GENOVESE VANDERHOOF & ASSOCIATES

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Madison, WI

The Position:                 

Overture Center for the Arts seeks a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to lead the organization’s marketing and communications functions. Overture Center for the Arts operates under a shared leadership structure rooted in collaborative decision making, communication, and transparency. This is a unique opportunity for a motivated marketing leader to shape the future of a multi-venue, world class performing arts center working within a collaborate management model.

As a collaborative member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), reporting to the Board of Directors, the CMO will actively participate in crafting the strategic direction and organizational vision. This position will be key in developing, implementing, and advancing the Organization’s strategic plan.  This position will continue to enhance the mission, vision, and values of the Overture to by cultivating strong relationships with external stakeholders, and leading Overture’s marketing, communications, digital media, and ticketing functions.   

The CMO at Overture plays a strategic role in the overall direction of the Overture Center. The incumbent must have familiarity with the performing arts industry to be considered as a complementary Leadership Team Member. The ELT includes the Chief Artistic Experiences Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Equity and Innovation Officer, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Business Officer, and Chief Operations Officer. 

The CMO will create and implement the necessary strategies to ensure achievement of Overture’s earned revenue goals (more than 50% of Overture’s total revenue), partly derived by an annual Broadway season.   Responsibilities include developing, evaluating, and managing staff, whose functions include subscription and single ticket sales campaigns, advertising, audience development, publicity and public relations, special promotions, web-based marketing, sales forecasting, budget oversight, brand awareness, community partnerships, and ticket office.  

The marketing team includes directors of marketing, and communications, digital media and ticketing, graphic designer, marketing coordinator, and a ticket office staff which includes both full-time and variable employees.

We seek an individual with 7 to 10 years of marketing and public relations experience in cultural marketing (with at least 4 years of senior management), preferably in a performing arts facility or a major performing arts organization; a bachelor’s or master’s degree; knowledge of and proficiency with ticketing databases (Tessitura) and Excel. The position requires strong interpersonal, managerial, analytical, and organizational skills and a strong track record of sales.  

Background:

The Overture Center’s annual budget is between $21-$30 million with a staff complement of 79 full-time and 122 part-time/variable, not including stagehands.  

In 1998 local businessman W. Jerome Frautschi made a multi-million-dollar commitment to the development of a cultural center in downtown Madison, creating the Overture Foundation to resolve space needs of the city’s major arts organizations. Today the Overture Center is a 380,000 sq. ft. facility that is home to ten resident companies.  In addition, it presents more than 200 performances, art exhibitions, and educational and community events a year. Located near the State Capitol and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Overture Center is a stunning landmark in the heart of Madison’s thriving cultural arts district.        

Designed by internationally renowned architect Cesar Pelli, Overture Center for the Arts contains Overture Hall (2,255 seats) with its soaring glass lobby, the Playhouse (347 thrust), the Wisconsin and Rotunda Studios (150 and 100), the amphitheatre-style Rotunda Stage (350), the Wisconsin Academy’s James Watrous Gallery, four community visual art galleries, the historic Capitol Theatre (Rapp & Rapp, 1928, 1,089 seats) with its Grand Barton Organ, and the Promenade Hall (252), Terrace, and Lounge. 

In addition to the ten resident companies, Overture hosts national and international touring artists, as well as hundreds of local artists, and engages nearly half a million people annually in educational and artistic experiences.   

Overture Center is committed to engaging the community in the arts and provides extraordinary experiences for everyone who shares in this remarkable community asset.  Every member of the Overture team tries to maintain the highest standards of quality and customer service in every action, performing in an environment of proactive team effort, outstanding customer service, active brand advancement, and passion for mission fulfillment.

Application Process:  Salary range $130-140K; benefits package includes medical insurance, opt in vision and dental, voluntary 401(k) retirement plan with a match from Overture Center, generous paid vacation and holidays.

Deadline for applications: Friday, June 17, 2022.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter with a list of references to: 

Margaret Genovese

Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates

gvamargaret@aol.com

For additional information: www.overturecenter.org, www.genovesevanderhoof.com.