Deadline: February 14, 2025

About Us

The Florida Orchestra exists to INSPIRE-EDUCATE-UNITE and build community through the power of music. Celebrating our 57th season in 2024-25, The Florida Orchestra is the largest professional orchestra in the state and the only arts organization that bridges the bay. TFO employs 70 full-time professional musicians and conductors, under the leadership of internationally acclaimed Music Director Michael Francis. Excellence is behind our musicians, the music and all we do. Each season, TFO offers more than 100 high quality music experiences and education and outreach programs. Concert series include classical, popular, and morning concerts in three major performing arts venues in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as in theaters and other non-traditional venues throughout Tampa Bay, and free Pops in the Park community concerts. Beyond the concert halls, TFO programs bring the transformative power of music to schools, youth and senior centers, to underserved areas, and to those who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities. We put instruments in the hands of children, offer inspiration and joy to all ages and stages, comfort to those who most need it, and bring our community together. The Florida Orchestra has an annual operating budget of about $14 million. 

Position Summary

The Florida Orchestra (TFO) seeks a full-time Chief Marketing Officer to play a pivotal role in serving on the orchestra’s senior leadership team, reporting directly to the President & CEO and managing a marketing team. This position will have an opportunity to develop and hire resources to establish an innovative and collaborative marketing and sales team; develop cohesive marketing and sales strategies to drive attendance and revenue growth; lead data-driven research initiatives; guide branded creative content across all platforms; and ensure positive patron experiences and exceptional customer service. This strategic leader will collaborate with the President & CEO, senior leadership team, music director, members of artistic team and other stakeholders to meet TFO’s goals and elevate the profile of the orchestra on a local and national scale.  

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement creative strategic marketing and sales plans to engage a broad population and maximize short-term and long-term audience growth potential connected to all orchestral programs and performances.  This annual plan establishes aggressive yet achievable goals for subscription and single tickets revenue.
• Establish performance measures, monitor results and evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing programs and campaigns, making changes as appropriate.
• Lead, inspire and develop a collaborative high-performing integrated marketing, creative content and digital team in addition to sales and ticketing.
• Lead brand-centric marketplace positioning; own branding development, and ensure brand standards are consistent among all platforms and media (visual identity system and brand story messaging).
• Lead the development of a digital-first integrated marketing strategy and oversee all digital media, including email, website, social and digital advertising opportunities.
• Plan seasonal marketing campaigns and creative content that appeal to various target markets and align with TFO brand standards.
• Develop pricing strategies and policies while working with the finance team and CEO office to fulfill revenue, attendance and KPI goals.
• Champion data-driven analytics to understand market trends, audience needs and behaviors.
• Supervise staff, hired agencies and contracted service providers, hiring TFO marketing staff as needed, to best achieve KPIs and long-term goals to include earned revenue goals of approximately $5.5M annually.
• Propose ideas to generate additional revenue and new attendees with an emphasis on new audience development.
• Participate in organizational long-range planning, examine industry trends and monitor local market activity.
• Develop local partnerships and represent TFO in the community to include media companies, arts organizations, civic associations and sponsors.
• Coordinate with all other TFO departments and serve as marking liaison to the board-led marketing committee, orchestra boards, councils and the community at large.
• Build marketing budget, track and analyze marketing department revenue, expenses, and invoices and provide a variety of detailed ROI reports throughout the year while working with the finance team and CEO office.
• Oversee ticket office operations to include Tessitura/CRM oversight, ensuring a culture of friendly, courteous service and customer satisfaction in ticket transactions.
• Drive customer experience strategies to enhance the overall audience experience, from pre-ticket consideration to post-attendance measurement and engagement through marketing analysis such as surveys and venue specific research.
• Support team in philanthropic strategies with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the Chief Communications Officer and internal stakeholders to develop and manage a communications plan across multiple channels.
• Participate and schedule team to serve concert duty at various venues as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

• Degree in marketing, business or a related field with at least 7-10 years of experience
• Proven experience in senior marketing leadership roles, preferably within the arts and cultural sector
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, motivate, hire and retain teams that achieve excellence and exceed goals
• A strong understanding of and enthusiastic commitment to the mission of The Florida Orchestra
• Demonstrated success in developing teams with a focus in innovative marketing strategies, branding, agency management, creative content, digital marketing and sales
• Strong financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting and planning 
• Superb communication skills with a persuasive ability, including strong written, verbal and presentation skills
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and especially Excel; experience with Adobe Suite, and experience and working knowledge of Tessitura/CRM is a plus
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and collaboration skills, ability to connect and interact with people of all ages and stages with empathy and professionalism

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stop, reach, stand, walk, lift, pull, push, grasp, communicate and use repetitive motions. 
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee may lift and or move 20 pounds of materials. 

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $85,000-$100,000 including a strong benefits package which includes health, dental and vision benefits as well as a retirement plan. This is a full-time, exempt position managing operations that are open beyond normal office hours.  Some evenings and weekends required, including concert duty throughout the season (September through May).  

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to [email protected]. Please include "Chief Marketing Officer" in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until Friday, February 14, 2025.  All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.  

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change by The Florida Orchestra based on the changing needs and requirements of the job, department, or organization. Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change. 

The Florida Orchestra is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.