Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art Ltd; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 38,000 - GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent cultural organisation in Liverpool is seeking a Senior Marketing and Communications Manager to develop and deliver marketing strategies for festivals and enhance audience engagement. The role involves overseeing external agencies, managing a team, and ensuring impactful communications that align with the organisation’s objectives. Ideal candidates will have over three years of experience in similar roles, strong organisational skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Engagement with the arts community

Qualifications

• Ability to develop audience development strategies.
• Experience managing digital marketing campaigns.
• Proven track record of event management.
• High attention to detail and organisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop marketing strategies for festivals and projects.
• Oversee external agency management and digital presence.
• Lead audience engagement and data capture efforts.

Skills

Multi-channel marketing strategies

Digital content management

Event management

Excellent communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

3+ years in a similar position

Knowledge of marketing the arts

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Mailchimp

WordPress

Job description

Contract Permanent

Deadline Sunday 22 February 2026, 11.59pm

The Senior Marketing and Communications Manager plays a vital role in upholding the reputation of Liverpool Biennial, supporting the Director and wider team in communicating with a wide range of audiences and stakeholders in Liverpool, across the UK and internationally.

Responsible for: Digital Content & Marketing Officer, trainees, interns and additional contracted staff and freelancers during the Biennial period

The Marketing and Communications team are responsible for ensuring our work reaches as many people as possible and that our digital and online presence aligns with our guiding principle of becoming ‘A Biennial for Everyone’.

Overseeing the departmental budget, the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager will manage all of Liverpool Biennial’s marketing and communications outputs, whilst also working closely with the Head of Development to play a key role in planning and running events for stakeholders.

The role requires somebody who is an experienced marketeer with a meticulous eye for detail. You should also be used to networking as the role will often require you to represent the organisation at external meetings and events.

This is a broad role, and it is expected that candidates will have strengths in particular areas and an overall willingness to develop new skills and knowledge.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Strategy and Planning

• In consultation with the Director, develop and deliver multi-channel marketing & audience development strategies for each festival and non-festival projects which align with and support the organisation’sobjectives.
• Contribute to the overall strategy and business planning for Liverpool Biennialas part of the SeniorManagementTeam
• Create,implementand manage annual plans and budgets, setting targets in line with organisational objectives
• Create and deliver high-profile, impactful campaigns for each biennial festival
• Advise the team on brand development and management,messagingand design development
• Provideinsight by gathering data, commissioning research from independent evaluators, analysing findings and reporting on impact
• Engage Programme (curatorial, learning, front of house) and other colleagues in jointly developing content and championing the organisation in all that it does
• Review and develop innovative digital and audience development strategies and oversee website development and improvements

Marketing and Audience Development

• Oversee the briefing and management of external agencies including, but not limited to, designers, PR agencies, photographers,videographersand web developers
• Champion digital development, engaging new audiences with innovative and interactive social media content
• Lead on advertising and design, print production and distribution, including contracting,briefingand managing suppliers
• Develop briefs and write, or commission, documents and online content for promotional, advocacy and reporting purposes
• Work with colleagues to create,reviewand implement exhibition text and interpretation online and in venues
• Draft effective press releases and statements in relation to the organisation’s activities
• Work with colleagues to grow and diversify audiences, encouraging audience-centred decision making
• Contribute to thecontinualdevelopment of our CRM system, ensuring all key marketing contacts and agreements are uploaded in line with GDPR regulations
• Contribute and oversee the maintenance and development of the organisation’s digital presence including website and other channels
• Brief and manage printed materials to support festival activity including guides, tote bags, venue/city dressing and exhibition interpretation
• Liaise with artists, their galleries and partner organisationsregardingmarketing and communications for the Biennial
• Work closely with the Head of Development to commission and communicate independent evaluations of each festival edition
• Lead on audience data capture in line with Arts Council England and local authority reporting and proactively respond to findings to support, tailor and advance audience development strategies

Advocacy and partnerships

• Advise the Director in shaping and delivering a strategic approach to advocacy, with support from external PR consultants
• Support the senior leadership team to manage relationships with key strategic partners such asVisitLiverpool, local arts organisations, Liverpool City Council and Arts Council England, occasionally acting as the organisation’s representative where delegated
• Liaise with peers and partner organisations, city region and tourism bodies, and other local and national agencies to develop new joint marketingpartnerships, ensuring that plans aresharedand goals met
• Support the Director and Board on issues management and crisis communications, proposing messaging and approach in consultation with external PR consultants whereappropriate
• Support thedevelopment team in finding and engaging prospective supporters, enabling them to maximise revenue-generating opportunities for the organisation
• Work closely with the development team to ensure appropriate crediting for funders and donors

Events

• Work closely with the Head of Development to plan and deliver allexternalLiverpool Biennial events(excluding festival programming)
• Lead on drafting eventsplans, on-the-dayschedules, speaking notes andrisk assessments for all events owned by the department
• Manage the on-the-day running of events, delegating to team members where needed and ensuring all speakers/hosts have what they need
• Advise on attendees for invite-only events, drawing on your knowledge of the organisation’s key stakeholders

Teamwork and equalities

• Linemanagethe Digital Content & Marketing Officer, along with other team members, interns,freelancersand suppliers as needed, motivating them with clear targets andidentifyingprofessional development opportunities where appropriate
• Attend regular meetings withthe whole team,fellowmanagersand the senior leadership team to develop opportunities on behalf of the Biennial.
• Prepare reports for the Board on marketing and communications targets, plans, progress and risks, attending Board meetings or sub-groups asrequired.
• Work within the context of the Biennial’s Equality, Diversity, InclusionPolicyand other policies, in the planning and delivery of services and treatment of employees and colleagues, as well as artists and others that we work with
• Other duties asrequired,commensuratewith the level and nature of the role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• 3+ years working in a similar position
• Knowledge of how to create effective multi-channel marketing and communications strategies and plans, coupled with experience of delivering high-profile and impactful campaignsthat can be adapted for multiple audience groups and platforms, and according to organisational needs
• Experience of managing digital content, supporting website development, socialmediaand other aspects of digital marketing
• Highly organised with a meticulous eye for detail
• Knowledge of CRM and CMS platforms such as Raiser’s Edge, Mailchimp, WordPress or Squarespace
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders tomaintainand build effective partnerships and co-promotions, managing expectations and meeting variousconcurrentdemandsand deadlines
• Experience of appointing, briefing, and managing external freelancers and agencies
• Knowledge of setting and managing budgets
• Confidence in managing events frominitialdiscussion to on-the-day management
• Excellentplanning, organisational andline management skillsand the ability to be an effective team player,motivating and supporting the development of colleagues
• Computer literacy with the ability to analyse statistics and findings
• Commitment to equality,diversityand inclusion
• Commitment to continuous improvement of all marketing and communications outputs in relation to accessibility
• Commitment to environmental sustainability
• Knowledge of contemporary visual arts and experience of working with artistic programming teams
• Knowledge of marketing the arts/culture/heritage/tourism, both ticketed and free entry
• Understanding of working with or for an Arts Council NPO/ public sector organisation
• Experience of managing media relations, devising story ideas and working with journalists
• Knowledge of events management systems such asAttendiumorZkipster.