Director of Marketing

San Francisco, California, Description: The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) seeks a Director of Marketing to lead the strategy, execution, and optimization of integrated marketing initiatives that support student recruitment, performance attendance, institutional visibility, advancement, and other organizational priorities.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Director of Marketing is a hands-on marketing leader who translates institutional priorities into measurable campaigns, combining strategic planning with direct execution and oversight of SFCM's web and social media functions. Working closely with editorial, creative, and institutional partners, the Director ensures marketing efforts are coordinated, audience-focused, and effective.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Integrated Marketing Strategy & Campaigns

Develop and execute integrated marketing strategies supporting SFCM's priorities, including student recruitment, performance attendance, institutional awareness, and community engagement. Translate institutional goals into actionable marketing plans, identifying target audiences, messaging, channels, budgets, creative requirements, and timelines. Lead coordinated marketing initiatives across paid, owned, and digital channels in partnership with Admissions, Advancement, and artistic and academic leadership. Own the institutional marketing calendar, coordinating campaign timelines, priorities, and resources across departments. Lead, mentor, and support marketing staff, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and opportunities for professional development.

Paid Media & Advertising

Personally plan, execute, and optimize paid advertising campaigns across Google Ads, YouTube, Meta, digital display, print, and other relevant channels. Manage media buying, audience targeting, budget pacing, creative testing, campaign trafficking, and performance measurement. Manage advertising vendors, media partners, and external agencies, negotiating placements and evaluating performance.

Email & Direct Marketing

Lead institutional email marketing across recruitment, performances, advancement, and audience engagement. Plan, build, execute, and optimize email campaigns, including audience segmentation, list strategy, testing, scheduling, and performance analysis.

Digital Experience & Social Media

Oversee SFCM's website and social media functions, managing staff and establishing priorities aligned with institutional marketing objectives. Lead website marketing strategy, including content priorities, landing pages, user journeys, SEO, calls to action, and conversion optimization. Direct social media strategy, establishing priorities for audience growth, content development, platform engagement, and performance measurement. Collaborate with editorial, design, and content teams to ensure coordinated messaging, creative assets, and campaign execution across digital channels.

Marketing Analytics & Audience Insights

Establish KPIs and analyze performance across advertising, email, web, social, and other marketing channels. Translate campaign and audience data into actionable recommendations that improve conversions, engagement, and marketing effectiveness. Conduct or oversee audience research, including surveys, focus groups, and message testing, to inform marketing strategies. Provide regular performance reporting and recommendations to the AVP and institutional leadership.

The incumbent will perform other duties as needed.

This position has a hybrid work schedule with three days per week in the office and some eventing and weekend events. Requirements:

7+ years of experience in marketing, including managing staff or leading marketing teams. Demonstrated ability to develop marketing strategies and personally execute campaigns from planning through measurement. Hands-on experience managing paid search and social advertising, particularly Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager, including targeting, budgets, testing, optimization, and performance reporting. Strong experience with email marketing, audience segmentation, testing, and analytics. Strong analytical skills and experience with digital marketing measurement, web analytics, conversion optimization, and audience journeys. Experience managing external agencies, vendors, freelancers, or cross-functional teams. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and institutional priorities simultaneously. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate strategy and results to colleagues at multiple levels of an organization. Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Experience in music, performing arts, higher education, nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions, or other mission-driven environments preferred.

Salary and Benefits This is a full-time exempt position, and the starting annual salary is between $110,000 and $130,000, depending on experience. Employee benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays; health, long-term disability, and life insurance; and a voluntary 403(b) retirement plan.

How to Apply We prefer to receive applications through our website. This position will be posted until filled.

SFCM seeks employees who bring both the qualifications needed for the position and a genuine interest in the Conservatory’s mission. Please submit a résumé and a cover letter describing your interest in SFCM and how your experience would contribute to our work.

Application materials should accurately reflect your qualifications, experience, and interest in SFCM. You are responsible for reviewing and approving all materials submitted on your behalf. Assistance from others or the use of AI tools does not relieve you of this responsibility. SFCM reserves the right to reject applications containing material misrepresentations or submitted without meaningful applicant involvement. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

About Us SFCM’s mission is to transform our students: artistically, intellectually, professionally and individually. Through the study of music at the highest level, our students learn to seek achievement in every endeavor, to convert challenges into opportunities, to understand the nature of excellence, and to pursue their dreams with vigor and determination. We believe that inspiring the imagination, cultivating the artist, honing the intellect, and developing the professional are the keys to launching innovative graduates who excel in any field. SFCM is located in the heart of one of the world’s most innovative and diverse cities, and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields.

Equal Opportunity Employer SFCM is a fully committed equal employment opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons. SFCM will not discriminate against applicants for employment and employees because of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state and local laws.

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