Marketing Manager

The Garde Arts Center, Southeastern Connecticut’s home for the performing arts, seeks adynamic Marketing Manager to implement marketing and communications initiatives that grow audiences, support ticket sales, and strengthen community engagement. This is a hands-on role focused on design, campaign execution, content development, and coordination across departments and vendors.

The Marketing Manager works collaboratively with leadership and staff to create and carry out strategies and marketing plans for performances, cinema, education programs, rentals, and institutional initiatives.

The Marketing Manager focus is sales, to drive patronage and revenue sources. Storytelling and adaptability are essential. This full-time role requires ensuring efficiency, timeliness, budget adherence, and high-quality standards across all productions, and events, including rentals, community collaborations, and promotions.

The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, values teamwork, and brings advertising expertise alongside a passion for community engagement, economic development in New London and southeastern Connecticut, cinema, and the performing and visual arts.

Reporting to the Managing Director and serving as a key administrative staff member, this role acts as a liaison within the institution. The successful candidate will be a strong influencer (pun intended, content creator is a plus) and negotiator, self-motivated, and committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive workplace culture that encourages creativity, collaboration, continuous learning, and diversity.

POSITION BACKGROUND

The Garde Arts Center operates with a small but impactful team of fewer than ten full-time staff members, including leadership and administrative roles. The organization is supported by parttime house managers, volunteer ushers, and on-call stage crew. The Executive Director and Director of Development & Community Outreach have provided long-standing leadership for over three decades.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

DESIGNER

 Proficiency in design for all marketing channels

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR ALL MARKETING CHANNELS

 Manage budget and reporting

 Execute marketing campaigns for performances, programs, and institutional initiatives

 Coordinate campaign timelines, deliverables, and production schedules

 Implement email marketing, direct mail, and advertising placements

 Assist with promotional copywriting and campaign materials

DIGITAL & COMMUNICATIONS

 Maintain website content and digital marketing platforms (Short-form video production

and SEO knowledge a must)

 Create and distribute email communications and promotional content (Email

Automation)

 Managing social media organic content (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)

 Coordinating paid digital engagement with contractors or vendors

 Draft press releases and support media outreach logistics

 Maintain marketing contact lists and campaign records

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT

 Execute audience development and promotional outreach initiatives, including but not limited to Special Events on and off premises

 Assist with audience research, surveys, and reporting

 Support community partnerships and outreach activities

PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT

 Coordinate sponsor recognition and promotional fulfillment

 Support Development staff with marketing components of sponsorships and fundraising

initiatives

 Assist with cross-promotional partnerships and community marketing opportunities

BOX OFFICE & PATRON COMMUNICATIONS

 Collaboration with Box Office staff on promotional offers and ticketing communications

 Assist with patron-facing messaging and in-venue promotional materials

PRODUCTION & VENDOR COORDINATION

 Coordinate production and distribution of print collateral and advertising

 Maintain marketing calendars and production schedules

 Liaise with designers, printers, and media vendors

ADMINISTRATIVE & DATA SUPPORT

 Maintain campaign documentation and marketing records

 Support CRM communications and audience segmentation

 Track campaign performance metrics as directed

QUALIFICATIONS 

REQUIRED

 Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Arts Administration, or related field,

or equivalent experience

 3–5 years of professional marketing or communications experience in sales

 Experience executing multi-channel marketing campaigns

 Strong writing, editing, and organizational skills

 Experience coordinating vendors and managing multiple deadlines

 Proficiency with email marketing platforms, CRM systems, and website content updates

 Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

PREFERRED

 Experience in performing arts, nonprofit, or cultural organizations

 Familiarity with Patron Manager, Salesforce, or similar CRM tools

 Experience with WordPress and Google Ad Platform

 Experience with My Emma or comparable email marketing platforms

 Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite or similar design tools

 Working knowledge of META Business

 Interest in community engagement and arts programming

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

 Collaborative, detail-oriented, and adaptable

 Strong project management and communication skills

 Self-motivated and comfortable working in a small-team environment

 Enthusiasm for the performing arts and diverse audiences

 Availability to work nights and weekends as required.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

 Independent thinker with a sense of humor and creative problem-solving skills.

 Ability to engage effectively with diverse individuals and topics.

 Detail-oriented with a passion for the arts.

 Collaborative team player who can manage multiple complex projects and deadlines in a

fast-paced environment.

 Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and public relations skills.

 Flexible and adaptable work style, with the temperament to work directly with artists.

 Strong leadership skills capable of galvanizing a team.

THE MISSION

The Garde Arts Center is dedicated to engaging, enriching, entertaining, educating, and inspiring

the greater New London County region by:

 Protecting, operating, and enhancing the historic Garde Theatre and its facilities as a

central cultural and educational hub.

 Presenting top-quality performing arts and film events.

 Supporting community arts organizations.

 Providing educational opportunities through the arts.

 Strengthening community interaction and vitality.

COMMUNITY

Located in downtown New London, the Garde Arts Center serves a vibrant waterfront city of28,000 residents and a regional market of approximately 250,000 within a 20-minute drive. Thecity hosts Connecticut College, the US Coast Guard Academy, and major regional employersand attractions including Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center,US Navy Submarine Base, Electric Boat Division/General Dynamics, Pfizer, and two majorcasinos—Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

The Garde is a respected economic catalyst and institutional partner for the city, region, and state, with corporate partners such as Atlantic Broadband, The Day newspaper, Dominion Energy, and Olde Mystic Village.

HISTORY

Founded in 1985, the nonprofit Garde Arts Center owns and operates the historic 1,420-seatGarde Theater, the 100-seat Oasis Room, and adjacent office buildings housing offices, galleries,storefronts, and storage.

The Garde Theater, opened in 1926 as a vaudeville and movie palace designed by architect Arland Johnson, was celebrated as one of New England’s finest theaters. It has served as a venue for vaudeville, film, and performing arts for decades, including hosting the Eastern CTSymphony Orchestra since 1987.

A major restoration campaign from 1993 to 1999 revitalized the theater’s interior and lobbies. In2014, a community campaign upgraded the cinema with state-of-the-art 4K digital projection and surround sound, branding it as "The Garde Cinema - the real movie palace experience," showcasing contemporary, independent, and classic films.

PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW

The Garde presents a diverse array of performing arts including national Broadway tours,headliner entertainment, dance, opera, family events, and author appearances. It also featurescontemporary, classic, and independent films, movie premieres, and serves as a venue forpolitical debates, educational forums, civic gatherings, graduations, fundraising events,conferences, weddings, receptions, and private functions.

Constituent presenters include the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Ballet, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Salt Marsh Opera, New London Public Schools, and other local arts organizations and schools.

The P:ACE initiative (Partners: Arts, Community & Education) strategically connects Garde programs with artists, students, and community and social service organizations.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Zembruski, ManagingDirector, at jenz@gardearts.org. Please include "Marketing Manager Application" in the subjectline. Applications will be accepted until June 9, 2026.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The Garde Arts Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along withbenefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Additional details will be provided during the interview process.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE

The Garde Arts Center fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and creative work environment that values diversity, continuous learning, and community engagement. Staff members are encouraged to contribute ideas and grow professionally.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The Garde Arts Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This position is based in New London; CT. Occasional travel may be required for industry events or training. Remote work options are limited due to the hands-on nature of the role.

CONTACT

For questions about the position, please contact Jennifer Zembruski, Managing Director, at jenz@gardearts.org.

THE GARDE ARTS CENTER

Business Address: 325 State Street, New London, CT

Website: https://gardearts.org 

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming a new member to our dedicated team!