Audience Growth Architect & Outreach Lead

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote option Mondays & Fridays

On-site Tue–Thu with some remote days

Job summary

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras seeks an Associate Director of Audience Development and Outreach to expand BYSO's audiences, recruit diverse students, and drive ticket sales across multiple concert series. You will analyze attendance data, build partnerships with teachers and schools, and lead targeted campaigns to grow participation and engagement.

The role requires at least four years in marketing/PR, with strong communication, budgeting, and data analysis skills, and a collaborative approach

Qualifications

• At least four years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or public relations, including integrated marketing strategy and execution.
• Strong knowledge of music education and/or classical music.
• Experience in community outreach, engagement, and partnership development with civic, cultural, and educational organizations.
• Experience managing marketing budgets, advertising campaigns, and external vendors.
• Cultural competency and experience engaging diverse and historically underrepresented communities.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience supervising or coordinating staff, contractors, and creative partners.
• Excellent writing, proofreading, editing, storytelling, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with website content management systems, email marketing, social media, digital analytics, and audience databases.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use audience, campaign, and ticket sales data to inform strategy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across departments and build stakeholder relationships.
• Creativity, initiative, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to balance strategy with execution.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive audience development and growth plans aligned with the organization's artistic and financial goals.
• Set, monitor, and report on key performance indicators for attendance at BYSO’s 20+ concert series and community events, ticket occupancy, group sales, and demographic diversification.
• Develop and manage advertising campaigns and media placements that maximize resources, expand BYSO’s reach, and support revenue goals.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive student recruitment strategy aligned with BYSO’s artistic priorities and enrollment goals, including targeted initiatives by geographic region, instrument, and program level enrollment opportunities.
• Cultivate authentic relationships with local cultural groups, schools, universities, and civic organizations to diversify the patron base.
• Act as an organizational ambassador at community events and regional networking opportunities.
• Coordinate grassroots promotional distribution, ensuring materials reach local businesses and neighborhood hubs.
• Build and strengthen relationships with school music directors, private teachers, alumni, community music programs, and other referral partners to attract qualified prospective students across BYSO’s programs.
• Plan and execute targeted recruitment initiatives, including open houses, school and community outreach, recruitment campaigns, and prospective family engagement, in collaboration with artistic leadership and Operations.
• Analyze applicant, audition, placement, and enrollment data to identify recruitment opportunities and gaps. Track and report on recruitment effectiveness and progress toward enrollment goals, providing leadership with actionable findings and recommendations.
• Plan and execute targeted print and digital advertising campaigns to drive ticket sales and new audience acquisition.
• Analyze ticketing data and attendee surveys to track retention trends and evaluate campaign success.
• Oversee subsidized, community, or free ticket access initiatives to welcome first-time or underrepresented audiences.
• Oversee the end-to-end production of concert program books, event collateral, and student recruitment materials.
• Coordinate with graphic designer to create and edit program pages, incorporating artist biographies, program notes, program listings, and donor acknowledgments.
• Manage timelines, proofreading cycles, and delivery logistics with commercial print vendors.
• Utilize CRM and ticketing data to analyze attendance patterns, identify underrepresented groups, and track patron retention.
• Segment audiences for targeted email campaigns and multi-channel marketing initiatives.
• Coordinate special events, pre-show talks, panel discussions, or community touchpoints that help grow the pipeline of target audiences and student participants.
• Collaborate with marketing and program teams to ensure a welcoming and accessible experience for new and returning visitors.
• Mentor and manage the Marketing Associate including workflow supervision and skills development.
• Manage all assigned project and marketing sub-budgets.

Skills

Excellent writing

Proofreading

Editing

Storytelling

Communication

Analytical skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Creativity

Initiative

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Tools

Job description

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras seeks an Associate Director of Audience Development and Outreach to expand BYSO's audiences, recruit diverse students, and drive ticket sales across multiple concert series. You will analyze attendance data, build partnerships with teachers and schools, and lead targeted campaigns to grow participation and engagement.

The role requires at least four years in marketing/PR, with strong communication, budgeting, and data analysis skills, and a collaborative approach