Director of Marketing and Advancement

Responsibilities

• Define How Washington Sees Us: Lead HW’s positioning, brand, and marketing strategy, from brand standards and unified messaging to a marketing calendar and clear measures of what’s working. Establish the organization as a trusted voice on why the humanities matter to civic life and community well-being. Direct contractors and vendors for day-to-day communications so you can focus on strategy.
• Reach New Audiences: Grow HW’s visibility beyond those who already love the humanities, including younger Washingtonians, the business community, and a politically diverse cross-section of the state. Turn stories from programs across Washington into video, podcast, and social content, and help design new ways for people to find and engage with our work. Travel the state to meet partners and trustees and see the work firsthand.
• Build an Integrated Revenue Strategy: Bring marketing, fundraising, and earned revenue together into one coordinated plan for a stable, diversified revenue base. Support the CEO and Fundraising Manager as they work toward an organization-wide goal of $800,000 or more in contributed revenue. Serve as a creative thought partner on campaigns and the case for support, and explore new models such as membership.
• Launch a New Earned Revenue Line: Lead the effort to turn 50 years of program expertise into new earned income, such as programs for companies, consulting and facilitation, and services for other humanities organizations. Shape the new Business Development & Partnerships Manager role, lead the hiring process, and set realistic, shared goals that protect the integrity of our mission and our commitment to accessible programming.
• Lead and Grow the Team: Supervise and coach the Business Development & Partnerships Manager, helping each succeed and surface opportunities for the other. Partner with program staff to gather the metrics, impact data, and stories that fuel revenue work, and clarify roles as the new structure takes shape.
• Help Shape Our Next Chapter: Serve on the leadership team and help guide organization-wide strategy, including the 2027 strategic plan. Help colleagues embrace new audiences, earned revenue, and clear goals as part of our next chapter.

Requirements

• A strong track record of building integrated marketing strategies that raise visibility and grow audiences, especially younger and newer ones, and those that reflect the full diversity of the communities we serve.
• Fluency in digital and social media, and experience getting results with limited resources and outside contractors.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills, and an ear for a voice that is friendly and accessible, not academic.
• A working knowledge of fundraising, membership, and earned income, and enough fluency to partner with revenue colleagues.
• You don’t need to be a career fundraiser, but you have grown a diverse base of supporters and know how to make a compelling case for support that resonates across communities.
• You’re comfortable using data to guide decisions.
• Experience supervising and developing staff.
• A results-oriented leader who can hold goals even when it’s uncomfortable, and who leads change with patience, listening, and respect for what already works.
• The confidence to bring current best practices and offer respectful pushback.
• An understanding of what the humanities are and the ability to explain why they matter to many audiences, including skeptics.

Preferred

• The ideal candidate has a background in the humanities or a related field (museums, libraries, cultural organizations, or civic communications) is a plus, as is experience communicating with public officials.

Benefits

• Health and security: Medical, dental, and vision insurance (90% of employee premiums covered), fully paid life and long-term disability insurance, and optional FSAs.
• Retirement: A 403(b) with an automatic 3% employer contribution plus up to a 3% match.
• Time off and flexibility: Vacation starting at 10 days and growing to 20 with tenure, 12 days of sick and safe leave, 8 paid holidays plus a winter break from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, and 3 personal holidays. A hybrid schedule with three days a week, and a monthly internet and phone stipend.