The Nashville Symphony inspires, entertains, educates and serves through musical performance, innovation, collaboration and inclusion. Led by music director Giancarlo Guerrero, the orchestra performs more than 150 concerts annually, with a diverse repertoire that includes classical, pops, jazz, movies, and more. It is one of the most active recording orchestras in the U.S., with a total of 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations.

The Director of Communications is responsible for overseeing all public relations and institutional storytelling activities at the Nashville Symphony – including content creation, social media, graphic design and in-house publications – to further the institution’s artistic, audience development and financial objectives.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Create and implement PR strategies supporting all aspects of the Nashville Symphony, including but not limited to concerts, conductors and musicians, artistic and audience development initiatives, education and community engagement programs, and fundraising events.
  • Cultivate relationships with local, national and international media, including bloggers and influencers. Maintain media contact list and organize contacts for broad and targeted PR campaigns.
  • Create individual PR plans for concerts, organizational initiatives and fundraising events. Develop pitch ideas, arrange and facilitate artist interviews, and secure coverage in print media, radio, television and online media. Prepare internal constituents for interactions with the media, providing talking points and training as needed.
  • Maintain Nashville Symphony press kit and resources, ensuring that all institutional bios, fact sheets, photography and other key assets are current.
  • Write press releases and media alerts, along with other institutional copy as needed.
  • Catalog and maintain a record of media coverage and clips, providing regular reports to key internal constituents.
  • Schedule and plan events for members of the media, including press conferences and press tours.
  • Manage and respond to requests for general information, photos and other assistance from members of the media, public and Nashville Symphony staff.
• Liaise with external PR consultants as needed. 
• Create and oversee a robust and dynamic social media and content generation strategy. Provide engaging video and storytelling assets that generate single ticket and subscription revenues and extend brand reach. Ensure a balanced mix of content, including user-generated and interactive content, blog posts, videos, and more.
• Provides content, guidelines, oversight and strategic direction for the Nashville Symphony’s verbal, written and digital communications.
• Organize, produce, edit and manage content for the Nashville Symphony’s program guide.
• Working with the Art Director, oversee all aspects of graphic design and photography.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team on branding strategies, including season ticket campaigns and individual concert marketing.
• Collaborate with the Development team on messaging for fundraising campaigns, including Annual Campaign, Corporate Sponsorships and Planned Giving.
• Draft talking points, speeches and written communications for executive staff as needed.
• Serve as a departmental representative at concerts and events, supervising media, photographers and pre-concert activities as needed.
• Embrace the Nashville Symphony’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and actively support the organization’s mission to welcome and serve everyone in our community.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director of Communications supervises the Art Director, Digital Content Manager and Communications Specialist. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, music or a related field strongly preferred.

Experience

At least four years’ experience in the communications and/or marketing profession, preferably in the nonprofit sector; experience in a performing or cultural arts organization preferred. Two years of supervisory experience is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to work well with staff on timely projects and work as a team player, as well as ability to delegate and oversee completion of projects.
• Ability to formulate and work on projects independently, while keeping supervisors and/or others informed of progress and of any work issues.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and social media software such as Creator Studio, Sprout Studio and Hootsuite.
• Ability to analyze, problem-solve and offer solutions to issues.
• Ability to keep overall goals in mind along with day-to-day functions.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
The Nashville Symphony prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetics, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
The Nashville Symphony is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which maintains that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. If you have questions concerning the Nashville Symphony’s compliance with Title VI, please contact the Director of Human Resources & Inclusion Sonia Mussaw.

This company is a smoke-free workplace in compliance with the Non-Smoker Protection Act, Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 39-17-1801-1810. In accordance with that law and company policy, smoking is prohibited in enclosed areas of company property.