The Communications Manager is responsible for the ownership and implementation of Des Moines Performing Arts' internal and external communication strategies, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging that aligns with the organization's mission and goals.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee communication strategies that highlight DMPA's mission and community impact.
• Maintain and manage an organizational communications calendar to ensure timely, thoughtful, personalized, and coordinated messaging.
• Align all communications with the brand's voice, tone, and positioning.
• Craft and share impactful narratives to enhance DMPA's reputation and foster community engagement across platforms, including social media, print, and the website.
• Lead communication efforts during sensitive or crisis situations, ensuring accurate and transparent messaging; serve as a key member of the Safety and Security Team.
• Write, edit, and proofread content for consistency and accuracy, including event programs, donor communications, marketing collateral, and press releases.
• Collaborate with Programming, Development, Education, and Operations to identify media opportunities and ensure consistent messaging across initiatives.
• Represent DMPA effectively as a spokesperson in media opportunities, speaking engagements, and public appearances.
• Identify and secure speaking opportunities for DMPA representatives with business groups, community organizations, and affinity groups.
• Package institutional stories to pitch to local, regional, and national media, focusing on topics such as economic impact, education programs (e.g., Applause, IHSMTA, Summer camps), staff, and board news.
• Oversee and monitor branding standards to ensure consistency in all communication mediums.
• Develop and implement internal communication standards to improve clarity and alignment across departments.
• Participate on committees for special events, such as Fall Kickoff, Season Announcements, and company gatherings.
• Support institutional storytelling to build connections with diverse audiences.
• Other duties as assigned

Critical Success Factors (essential skills and behaviors a person must regularly demonstrate for job success)

• Initiative
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate productive relationships
• Outstanding writing and editing skills
• Leadership skills
• Consultative and problem solving skills
• Understanding the characteristics, principles and application of all communication mediums
• Basic crisis communication skills
• Organizational and priority skills
• Has influence and is persuasive
• Goal oriented
• Ability to multi-task
• Negotiation skills
• Able to work effectively in a collaborative, team environment
• Computer skills using Microsoft Office, Illustrator and Photoshop plus other software programs

At DMPA we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.