What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Communications position at Robert Rauschenberg Foundation?

About the Foundation :

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation (RRF) honors the legacy of artist Robert Rauschenberg by fostering interdisciplinary creativity and supporting artists, scholars, and change-makers. Focus areas include expanding access to Rauschenberg's work, nurturing emerging artists through residencies, and promoting art's role in social issues.

Position Summary :

The Director of Communications is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all organization-wide aspects of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation's (RRF) communications, public relations and content strategy. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position will be instrumental in shaping the visibility of Robert Rauschenberg and the Foundation's global narrative, advancing its visibility, and amplifying its mission, values, and philanthropic initiatives. The Director of Communications will position RRF as a leading force in the artist-endowed foundation space, championing Rauschenberg's legacy of interdisciplinary creativity and social impact, while expanding access to his work and archives for a diverse, global audience.

This role will lead the strategic development and execution of communications efforts, aligned with major institutional initiatives such as the Centennial Celebration (Rauschenberg100), the launch of Volume One of the Rauschenberg Catalogue Raisonné, and the reopening of the Rauschenberg Artist Residency Program in Captiva, FL. Additionally, the role will focus on elevating the Foundation's philanthropic, research, and archive endeavors, ensuring their visibility across various digital, print and social channels. The Head of Communications will drive content creation, brand evolution, and messaging across digital, social, and traditional media, ensuring consistency, resonance, and measurable impact. By leveraging strategic insights, cultivating key external partnerships, and managing media relations, this position will enhance RRF's global profile, increase engagement, and strengthen its influence in the arts, education, and social change sectors.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary storyteller with a strong strategic mindset, capable of driving global engagement and ensuring Rauschenberg's interdisciplinary creativity and the Foundation's mission are effectively communicated across diverse audiences and platforms.

Key Duties & Responsibilities :

Strategic Communications Leadership & Execution

Develop and lead a comprehensive communications strategy for RRF, aligning with its mission and institutional goals. This includes the creation of multi-channel campaigns that strengthen the Foundation's visibility and global impact.
Act as the Foundation's primary spokesperson, enhancing relationships with arts, culture, and philanthropy media outlets to ensure RRF's leadership role in the arts and social change sectors is well recognized.
Collaborate with senior leadership, including the Executive Director, to align communications strategies with broader organizational objectives and provide counsel on messaging, positioning, and public relations efforts.
In partnership with the Executive Director, serve as the primary internal spokesperson, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment across all staff and internal stakeholders, while facilitating smooth communication between departments.

Brand & Content Management

Oversee the evolution of RRF's brand identity, ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms.

Lead and manage the creation and publication of high-quality content, including a strategic content calendar for social media, ensuring alignment with the Foundation's values and goals.

Guide the website strategy, including the redesign and ongoing content management. Ensure the site is engaging, SEO-optimized, and reflects RRF's mission and initiatives.

Engage with external design agencies and web development partners as needed to ensure that the website remains technically sound, visually compelling, and aligned with RRF's branding strategy.

Digital Campaigns

Develop and execute multi-channel campaigns to elevate RRF's visibility, audience reach, and engagement across traditional and digital media.

Oversee social media strategy and content creation, ensuring RRF's presence on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn strengthens the brand and attracts new audiences.

PR & Media Relations

Lead and execute PR campaigns, including organizing press events, media visits, and multimedia projects to generate awareness for RRF's exhibitions, initiatives, and key milestones.

Manage relationships with external PR agencies, , to ensure consistent messaging and effective campaign delivery.

Work closely with external partners, including auction houses, the commercial galleries that represent the artist, museums with collections of the artist's work, institutions hosting exhibitions of his work, media agencies, content creators, and influencers, to amplify RRF's message and reach new audiences.

Project Leadership & Team Collaboration

Collaborate with internal departments (e.g., Archives, Art Services, Curatorial, Philanthropy, and Residency) to create cohesive narratives and ensure that all communications reflect RRF's mission and priorities.

