Development

Director of Marketing & Communications

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JOB STATEMENT/PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the President & CEO, the Director of Marketing & Communications serves as the executive leader responsible for advancing the Alaska Native Heritage Center's brand, impact, audience engagement, organizational growth, and earned revenue through integrated marketing, communications, public relations, branding, and digital engagement strategies.

As a member of the Leadership Team, this position develops and leads enterprise-wide marketing and communications strategies that increase visitation, strengthen earned revenue, expand strategic partnerships, enhance community engagement, elevate donor and stakeholder relationships, and position ANHC as the premier statewide Alaska Native cultural and educational center. The Director serves as the principal advisor and partner to the President & CEO on organizational marketing, communications, branding, media relations, public affairs, executive messaging, and organizational reputation. This position provides executive leadership for organizational branding, advertising, media relations, website strategy, digital engagement, creative services, publications, executive communications, marketing analytics, and audience development while representing ANHC before the Board of Directors, elected officials, funding partners, media, tourism organizations, community leaders, and other strategic stakeholders.

The Director participates in executive leadership decision-making, organizational planning, and enterprise-wide initiatives while providing strategic recommendations to the President & CEO and Board of Directors. This position champions innovation through marketing technology, customer relationship management (CRM), audience analytics, digital engagement strategies, and data-informed decision making that supports organizational growth, financial sustainability, and ANHC's long-term strategic priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Executive Leadership & Organizational Strategy

  • Serve as the primary staff liaison to the President & CEO and Board of Directors on marketing, communications, branding, and public engagement matters.

  • Prepare Board reports, presentations, dashboards, strategic recommendations, and supporting materials related to marketing, communications, audience engagement, earned revenue, and organizational performance.

  • Present regularly to the Board of Directors and Board committees regarding departmental initiatives, organizational marketing performance, strategic priorities, communications planning, and key performance indicators.

  • Support the President & CEO in preparing executive communications, Board presentations, speeches, talking points, public remarks, testimony, and organizational messaging.

  • Advise executive leadership and the Board on communications strategies related to organizational reputation, crisis communications, sensitive issues, and emerging opportunities.

  • Recommend organizational marketing priorities, communications strategies, branding initiatives, and major marketing investments for executive leadership consideration

Marketing Strategy, Brand Development & Audience Growth

  • Develop and implement comprehensive marketing, branding, communications, and audience engagement strategies that advance ANHC's mission and strategic priorities.

  • Develop annual integrated marketing plans supporting Cultural Tourism, Ch'k'iqadi Gallery, Café Di'eshchin, facility rentals, exhibitions, fundraising, educational programming, community initiatives, and special events.

  • Position ANHC as the premier statewide destination for experiencing Alaska Native cultures while increasing local, statewide, national, and international awareness.

  • Develop initiatives that increase visitation, earned revenue, donor engagement, customer acquisition, audience retention, and community participation.

  • Maintain and strengthen organizational brand standards while ensuring consistent messaging, visual identity, storytelling, and authentic representation of Alaska Native cultures.

  • Collaborate with executive leadership to support organizational growth, capital campaigns, major initiatives, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and new business opportunities.

Communications, Public Relations & Media Relations

  • Direct all internal and external communications for the organization.

  • Oversee development of press releases, executive messaging, annual reports, Board reports, newsletters, speeches, talking points, website content, publications, blogs, organizational announcements, and media materials.

  • Develop and manage organizational editorial calendars across digital, print, website, social media, publications, and email communications.

  • Build and maintain relationships with local, statewide, national, and international media.

  • Serve as ANHC's communications lead during organizational issues and crisis situations.

  • Develop and oversee crisis communication plans and organizational messaging strategies.

  • Ensure organizational messaging reflects ANHC's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.

Marketing, Technology & Customer Engagement

  • Lead ANHC's digital marketing strategy including website management, SEO, accessibility, analytics, online advertising, social media, and email marketing.

  • Develop customer relationship management (CRM) strategies that improve audience engagement, customer retention, donor stewardship, and visitor experience.

  • Implement marketing automation, customer segmentation, analytics, and emerging technologies that improve operational effectiveness.

  • Monitor marketing performance and optimize campaigns using analytics, conversion data, audience insights, and return on investment.

  • Evaluate emerging marketing technologies and recommend innovative solutions that strengthen organizational performance.

Creative Services & Content Development

  • Direct the development of all print and digital marketing materials including visitor guides, annual reports, fundraising materials, advertisements, signage, brochures, publications, event collateral, promotional products, and digital assets.

  • Oversee photography, videography, graphic design, copywriting, creative direction, and multimedia storytelling.

  • Ensure all communications accurately represent ANHC's mission and the authentic representation of Alaska Native cultures.

  • Collaborate across departments to promote exhibitions, educational programming, Cultural Tourism experiences, community initiatives, artists, collections, fundraising campaigns, and special events.

  • Manage relationships with photographers, videographers, advertising agencies, graphic designers, printers, consultants, and other marketing vendors.

