Marketing Manager

DESCRIPTION:

The Pickford Film Center, founded in 1998, (https://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org) is a two-screen independent nonprofit cinema operating 365 days a year, in Bellingham, Washington (https://cob.org/visiting/about-visiting). The Pickford Film Center will open a second, three-screen venue in August 2025.

The Marketing Manager is required to resourcefully engage current and new audiences using strategies that span traditional print relations, print marketing, social media, digital, e-news, direct mail, and in-person community engagement.

The Marketing Manager reports to the Executive Director and works closely with all management staff promoting and supporting all Pickford programs. This includes regular weekly film runs, annual Pickford film festivals, film series, special events, membership campaigns, development, and education.

OVERVIEW:

The Marketing Manager defines the style of the organization and shepherds the brand. They will be asked to create and enact an ongoing marketing plan for Pickford Film Center that builds on already successful endeavors, ensuring a growing audience for PFC’s films, film series and special events, informing the existing audience, membership, and greater community about PFC films, events, and news through regular communication.  This position requires creativity and experience to devise innovative approaches to connect with new audiences and must commit to gaining knowledge of and connection to the local Whatcom community by living in the Bellingham area.  This is not a remote position.

The job is wide-ranging and supported by a tight-knit, caring, engaged, and passionate team of coworkers who are invested in the success of Pickford Film Center.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintains the organization style guide.
Manages brand effectiveness and updates.
Devises and implements campaigns for programming in regular, weekly consultation with Program Director.
Tracks box office presales and devises responsive marketing strategies as needed.
Stays up to date with national box office projections as they relate to Pickford programming.
Produces a weekly house trailer of events and items of note.
Manages the curation of trailer playlists and creation of series trailers in consultation with programming and tech staff.
Schedules, edits, and sends weekly E-news in conjunction with other staff members.
Keeps social media current and effective.
Develops effective local, regional, and national press relationships.
Acts as initial organization contact for press.
Writes, submits, and follows up on press releases and stories to local and regional media to ensure placement in calendars and news features.
Devises and implements annually, a marketing plan for the Doctober film festival that includes a printed program, digital, print, and radio advertising signs, and banners, contracting with an outside graphic designer.
Keeps the website looking sharp and up-to-date.
Oversees and books advertising (print and digital.)
Oversees all posters (printed and digital) as well as collateral materials for series, festivals, member drives, and special events and ensures lobby posters are up to date and accurate.
Coordinates local poster distribution.
Acts as an MC, host, spokesperson or face of organization from time to time.
Interacts with other businesses and community groups.
Sources and orders promotional merchandise for sale and give away.
Builds and manages an annual marketing budget, and stays within budget once it is approved by the board.
Engages interns and manages effective use of interns and volunteers as needed.
Regularly attends screenings and events to assess audience reactions and engagement.
Attends weekly staff meeting and regularly meets one on one with Executive Director.
Writes a monthly board report.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Three + years of experience in a similar marketing position with demonstrated success.
Demonstrable understanding of marketing principles and practices, including digital marketing and social media best practices.
Knowledge of the film industry, particularly film exhibition.
Passion for film.
Excellent writing and speaking skills.
Facility with marketing tools and software.
Excellent copy-writing and editing skills.
Experience working with graphic designers.
Experience booking, ordering, and delivering jobs to commercial print presses.
Demonstrated good project management skills.
Demonstrated ability to set and meet weekly deadlines.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES:

A sense of humor
Comfort communicating with a live audience.
Ease within a collaborative work process.
Appreciates and understands graphic design.
Ability understanding and respecting the audience perspective.
Gracefully operates under pressure to meet deadlines.
Honors other points of view.
Self motivated
Creative thinker
Attention to detail

COMPENSATION:

$49,000 – $52,000 depending on experience, full medical, PTO, Employee Assistance Program, parking.

ANTICIPATED START: August 15, 2025 for half-time orientation with current Marketing Manager through first weekend in October. Full-time thereafter. Position requires being in the office and is not remote.

TO APPLY: Send resume and cover letter to employment@pickfordfilmcenter.org. explain your interest in the job and confidence in your ability to fill the position. Add any other relevant information. All applications are confidential.