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Associate Marketing Strategy Director

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Marketing & Communications, Operations
Bentonville, AR, USA
USD 85k-86,300 / year
Posted on Jul 9, 2025

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Job Description:

Position Title: Associate Marketing Strategy Director

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Division: Museum Relations

Department: Communications

Reports to: Senior Marketing Strategy Director

Compensation Range: $85,000-$86,300

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Senior Marketing Strategy Director, the Associate Marketing Strategy Director is a lead strategist who collaboratively works across a full team of brand communications, content, creative, production, and digital media specialists to develop market-informed plans that successfully position Crystal Bridges and the Momentary to a range of audiences and stakeholders.

The Associate Director is a critical and hands-on liaison, trusted thought partner and advisor to internal and external stakeholders in the development of Marketing & Communications programs, helping cull ideas and tactics into thoughtful strategic plans.

The Associate Director is an authority on overall brand strategy and champions institutional efforts to embrace a customer experience (CX) and digital-first mindset.

Principle Responsibilities

  • Leads the development of campaign strategies for exhibitions, music and performing arts, public programs, ticketed events, and brand initiatives. Contributes to annual, multi-year, and ad hoc Marketing and Communications plans that support institutional goals and priorities.
  • Oversees the museum’s paid advertising program, including the development and implementation of media strategies across digital, print, out-of-home, radio, and emerging channels. Manages vendor relationships and media buys, ensuring campaigns are optimized, on budget, and aligned with institutional objectives.
  • Directly manages the Marketing Coordinator, providing guidance and oversight to ensure effective communication and coordination among internal teams and external project stakeholders.
  • Serves on the department’s leadership team as an advisor and brand strategy checkpoint for departmental teams including PR and Media Relations, Creative, Digital, and Operations teams, ensuring alignment of priorities and activities.
  • Leads the development of strategic marketing plans, including audience personas, barriers to entry, positioning, strategies, and tactical approaches. Collaborates closely with the Senior Director and project managers to translate these plans into detailed project documentation, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Maintains a strong understanding of the Crystal Bridges and Momentary brands and connects their strengths and differentiators to strategic efforts such as go-to-market plans and campaign briefs, grounding all work in research and insight.
  • Helps develop, evaluate, and improve cross-functional processes, workflows, and collaboration practices across departments.
  • Collaborates with key vendors and external stakeholders such as agencies, community partners, and artist representatives, and serves as the primary liaison for select relationships.
  • Supports department budget planning and management, including forecasting, reporting, and monthly reconciliations.
  • Leads reporting and analysis for designated marketing activities and offers recommendations to improve performance.
  • Champions the institution’s adoption of a customer experience–focused approach to brand management, marketing strategy, and portfolio planning.
  • Serves as backup to the Senior Marketing Strategy Director as needed.

Qualifications and Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business management, arts, or a related field
  • Proven ability to develop and execute strategic marketing plans aligned with organizational goals
  • Strong analytical skills with experience using data and insights to inform marketing and audience development strategies
  • Experience creating and applying audience personas and identifying barriers to engagement
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Commitment to the highest ethical standards, confidentiality, and professional integrity
  • Strong organizational and collaboration skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders
  • Knowledge of museum operations, the arts industry, and arts marketing is a plus
  • Passion for the museum’s mission as a force for social good and economic development

Work Experience

  • Minimum of five years of experience in communications, public relations, or marketing, with demonstrated expertise in strategic marketing, campaign management, or audience development
  • Experience managing paid advertising programs and vendor relationships is preferred
  • Agency experience is a plus

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Physical Demands: In the work environments described below, position requires utilizing a computer and telephone for prolonged periods of time, interpersonal and written conversation with others, transporting (up to 10 lbs.).
  • Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment and in institution spaces. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Reasonable accommodations will be reviewed and evaluated should exhibitions exceed noise levels. Some overnight travel may be necessary.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.