Senior Marketing & Communications Manager

Description

ABOUT THINKERY

Thinkery is Austin's children's museum and a place where science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) come to life through joyful, hands-on learning. We believe every child deserves opportunities to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, and we strive to create welcoming experiences for all families in our community.

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Senior  Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of Thinkery's Marketing & Communications team. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, this role manages the Marketing Coordinator and Lead Graphic Designer while overseeing integrated marketing campaigns, content development, media relations, brand partnerships, and departmental workflows. 

This Senior level manager partners closely with the Vice President to bring marketing and communications strategies to life through thoughtful planning, strong project management, and data-informed decision making. This role balances creativity with organization, ensuring projects stay on track, messaging remains consistent, and campaigns achieve measurable results that support Thinkery's mission, brand, and earned revenue goals.  

Requirements

Marketing & Campaign Management  

• Partner with the Vice President of Marketing & Communications to develop and implement integrated marketing and communications campaigns that support organizational priorities.  
• Lead Go-To-Market campaigns for memberships, admissions, camps, museum events, venue rentals, fundraising initiatives, and other key organizational priorities.  
• Drive measurable audience growth and demand generation across Thinkery's programs, experiences, and revenue-generating initiatives. 
• Manage the planning, execution, and evaluation of campaigns across paid, earned, owned, and shared channels.  
• Lead the planning and optimization of paid marketing campaigns, managing relationships with external advertising partners to maximize campaign performance.  
• Develop, manage, and monitor the paid advertising budget, ensuring investments align with organizational priorities and deliver measurable return on investment.  
• Lead campaign debriefs and recommend improvements based on performance and audience insights.  

Strategic Communications  

• Create and lead Thinkery's content strategy, ensuring marketing and communications support organizational priorities and engage key audiences.  
• Develop messaging frameworks and campaign narratives that communicate Thinkery's mission, impact, and brand across all channels.  
• Write and edit high-impact communications including marketing emails, blog posts, annual impact reports, website copy, executive communications, media materials, and campaign messaging.  
• Lead Thinkery's media relations efforts, building relationships with local and regional media and coordinating proactive outreach.  
• Develop and manage marketing, brand, and cause marketing partnerships that expand Thinkery's reach and strengthen community connections.  
• Ensure messaging is consistent across all marketing and communications channels.  

Analytics & Reporting  

• Establish campaign goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor performance across marketing and communications initiatives. 
• Analyze campaign performance, audience insights, and market trends to identify opportunities and recommend improvements. 
• Prepare regular reports that measure campaign effectiveness and inform future marketing and communications efforts. 
• Partner with the Lead Graphic Designer to monitor website performance, user behavior, and conversion using Google Analytics and other reporting tools. 
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by using data and retrospective analyses to strengthen future campaigns and departmental processes.  

Team Leadership  

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Marketing & Communications department, ensuring projects are prioritized, coordinated, and delivered on time. 
• Directly supervise the Marketing Coordinator and Lead Graphic Designer, providing coaching, professional development, performance feedback, and recognition. 
• Manage team workload, project timelines, and cross-functional collaboration to improve efficiency and accountability. 
• Develop and improve department workflows, project management systems, and operational processes that support effective collaboration. 
• Manage relationships with external marketing vendors, including advertising agencies, website partners, SEO consultants, Google Ad Grants partners, freelancers, and other marketing service providers. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required 

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience. 
• Experience developing and executing integrated marketing and communications campaigns that drive demand and revenue growth.  
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills across a variety of channels, including email, web, blogs, media materials, and organizational publications. 
• Experience managing multiple projects, cross-functional teams, external vendors, and agency partners. 
• Experience using marketing analytics and reporting tools to evaluate campaign performance and inform decision-making. 
• Proficiency with Google Analytics, CRM and email marketing platforms, project management software, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. 

Preferred 

• Experience and understanding of marketing to families.  
• Experience in a small business environment or in a nonprofit, museum, education, or other mission-driven organization.  
• Experience managing paid advertising campaigns and budgets.  
• Experience with media relations, brand partnerships, or cause marketing initiatives.  
• Familiarity with Tessitura, Google Ad Grants, SEO, or website content management systems.  
• Ability to create bilingual (English/Spanish) written content. 

COMPETENCIES  

• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.  
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. 
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. 
• Creates Connection: Builds engagement and belonging in relationships across teams and with guests promoting a welcoming environment for all. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Occasional weekend, holiday, and evening work may be required. 

BENEFITS

Thinkery offers competitive and affordable benefits for our full-time team members including options for 100% employer sponsored medical coverage. Our benefits package includes:

• Medical insurance options including HSA, PPO Gold, and PPO Platinum plans.
• Affordable dental and vision plans.
• 100% employer sponsored EAP, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance.
• 2 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of paid sick leave, and 13 paid holidays annually.
• Paid Family Leave.
• Pet and child friendly offices.

This job description should not be construed to imply these requirements are the only duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job. Incumbents may be required to follow any additional related instructions, acquire related job skills, and perform other related work as required. This job description may be updated as needed.

Thinkery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items. All candidates offered a position will be required to submit to a background and reference checks.