Job Description

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

A leading force in Boston's cultural ecosystem and a key civic arts anchor, Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) has supported thousands of individual artists, small organizations, and performing arts companies, who add depth and dimension to the Boston arts ethos. Through residencies and programming, Boston Center for the Arts serves as an epicenter for an expanding cohort of artists working across all disciplines and has catalyzed careers by providing fertile ground for experimentation and artistic risk-taking.

Situated at the intersection of artists, community and civic leadership, BCA plays a unique role in advancing equitable access to creative space while contributing to Boston's long-term cultural vitality. As BCA engages in a period of strategic and physical planning in partnership with the City of Boston, the organization is deepening its focus on institutional clarity, public value, and sustainable impact.

Boston Center for the Arts is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of Greater Boston. People of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Racial equity commitment: Black Lives Matter. It is incumbent upon us to act accordingly and to identify those ways that we, as a leading cultural organization, can stop perpetuating pervasive and systemic white supremacist practices and lead through our actions. Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is committed to doing the hard work of dismantling even the most subtle forms of white supremacy in our organization, in our practices, and in the work we do to help make Boston a place where ALL artists can live and thrive.

POSITION CONCEPT

Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) seeks a Communications & Public Relations Manager to manage the day-to-day execution of BCA's public-facing communications and audience engagement efforts while contributing to the organization's evolving institutional narrative during a period of strategic planning and growth with the City of Boston. This role is responsible for the quality, consistency, and clarity of BCA's voice and storytelling across digital platforms, press, and community-facing channels, ensuring that artists, programs, fundraising priorities and institutional initiatives are communicated clearly, consistently, and compellingly. This position reports to the CEO.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Manage and execute day-to-day communications across social media, email marketing, and the BCA website, supporting programmatic, institutional, and fundraising priorities
• Develop, publish, and schedule artist- and program-centered content that highlights residencies, exhibitions, performances, and public programs, organizational impact, and opportunities for engagement and support
• Maintain consistency with BCA's brand voice, visual identity, accessibility standards, and equity commitments across all platforms
• Collaborate with internal teams to translate programs and initiatives into clear, engaging public-facing messaging and gather inputs, coordinate reviews, and support timely approvals

EVENT PROMOTION & AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT

• Execute promotional communications for exhibitions, performances, public programs, and campus activations in coordination with the Marketing & Communications team
• Support audience-facing communications for venue rentals in coordination with the Rentals team to increase visibility and bookings and align with Marketing-led lead-generation efforts
• Support audience development strategies for artists, renters, donors, and the general public, with attention to equity, access, and inclusion
• Track and analyze audience engagement across channels to inform strategy and improve reach and impact and summarize trends with practical recommendations to improve editorial content and outreach

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MEDIA

• Execute media relations efforts, including maintaining press lists and media databases and serving as the day-to-day press contact for routine inquiries
• Draft press releases, pitches, and media materials in coordination with the Marketing Team (for campaign alignment)
• Coordinate interviews, press inquiries, and coverage related to BCA programs, artists, leadership, and major organizational initiatives and track outreach and outcomes

WEBSITE & ANALYTICS

• Own website content management, including updates, new pages, accessibility basics, and content accuracy using the CMS, completing basic accessibility checks, and ensuring content is current
• Monitor and report on website analytics, engagement metrics, and campaign performance and share monthly highlights plus actionable recommendations
• Support SEO best practices and content optimization to improve visibility and engagement; coordinate with Marketing on campaign landing pages, CTAs, and conversion-focused testing
• Working closely with colleagues across Artistic Programs, Advancement, Rentals, and Operations, the Communications & Engagement Manager brings BCA's brand and stories to life through social media, email, web content, and public relations, supporting visibility, audience development, access, and philanthropic engagement.

COORDINATION & SYSTEMS

• Coordinate project timelines, assets, and production workflows for communications initiatives
• Maintain shared calendars, databases, and project management systems related to communications and engagement
• Support cross-departmental coordination to ensure timely delivery of communications materials

OTHER

• Support all BCA programs and special events as requested
• Attendance at occasional evening and weekend events will be required
• Other duties as assigned

KEY OUTPUTS

• Social media content and channel plans (editorial + promotional posts)
• Email newsletters and targeted email communications
• Press releases and media materials (including pitches and media kits, as needed)
• Website pages and updates and content QA (accuracy/accessibility basics)
• Event promotions and audience-facing assets (program descriptions, access info, "what to expect" content)
• Engagement and performance reports (monthly engagement, website, and media coverage reporting)

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge & Experience

• 35 years of experience in communications, public relations, and/or audience engagement and/or digital content, preferably in the arts, nonprofit, or cultural sector
• Experience managing social media, email marketing platforms, and website content creating, publishing, and managing content across social media, email marketing platforms, and website/CMS updates, including publishing calendars and coordinating inputs/approvals
• Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to communicate about artists, programs, and community impact clearly and compellingly
• Experience drafting press releases and supporting media relations (press lists, pitches, interview coordination) is a plus
• Familiarity with analytics tools and using data to inform communications work (email/web/social reporting) and to summarize insights and recommend practical content improvements
• Experience working across teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience with CMS platforms such as WordPress is a plus
• Familiarity with basic accessibility best practices for digital content is a plus

Personal Qualities

• Respects and values diverse perspectives
• A positive, nimble, and creative thinker with a proven ability to take initiative and tackle complex challenges
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Collaborative, flexible, and team-oriented
• Values diverse perspectives and inclusive storytelling
• A proactive, creative problem-solver with the ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and respect in all interactions
• Possesses a genuine passion for the arts and cultural work

JOB STRUCTURE AND BENEFITS

• This is a full-time, exempt position.
• Compensation range: $53,000 - $58,000 based on experience.
• Boston Center for the Arts offers a comprehensive benefits package including 4 weeks of paid time off, and 2 weeks of additional paid administrative closure.
• Benefits: 80% BCA-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending plans, short-term disability, and a 403(b) retirement savings plan.
• Complimentary tickets to BCA and BCA partner events and performances.

Please submit a resume and a

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