Social Media & Marketing Manager

Role Social Media & Marketing Manager

Reporting to WOF CEO and Artistic Director

Location Remote / London & Oxfordshire

Period of Engagement 11th March – 31st October

Fee £7,500 (1 – 2 days a week, full time in August) (£25,000 pro rata)

About Waterperry Opera Festival

Waterperry Opera Festival is a unique and innovative opera festival hosted at the beautiful Waterperry House & Gardens in Oxfordshire. The festival offers high-quality, accessible, and socially relevant work, created and performed by a diverse company, which bridges the gap between artists and audiences. Our vision is for more people to try opera, be enriched by it, and think it is for them. Please visit www.waterperryoperafestival.co.uk for more information about our work and 2024 Summer Festival.

Overview of the Role

We are looking for a creative content designer and marketing manager.

Job Summary

The purpose of this role, as one of the small core management team also operating outside the festival period, is to design create and deploy quality content to build a growing loyal audience and supporter group (members and donors) through a combination of advertising, social media, and direct marketing channels, as well as maintain the company’s own content on its website and in print. The current marketing strategy identifies the importance of continuing to increase awareness of Waterperry Opera Festival in the surrounding area and amongst operagoers. The mission of the company is to bring opera to new audiences, and this is a key performance indicator for the marketing plan. However, the Festival is also building a loyal audience of music and opera lovers and this group is to be nurtured, engaged, and increased. Critical skills for the job are the ability to design, create and deploy high quality content in a variety of media, working self-sufficiently with input from the Marketing committee and under the direction of the CEO. Working knowledge of targeting, data segmentation and the analytics of SEO are also required. During the summer Festival period the marketing manager is in residence at Waterperry House, and there may be a marketing intern to support who will need to be supervised and directed. The role reports to the CEO. Mentoring from one of the Trustees with a marketing background is also offered.

What does Success look like?

The marketing materials should reflect the quality of the productions, values of the company, and conform

to marketing ethical best practice.

Targets may be set for any of these key performance indicators in any season.

1. Ticket sales (from box office data)

2. Number of ticket sales to people new to opera (from survey data)

3. Number of friend sign ups (from company data)

4. Advanced sales of food and beverage packages (from box office data)

5. Programme advertising sales (from company data)

Role Details

Although channel selection may vary over time with the addition and subtraction of channels, the key

responsibilities are (but not limited to) the following activities:

Social Media

• Develop, design, and manage a programme of social media content to inform audiences of the festival’s experience and activities as well as expanding our audience and online community.

Website and Email Development

• Keep the organisation’s website up to date, creating and deploying engaging content, ensuring that regular maintenance on current and older pages is conducted to make the site clear, factually accurate and easy to use.
• Set up, test, and refine SEO & Google AdWords to continuously improve search results, efficiently bringing the relevant content to each user when browsing.

Video Editing

• Design, edit and create video content on your own, as well as liaising with a videographer for the company’s YouTube & social channels, including interview insights, short performances, education films.
• Edit and repurpose existing material for use on YouTube other and social channels.
• Manage and maintain a library of footage for future use and cost-effective video production

Digital and Print Design

• Design and create digital graphics for the festival’s productions to be shared on website, social media and on other event databases as well as designing social media posts.
• Produce digital adverts / brochures to be shared the festival’s online channels, by email or placed with other publications/organisations, which showcases the festival’s work or promoting future projects.
• Design and print marketing materials including flyers, posters, and banners to be shared where required.
• Produce the festival’s annual printed programme – this includes design and copy.

Advertising

• Maintain and develop reciprocal marketing relationships with current partnerships, national, and local organisations through email.
• Create and develop advertising templates to be tailored to a variety of channels, from national and local publications, society and groups, social media, and other online channels.

Marketing Responsibilities

• Identify and pitch prospective commercial partners to raise Programme sponsorship and advertising sales income.
• Keep the Operational Marketing Plan up to date in line with the company’s short- and long-term priorities.
• Manage, allocate and maintain the marketing budget.
• Prepare monthly marketing reviews for the Marketing Sub-committee to get input and advice on key issues and opportunities, confirm progress and budget status, including an end of season review and recommendations for improvements to future Marketing Strategy and Operational Plans.
• Prepare quarterly marketing reports for the Artistic Director and CEO as well as the festival Board of Trustees.
• Manage a Marketing Intern during the 2024 summer rehearsal period.

WOF Core Team Responsibilities

• Attend the WOF monthly Core Team meetings to support company-wide planning and strategy development.
• Attend selected in-person WOF meetings as agreed in advance with Guy Verrall-Withers.
• Take part in other WOF events where required/available e.g. Festival talks, fundraising events, donor receptions.
• As part of the WOF Core Team, support the setup and pack down of Waterperry House and Gardens in areas within the Contractor’s remit before and after the Festival period. This may extend to other tasks within reason.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

– Experience creating and implementing marketing and communication strategies.

– Experience managing a business social media account and creating publicity content.

– Proficiency in the use of Adobe Suite, Photoshop and/or similar software.

– Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including excellent copywriting skills.

– Strong administrative skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office.

– Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.

– Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

– A keen eye for detail and design aesthetic.

– Willingness to learn new skills through both formal and on-the-job training.

Desirable Skills and Experience

– Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience working in a communications, marketing, or digital marketing role.

– Experience managing website content and digital marketing analytics.

– Experience of using Mailchimp or similar e-newsletter software.

– Video editing skills.

– Demonstrable interest in the Performing Arts and/or creative sector.

– Experience working in a small team within the Arts or for a non-profit organisation.

– Interest in opera/classical music.