Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Americans For The Arts•Washington, DC

3d•$115,000 - $135,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Marketing and Communications is a strategic leader and storyteller who amplifies AFTA’s mission into a powerful national voice. In this role, you will drive audience growth and champion the arts as an essential force in American life. You will serve as the strategic architect between high-level vision and creative execution, translating the CMO’s goals into human-centered content and high-impact advocacy campaigns. Success in this role relies on collaborative leadership. The Senior Director will lead a growing team and set the strategic and creative vision for the organization’s marketing and communications efforts, working closely with the Director of Strategic Communications to bring that vision to life. By aligning marketing efforts with advocacy messaging and overseeing the Web Developer and external consultants, the Senior Director will turn complex operations into high-impact content that moves our community to action. Preference will be given to applicants who are proficient in Spanish. This role may occasionally require travel, including some weekend events. Division of Labor between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) This role is considered a matrixed role, responsible for duties that support both Americans for the Arts (501(c)(3)) and the Arts Action Fund (501(c)(4)), which are legally two separate entities. You will be responsible for tracking your time worked across both organizations, having some responsibility associated with collaborative mission-driven marketing and advocacy communications between AFTA and the AAF (within legal and tax parameters). Approximately 25% of your hours worked will be allocated to the AAF 501(c)(4).

Requirements

A deep commitment to advancing AFTA’s mission, with a demonstrated ability to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into all marketing strategies and internal team management.
Minimum 6–8 years of experience in non-profit marketing, driving issue-specific advocacy campaigns and elevating organizational visibility.
Expertise in writing and editing compelling materials, including executive talking points, press releases, and position statements, tailored for diverse public and political audiences.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior leadership, board members, and industry stakeholders across the political spectrum to align communications with institutional goals.
Strategic oversight of content development, editorial calendars, and brand stewardship, ensuring consistent visual and verbal identity across all platforms.
Working knowledge of SEO best practices and CRM systems, using a data-driven approach to optimize organic search performance and digital marketing engagement.
Experience managing visual communications, including design management and photo/video direction, to produce storytelling assets that highlight the transformative power of the arts.
A creative and entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to flex with rapid change.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Spanish

Responsibilities

Lead a dedicated, results-oriented marketing team to execute AFTA’s strategic goals, ensuring our collective work demonstrates every day that the arts are vital to a healthy, thriving society.
Partner across divisions of the organization to synthesize complex research and policy priorities into inspiring, accessible stories that resonate with donors, advocates, and the public alike.
Manage the resources and creative partners needed to power AFTA’s biggest stages, including AFTACON, the ArtsVote campaign, and arts advocacy days.
Build a culture of curiosity and mentorship where your team feels empowered to experiment, lead, and grow alongside a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Own the AFTA narrative alongside the CMO, ensuring our voice is unmistakable, authoritative, and inspiring across everything from high-level press releases to daily digital content.
Guide world-class writers and consultants to produce persuasive marketing and media materials that grab the attention of everyone from local artists to the halls of Congress.
Oversee—in partnership with the Director of Strategic Communications—a dynamic content calendar that spotlights AFTA’s leadership and grassroots voices nationwide, ensuring our advocacy is as heart-centered as it is evidence-based.
Ensure our best research and resources aren't just published, but found, by using smart digital tactics to put AFTA’s tools in the hands of those who need them most.
Modernize and protect the AFTA visual identity, ensuring every image and design reflects an inclusive, professional, and vibrant arts movement.
Serve as the creative engine behind our video, photography, and design projects, collaborating with top-tier agencies to bring our mission to life visually.
Lead the creative design for major national campaigns, using powerful visuals to make complex policy issues feel personal, urgent, and worth fighting for.
Set the bar for design excellence, ensuring every piece of print or digital collateral is a world-class representation of the American arts community.
Design and launch—with our staff and consultants—high-energy digital campaigns that mobilize thousands of advocates to protect arts funding and influence cultural policy at every level of government.
Drive the strategy for AFTA’s digital ecosystem—from a dynamic social media presence to high-performing emails—to keep our community engaged and growing.
Use clear, simple metrics to track success, constantly refining our digital approach to better find donors, support members, and win advocacy battles.
Partner with the Web Developer to experiment with new technologies that improve our digital reach and cut through the noise.
Partner with the development team to design and execute digital strategies that drive revenue, expand the donor pipeline, and convert engaged audiences into financial supporters of Americans for the Arts.