Director of Marketing, Communications & Visitor Experience

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) seeks a dynamic Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience to lead its marketing and public engagement strategies, increase attendance and satisfaction among its diverse visitors and the art-going public, and oversee the continuum of marketing, communication and digital engagement strategies, including retail operations. 

The ideal candidate is a people and community-centric, innovative marketing and communications leader with 10+ year demonstrated track record of understanding diverse audiences and cross-cultural marketing and digital engagement that results in the broadening and diversifying of an audience base. The leader will bring destination marketing experience and a holistic understanding of how all elements work together – communications, digital strategy, brand, visitor experience and services, enterprise activities to support OMCA’s distinctive mission, values and goals. A BA in a relevant field such as marketing, education, business, or nonprofit management or commensurate years of experience is required. 

Established in 1969, OMCA is an interdisciplinary museum and public gathering space, dedicated to the art, history, and natural science of California, and home to a collection of more than 1.9 million objects.  OMCA’s exhibitions and programs are carefully constructed to present its collections such that they reveal the factors shaping California’s unique character and identify.  Located in downtown Oakland, OMCA  is one block from the Lake Merritt BART Station.  In the year preceding its March 2020 closure due to Covid-19, more than 25,000 K-12 students experienced OMCA’s programs and more than 350,000 people visited the museum, 30% of whom were first-time visitors and 56% of whom are people of color.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Council, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Visitor Engagement  will be expected to provide collaborative leadership to the overall institution, ensuring the Museum’s vitality and success through active communication, problem-solving, and inclusive decision-making; oversee marketing, communications, promotional and partnership strategies to attract diverse target audiences; and oversee a comprehensive external communications program that clearly expresses OMCA’s values of justice, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, and ensures that these values are reflected and internalized in all Museum activities as well as supported in strategic institutional goals.

The successful Director will be deeply committed to and have a passion for the Museum’s mission, work and values of equity, inclusion and antiracism. The Director will be a team builder who possess a coaching and mentoring leadership style and fosters a culture of ongoing curiosity, growth, learning creativity, and community engagement. The commitment to working collaboratively within a co-leadership model in an anti-racist organization and the eagerness to work closely at every level of the organization is paramount to the success of the new Director.  The complete position description can be found here.

OMCA has engaged The Byers Group to conduct this national recruitment for its new Director of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience.  To apply for this position, please electronically submit your resume and letter of interest to The Byers Group at:  dir.mar.comm@byersgroupca.com. Your letter of interest should outline why you are interested in joining OMCA and address your qualifications in the context of the executive profile. Your letter of interest should also provide two examples of why you would be a strong candidate and the key attributes you would bring to this position.  Application materials received by July 9, 2021, will receive first consideration. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.  The position is open until filled. 

Confidential inquiries are encouraged and can be directed to: Ms. Stella Marks, 909-615-5896, stella@byersgroupca.com.