Brand Strategy & Institutional Voice

• Help shape and steward the evolving Ryman Arts brand, voice, and storytelling strategy

• Partner with the Executive Director and leadership team to develop messaging that reflects organizational growth, excellence, and innovation

• Guide consistency in tone, visual identity, and communications across all public touchpoints

• Help position Ryman Arts as a premier, forward-thinking arts education organization

Brand Refresh & Website Initiative

• Serve as internal communications lead for the organization’s upcoming brand refresh and website redesign

• Collaborate with external creative agencies, designers, photographers, videographers, and web partners

• Help oversee brand implementation, rollout, and long-term stewardship

• Ensure the refreshed brand reflects accessibility, inclusivity, creativity, and organizational excellence

Content, Storytelling & Digital Communications

• Oversee organizational storytelling across web, social media, email, print, video, campaigns, press, and presentations

• Develop compelling content that supports student recruitment, donor engagement, alumni pride, and public visibility

• Partner with program staff to elevate educational storytelling and communicate student and alumni impact

• Develop communications strategies that strengthen alumni engagement, participation, mentorship, and long-term connection to Ryman Arts

• Guide development of multimedia storytelling, including photography, video, and digital campaigns

• Oversee editorial planning and content calendars across departments and initiatives

• Establish and monitor key communications metrics, including website, email, social media, and campaign performance, to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making

• Develop and support press materials, media outreach, and earned media opportunities that elevate Ryman Arts’ visibility and impact

Development & Advancement Communications

• Partner closely with the Director of Development, Development & Communications Coordinator, and Alumni Engagement Specialist on donor-facing storytelling and campaign communications

• Support fundraising campaigns, sponsorship materials, donor stewardship, annual reports, and major institutional messaging

• Help strengthen donor confidence through clear, cohesive, mission-centered communications

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and supervision for communications-related staff, projects, and creative contractors as assigned

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Education, Development, Alumni Engagement, Operations, and Executive leadership

• Build communication systems and workflows that support collaboration and consistency across teams

• Develop and manage the annual communications budget in collaboration with organizational leadership, ensuring effective allocation of resources across communications, initiatives, campaigns, vendors, and strategic priorities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in communications, brand strategy, marketing, editorial, public relations, or related fields

• Strong storytelling and editorial instincts with excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience leading integrated communications initiatives across digital and print platforms

• Experience managing creative projects, campaigns, websites, and/or brand initiatives

• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution

• Strong visual sensibility and understanding of brand systems and audience engagement

• Collaborative, emotionally intelligent, and highly organized

• Experience in arts, education, nonprofit, cultural, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred

Preferred Experience

• Brand refresh or rebranding experience

• Website redesign/development collaboration

• Photography/video direction or multimedia storytelling

• Executive communications or thought leadership support

• Press and media relations experience, including story development, media outreach, earned media placement, and strategic promotional partnerships

• Familiarity with CRM/email marketing systems and analytics

• Experience supervising staff or creative teams