Lead and mentor internal teams and external partners, fostering cross-departmental collaboration and accountability on communications deliverables.

Manage the Foundation's communications budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and efficient resource allocation.

Analytics, Digital Strategy & Evaluation

Track and analyze the performance of communications campaigns using digital analytics tools to inform and refine future strategies.

Oversee CRM strategies, ensuring the effective segmentation of audiences and optimization of email marketing campaigns.

Work with external digital marketing partners to gather data and insights on campaign performance, using these to continuously improve communications strategies and outreach efforts.

Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement

Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with auction houses, commercial galleries, cultural institutions, academic partners, and other key organizations to extend RRF's influence and impact.

Represent RRF's interests in various cultural and philanthropic circles, advocating for initiatives in arts and social impact.

Functional Operational Oversight

Manage and organize campaign related communications assets, ensuring that all communications materials comply with the Foundation's approved brand guidelines and are accessible across various platforms.

Oversee the management of external communication processes, including press outreach, media buys, event promotions, and advertising.

Work closely with external agencies, including media buying agencies and design firms, to implement and monitor campaigns, ensuring that all external communications align with the Foundation's strategic goals and brand identity.

Agency & External Partner Engagement

PR & Media Relations : Collaborating closely with the foundation's key communications and media agency partner and other external PR agencies to develop and implement strategic PR campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging and increased media coverage for the Foundation's initiatives.

Content Creation & Design : Engaging with external design agencies to create and refine visual identity materials, ensuring all content aligns with RRF's brand and mission.

Web Development & Technical Strategy

Partnering with web development agencies for the technical aspects of the website, while leading content strategy and ensuring the site is SEO-optimized and user-friendly.

Digital Marketing & Campaign Execution

Working with external digital marketing partners to manage and track the performance of digital campaigns, optimizing strategies based on data-driven insights.

Other duties and weekend hours as required.

Qualifications & Skills Required :

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field (Master's preferred).

8-10 years in senior communications / marketing roles, ideally in arts, nonprofit, or educational sectors, with a strong portfolio of successful campaigns.

Proven experience in leading strategic comms initiatives with the ability to align campaign goals to organizational objectives.

Expertise in developing and executing marketing campaigns and brand strategies, particularly in arts, cultural, or nonprofit sectors.

Skilled in storytelling and managing brand evolution across digital, print, and social media platforms.

Strong track record in multi-channel campaigns, content optimization, and performance tracking.

Proficient in CMS (e.g., Drupal), SEO, analytics, and social media tools to enhance engagement.

Ability to build relationships with cultural institutions, academic partners, and donors.

Experienced in public speaking and managing media relations.

Effective in leading teams and collaborating across departments.

Skilled in organizing and promoting press events and exhibitions.

Experience overseeing multimedia content creation, including video and podcasts.

Expertise in maintaining brand messaging during high-pressure situations.

Strong ability to manage budgets and analyze campaign performance.

Ability to communicate inclusively with diverse, global audiences.

Proven ability to use social media for brand building and audience engagement.

Creative thinker, able to develop and execute innovative ideas.

Work Environment :

This is a fully in-person role to be based at RRF's office in New York, NY.

ADA Specifications :

Requires the ability to use a computer and office equipment traditionally found in office settings.

The ability to traverse stairs.

This role may require frequent local and national travel (10-15%).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Compensation & Benefits :

The anticipated base compensation for this position is between $140,000 and $160,000 per annum, depending on experience. The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package, including 100% employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. We also provide generous employer contributions for vision coverage, life insurance, STD, LTD and exceptional retirement savings options with an industry-leading employer matching contribution. Additionally, the Foundation offers a robust charitable giving matching program, tuition reimbursement and generous time-off policies to support work-life balance.

Equal Employment Opportunity :

The Foundation is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity in all its forms and actively seek to attract a wide range of talented individuals. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in arts organizations.

Application Deadline :

The deadline to apply for the position is Friday, January 24, 2025

Salary : $140,000 - $160,000

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