Financial Management & Performance Analytics

  • Develop and manage the departmental operating budget and marketing investments.

  • Establish departmental KPIs, dashboards, and performance reporting systems.

  • Analyze visitation, earned revenue, audience engagement, website traffic, advertising effectiveness, CRM performance, donor engagement, and campaign ROI.

  • Prepare executive reports and recommendations that support strategic decision-making.

  • Monitor tourism, nonprofit, hospitality, communications, and marketing trends to identify opportunities for organizational growth and innovation.

  • Ensure resources are allocated effectively to maximize organizational impact and return on investment.

Leadership & Supervision

  • Supervise Marketing & Communications staff, contractors, consultants, interns, agencies, photographers, videographers, and other vendors.

  • Recruit, mentor, coach, develop, and evaluate staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

  • Establish departmental priorities, workflows, service standards, and performance expectations.

  • Promote a collaborative, respectful, culturally responsive, and high-performing work environment.

  • Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

  • Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and demonstrated ability to communicate, interpret, and represent Alaska Native cultures respectfully, accurately, and authentically in marketing, communications, and public engagement is required.

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration, Journalism, Advertising, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.

  • An equivalent combination of education, professional training, certifications, and progressively responsible experience may be substituted for a degree.

  • Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in marketing, communications, brand management, public relations, tourism marketing, destination marketing, hospitality marketing, or a related field.

  • Demonstrated success developing and implementing integrated marketing and communications strategies that achieve measurable organizational outcomes.

  • Demonstrated experience developing marketing strategies that increase customer acquisition, audience engagement, visitation, earned revenue, brand awareness, and organizational growth through measurable outcomes.

  • Experience leveraging marketing automation, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, digital engagement platforms, data analytics, and emerging marketing technologies to improve marketing performance, operational efficiency, and customer engagement.

  • Experience leading and supervising staff, consultants, agencies, contractors, and external vendors.

  • Experience managing departmental budgets, marketing campaigns, and multiple concurrent projects.

  • Experience marketing cultural institutions, tourism destinations, museums, attractions, hospitality organizations, or mission-driven organizations is preferred.

Knowledge

  • Comprehensive knowledge of integrated marketing, branding, communications, public relations, advertising, and audience engagement strategies.

  • Knowledge of digital marketing, website management, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media strategy, email marketing, content marketing, online advertising, digital communications, and website analytics.

  • Knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) systems, marketing automation platforms, customer segmentation, analytics, business intelligence, emerging marketing technologies, and digital engagement strategies.

  • Knowledge of media relations, crisis communications, reputation management, executive communications, and organizational messaging.

  • Knowledge of graphic design principles, photography, videography, print production, digital publishing, multimedia content development, and creative direction.

  • Knowledge of tourism marketing, destination marketing, visitor experience strategies, customer journey mapping, and revenue optimization strategies.

  • Knowledge of budget development, project management, strategic planning, organizational performance measurement, and marketing analytics.

Skills

  • Exceptional written, verbal, editing, proofreading, presentation, and storytelling skills.

  • Strong strategic planning, leadership, organizational, and project management skills.

  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with media, community partners, tourism organizations, donors, sponsors, and external stakeholders.

  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret marketing data, customer insights, financial metrics, and performance measures to inform strategic decision-making.

  • Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (or comparable creative software), website content management systems, CRM platforms, email marketing software, digital advertising platforms, social media management tools, analytics platforms, and marketing technology tools.

  • Strong creative direction, brand management, campaign development, content strategy, and project management skills.

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and consistently meeting deadlines.

  • Ability to supervise, mentor, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.

Abilities

  • Ability to develop innovative marketing and communications strategies that drive measurable organizational growth, visitation, audience engagement, earned revenue, and brand awareness.

  • Ability to translate organizational priorities into integrated marketing campaigns across print, digital, web, social media, email marketing, video, advertising, public relations, publications, and emerging communication platforms.

  • Ability to leverage marketing automation, customer relationship management systems, digital engagement platforms, emerging marketing technologies, and data analytics to improve marketing effectiveness, operational efficiency, customer experience, and organizational performance.

  • Ability to think strategically while effectively managing day-to-day operations and multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

  • Ability to evaluate marketing performance, identify opportunities for growth, and implement data-informed strategies that improve organizational outcomes.

  • Ability to exercise sound judgment, creativity, discretion, professionalism, and diplomacy in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

  • Ability to represent ANHC professionally with media, elected officials, tourism organizations, community partners, donors, sponsors, and the public.

  • Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams while fostering an inclusive, respectful, and culturally responsive work environment.

  • Commitment to the Alaska Native Heritage Center's mission, vision, values, and the preservation, celebration, and sharing of Alaska Native cultures.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned in support of organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

Weather:

  • Indoors: Primarily in an environmentally controlled office;

Noise level:

  • Quiet to moderate.

Physical requirements:

  • Employee is required to lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.

  • Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands/fingers to handle or feel, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk/hear, see, taste/smell, and carry weight/lift.