming
  2. Prepare your application: Customize your resume to highlight relevant growth marketing experience, particularly in audience development, direct mail, and paid media
  3. Include keywords: Ensure your resume includes key terms like "audience acquisition," "growth marketing," "campaign management," and "ROI optimization"
  4. Portfolio preparation: Gather examples of successful marketing campaigns you've led, particularly those with measurable results
  5. Network: Connect with professionals in the arts marketing community in Boston if possible
  6. Follow up: After applying, consider following up within 1-2 weeks to express continued interest