Marketing Manager - Pittsburgh Playhouse

POSITION: Marketing Manager

DEPARTMENT: Pittsburgh Playhouse

REPORTS TO: Director, Marketing & Communications, COPA

WORK SCHEDULE: Remote work flexibility (Hybrid)

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The Marketing Manager, Pittsburgh Playhouse provides leadership and strategic support for marketing, communications, audience engagement, and ticket sales initiatives for Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University, including productions and presentations from the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), Pittsburgh Playhouse programming, resident companies, rentals, and partner events.

Working collaboratively under the direction of the Director of Marketing & Communications, COPA & Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Executive Producer, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and alongside Point Park University's marketing, enrollment, development, and public relations teams, this role leads the execution of marketing campaigns, audience engagement strategies, social media, public relations, digital content, and ticketing initiatives designed to increase visibility, strengthen audience loyalty, and drive revenue growth.

This highly visible and collaborative position works closely with students, faculty, artists, patrons, community partners, donors, vendors, box office, patron services, front of house, production, and university leadership while supporting the educational and professional mission of the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Conservatory of Performing Arts on behalf of Point Park University.

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic, customer-focused communicator and creative problem solver with a passion for theatre, storytelling, audience engagement, and working alongside the future of the creative industry. This individual should thrive in a fast-paced university performing arts environment requiring strong leadership, multitasking, relationship-building, and organizational skills while balancing the demands of active productions, performances, events, and daily operational needs.

Evening, weekends, holidays, and daytime office availability is required based on production and performance and operational schedules. This role requires flexibility to adjust work hours and location as needed while ensuring all responsibilities, deadlines, meetings, and event obligations are consistently completed in a timely and professional manner.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, arts administration, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 3-5 years of experience in marketing, communications, audience engagement, ticketing, or public relations; performing arts and/or higher education experience preferred
• Strong understanding of social media, digital marketing, content creation, audience growth, and branding and customer engagement
• Experience with press releases, media relations, email campaigns, CRM/ticketing systems, and audience communications; Tessitura experience preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, project management, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, artists, patrons, community partners, donors, vendors, and university leadership
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Microsoft Office, Pro2 email marketing, and social media management tools preferred
• Strong analytical, creative problem-solving, customer service, and multitasking organizational abilities with attention to detail
• Experience mentoring students, interns, volunteers, and creative teams preferred
• Passion for theater, storytelling, audience engagement, and customer experience
• Evening, weekend, holiday, and daytime office availability required based on performance and operational schedules
• Ability to flex work hours and work location as needed while ensuring responsibilities and deadlines are completed in a timely and professional manner

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Marketing, Communications, Social Media & Website Management

• Lead execution of marketing campaigns, audience engagement initiatives, social media strategy, email marketing, digital communications and promotional efforts for Pittsburgh Playhouse and Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) productions, partner events, and special initiatives
• Develop and manage marketing timelines, content calendars, digital storytelling initiatives, paid advertising campaigns, and audience growth strategies across multiple platforms
• Manage and maintain Pittsburgh Playhouse and COPA website content, ensuring event information, ticketing links, production details, promotional messaging, production details, and audience communications remain accurate, current, and user-friendly
• Oversee graphic design needs, press releases, promotional messaging, media communications, social media content, radio and television advertising, audience-facing materials, and production collateral including Playbills and printed materials.
• Lead creation of audience surveys, marketing recaps, show wrap-up materials, and audience feedback initiatives, including gathering guest testimonials, photos, and engagement content for future marketing, donor, and audience development efforts
• Coordinate marketing assets, timelines, photography, video, graphics, and promotional materials with internal and external partners
• Collaborate with university marketing teams to maintain brand consistency across all digital and print platforms
• Oversee and guide social media strategy, audience engagement, platform performance, and campaign analytics while recommending strategic adjustments as needed

2. Ticketing, Audience Development & Patron Engagement (30%)

• Lead audience development, customer relationship management, and patron engagement initiatives designed to strengthen audience loyalty, increase visibility, and drive ticket revenue growth
• Oversee audience segmentation, patron communication workflows, reporting, and customer relationship management (CRM) coordination through Tessitura to support strategic marketing, audience targeting, promotional initiatives, ticket sales analysis, and media buying strategies.
• Support development and implementation of ticketing pages, subscription and package sales initiatives, promotional offers, patron messaging, lobby activations, Street-to-Seat programs, and community outreach partnerships
• Lead and direct audience communication strategies, patron experience standards, and guest service expectations across group sales, front of house, patron services, box office, and university departments to ensure a unified voice and seamless audience experience across all patron-facing interactions
• Identify opportunities to expand digital engagement, improve audience interaction, and enhance the overall patron journey across all audience touchpoints

3. Leadership, Collaboration & Student Engagement (20%)

• Supervise and mentor student employees, interns, and marketing support staff while fostering a collaborative, professional and creative environment
• Coordinate communication and marketing timelines across multiple productions, venues, events, and university initiatives; often occurring simultaneously
• Assist with photography, video capture, social media, and behind-the-scenes content creation during performances, rehearsals, events, and media opportunities
• Support off-site promotional appearances, partnership activations, community engagement initiatives, and media events as assigned
• Represent the Pittsburgh Playhouse professionally with artists, students, patrons, donors, vendors, community partners, and visiting organizations
• Attend performances, rehearsals, special events, media opportunities, and community functions as assigned

4. Administrative, Financial & Operational Support (15%)

• Assist with marketing budgets, reporting, invoicing, campaign analysis, database management, and operational documentation
• Assist with special events, donor functions, receptions, hospitality initiatives, and audience engagement activities
• Participate in departmental, university, and organizational meetings and trainings
• Serve as back-up support for the Director Marketing & Communications, COPA & Pittsburgh Playhouse as needed
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of Pittsburgh Playhouse and university operations

Working Environment:

• Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office setting.
• Occasional exposure to objectionable conditions or variations such as those found in variable weather conditions or light industrial settings.
• Fast paced, high volume theatrical environment requiring flexibility, multitasking, rapid problem-solving, and management of multiple simultaneous productions, events, and deadlines.

Physical Demands:

• Job requires repetitively lifting average weight objects with repetitive bending and stooping. Frequently lifts heavy objects but alternating with lighter activities. Job may require physical exertion such as long periods of standing. Job may require above-average agility and dexterity.
• Frequent computer use at workstation, up to eight hours per day
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Mobility within the office. Ability to walk, sit, stand and climb stairs. Ability to use hands and fingers, to handle office equipment, records and files. Occasionally required to reach with arms and hands, and to stoop, kneel or crouch. Vision abilities required by this job include the ability to read and discern written errors on paper and electronic documents. Ability to talk and hear. Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to navigate stairs, theater seating areas, backstage spaces, and lobby areas. Classrooms and crowded event environments.
• Ability to work extended event and performance hours as required.