Marketing and Communications Manager: Events and Enterprises in Lewes

The Charleston Trust is seeking a creative and results-driven Marketing and Communications Manager with a passion for arts and cultural programming to lead the promotion of our events programme and enterprises offer. Working closely with the Head of Programme & Events, the role will plan and deliver end-to-end marketing campaigns that promote our festivals and events, driving footfall to our year-round programme, cafes, and shops.

Duties and responsibilities

• Plan, create, and manage multi-channel marketing campaigns for our year-round festivals and events programme, including digital and offline advertising, press, social media, website, and print, ensuring all event content drives revenue and is promoted consistently across all platforms.
• Plan and deliver marketing initiatives for Charleston’s enterprise offer to grow attendance, sales, and revenue.
• Work with external brands to promote commercial partnerships.
• Ensure community engagement and learning events are supported and promoted, forming an integral part of the wider programme.
• Design and produce marketing materials in line with brand guidelines, including brochures, flyers, and posters using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Respond to operational or crisis communications needs with agility and creativity.
• Conduct and lead on research, surveys, and digital analytics to deliver actionable audience insight on the events programme including booking behaviours, competitive positioning, and trends.
• Monitor ticket sales and performance metrics in conjunction with the events team to determine ticket pricing.
• Work with the Ticketing and Events Coordinator and other teams to ensure a seamless audience journey through the website, ticketing, and on-site experience.

Press

• Work closely with the PR agency on the planning and delivery of PR campaigns to generate coverage of Charleston’s festivals and year-round programme of events, cultivating existing relationships with local and national press.
• Write and distribute press releases for campaigns or announcements.
• Manage press visits across the programme.
• Work with external partners, speakers, and sponsors to identify opportunities for cross-promotion.

Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Marketing and Communications Manager: Exhibitions and Development to optimise cross-promotion opportunities, drive membership across the programme, and maximise visitor engagement with Charleston’s offer.
• Share management of Charleston’s website, ensuring it is always up to date, engaging, and reflective of the organisation.
• Manage the communications calendar in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Manager: Exhibitions and Development.
• With the Events Manager, organise and support photoshoots and film shoots.

General duties

• With oversight from the Head of Programme and Events, plan and manage budgets and expenditure for marketing campaigns.
• Ensure all data management and communications are compliant with GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act (2018).
• Keep up to date with emerging audience and marketing trends and share insights with colleagues.
• Build and maintain relationships and networks within the cultural sector, particularly across publishing, festivals, and live events.
• Work a flexible pattern during our programme when required to help manage content creation, press, and photography.
• Carry out other duties that may arise to fulfil the main objectives of the post and the aims of Charleston.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder will be expected to take on additional tasks when required; these tasks will be in keeping with the general profile of the role.

Charleston is committed to equal and equitable opportunities, and to becoming a workforce that represents the diversity of our community. We positively encourage applications from Disabled people, Global Majority people, and working-class people, as people from these groups are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

• Minimum three years’ experience in a similar role.
• Experience planning and delivering marketing campaigns that drive revenue, ticket sales, and memberships, while taking an analytical approach to campaign performance.
• Knowledge of digital marketing platforms, analytics tools, and user experience considerations.
• Strong understanding of audience development and commercial growth within a cultural or events context.
• Knowledge of the publishing landscape, including upcoming publications, literary prizes, and literature festivals.
• Understanding of the cultural zeitgeist, with a willingness to contribute creatively to artistic programming.
• Experience of working with ticketing, EPOS, and CRM systems.
• A solid understanding of print and digital design production processes.
• Excellent copywriting and content creation skills, including press releases and campaign storytelling, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to maintain consistent branding and messaging across all channels, including exhibitions, events, café, and website.
• A comprehensive understanding of operational marketing with the ability to juggle short-term operational pressures with long-term priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and deadlines simultaneously.

Desirable skills and experience

• Graphic design skills and experience using software such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Experience of working in an arts-related organisation or charity.
• Experience of audience data collection and analytics.
• Experience using CMS such as WordPress.
• Experience of digital marketing campaigns.