The Vice President of Marketing provides strategic leadership for the Putnam Museum & Science Center’s marketing, communications, brand, audience development, and promotional efforts. As a member of the Leadership Team, this position plays a critical role in strengthening the Putnam’s visibility, growing attendance and membership, expanding tourism audiences, and advancing the Museum’s financial sustainability.
The Vice President of Marketing is both a strategist and a hands-on leader who can translate institutional priorities into compelling campaigns that inspire people to visit, join, participate, give, and engage. The successful candidate will combine creativity with data-driven decision-making and understand that marketing success is measured not simply by activity or impressions, but by meaningful results and audience growth.
To Apply:
Please email your resume and a cover letter to
bboyd-carlson@putnam.org.
Application Deadline: October 3, 2026.
Strategic Marketing & Leadership
- Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy aligned with the Putnam’s mission, strategic plan, audience goals, and financial priorities.
- Serve as an active member of the Leadership Team, contributing to institution-wide strategy, planning, and decision-making.
- Establish annual marketing goals, budgets, performance indicators, and campaign priorities.
- Monitor cultural, tourism, entertainment, museum, and consumer trends to identify new opportunities.
- Balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a collaborative nonprofit environment.
Audience Growth, Tourism & Revenue
- Lead strategies to increase attendance, membership, repeat visitation, and earned revenue.
- Expand the Putnam’s reach throughout the Quad Cities and regional tourism markets, positioning the Museum as a must-see destination.
- Develop targeted strategies for families, tourists, members, schools, adults, young professionals, and new audiences.
- Use audience, attendance, ticketing, digital, and campaign data to guide decisions and measure results.
- Partner with Guest Services, Membership, Development, and other departments to strengthen conversion, engagement, and financial sustainability.
Brand, Communications & Promotion
- Serve as steward of the Putnam brand and develop compelling messaging that communicates the Museum’s mission, impact, relevance, and value.
- Oversee advertising, public and media relations, digital communications, email marketing, website content, social media, print materials, signage, and other promotional channels.
- Develop integrated marketing strategies for exhibitions, Giant Screen films, educational programs, signature events, membership initiatives, and major institutional priorities.
- Build relationships with media, tourism organizations, cultural institutions, businesses, and community partners to expand the Putnam’s reach.
- Serve as an organizational spokesperson as appropriate.
Digital Marketing & Analytics
- Lead digital strategy across paid, owned, and earned channels.
- Measure campaign effectiveness, audience behavior, conversions, engagement, and return on investment.
- Use data, testing, and audience segmentation to continually improve marketing effectiveness.
- Identify emerging technologies and tools that can strengthen audience engagement and organizational efficiency.
Team & Resource Management
- Lead, coach, and develop Marketing team members while establishing clear expectations and accountability.
- Manage the department budget, vendors, agencies, contractors, and other external resources.
- Establish effective workflows and marketing timelines that support institutional priorities.
- Work collaboratively across departments to ensure programs and initiatives have clear audiences, goals, promotional strategies, and measures of success.
- Foster a culture that values creativity, collaboration, quality, accountability, and impact.
Preferred: Senior-level marketing leadership experience in a museum, cultural institution, tourism organization, attraction, entertainment venue, nonprofit, or other audience-driven organization; experience marketing to local and tourism audiences; and knowledge of the Quad Cities region.
LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS
As a Vice President and member of the Leadership Team, this position is expected to:
- Think institutionally — Make decisions based on what is best for the Putnam as a whole.
- Communicate intentionally — Share information proactively, ask questions early, listen well, and communicate clearly and respectfully.
- Own the outcome — Take accountability for results and help identify solutions when challenges arise.
- Model professionalism, collaboration, adaptability, and high standards of performance.
- Develop and empower team members while maintaining accountability.
- Understand the relationship between mission, audience impact, and long-term financial sustainability.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, business, nonprofit management, or a related field, or equivalent education and relevant experience.
- Significant progressive experience in marketing, communications, brand management, audience development, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic marketing plans and integrated campaigns.
- Experience connecting marketing strategy to measurable organizational outcomes.
- Experience managing staff, budgets, vendors, and multiple priorities.
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Experience with digital marketing, social media, email marketing, websites, analytics, and audience data.
- Ability to think strategically while remaining willing and able to execute work in a hands-on environment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & EXPECTATIONS
The Vice President of Marketing works in a dynamic, public-facing museum environment. Some evening and weekend work is required for major programs, events, media opportunities, and community activities. The position is expected to maintain a visible presence throughout the Museum and develop strong working relationships across departments and throughout the community.
Putnam Museum and Science Center is an equal opportunity employer
