The Optica Marketing and Communications team manages a comprehensive portfolio that includes organization-wide brand management, promotion, media outreach and social media/digital communications. The team’s function supports how Optica communicates and presents itself to the global optics and photonics community.
The Manager, Marketing and Communications is responsible for both project management and operational support to ensure that organizational level goals for marketing and communications are achieved. The position relies heavily on sustaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders, especially marketing teams throughout the organization; designers and production vendors; volunteers and media relations contacts.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Marketing
Provides marketing management for select Optica teams, including the Executive Office and Public Affairs. Leads all phases of promotional tactics including content, design, production and distribution specific to these teams.
Oversees the management of a centralized outsourced email production vendor and an onshore email service provider (and coordination between Optica staff and these vendors). Maintains an organization wide email calendar and works with marketing teams across the organization to ensure that different audiences don’t receive multiple emails on the same day.
Manages outsourced graphic design services vendor that provides design support across the organization. Works with teams across the organization to ensure that design projects adhere to brand and style guidelines.
Regularly analyzes and provides feedback to marketers across the organization related to the number of emails sent, volume of subscribers impacted, deliverability and number of opt-outs.
Communications
Using the organization-wide marketing and communications plan to promote Optica at the “corporate” level, prepares accompanying project and production schedules, sets deadlines for various stages of each project, and ensures tactical execution based on deadlines.
Participates in communications projects that reinforce Optica’s global impact and its core values. Develops features and other narrative content that support a story-based, member-focused communications strategy.
Coordinates the dissemination of press releases; and ensures that press releases are amplified through all appropriate communications channels available to the organization. Press releases specific to individual programs must adhere to the guidelines established and direction set by those programs.
Manages tactical execution of the media relations component of the annual OFC Conference and Exhibition, focusing on media releases, coordinating and scheduling media interview requests, pitching hot topics and stories to industry press, and staffing the on-site press office.
Operations
Manages marketing and communications budgets and tracks expenses for supported teams to ensure financial integrity of the marketing program. Participates in the development of an annual marketing and communications budget.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree
Minimum of 5 years professional expertise working across a comprehensive suite of marketing, communications and design disciplines
Experience with the tenets of brand management and guidelines with a supplemental understanding of graphic design fundamentals
Experience with science journalism reflecting an understanding of curating, gathering, verifying and communicating scientific and technological developments into compelling stories.
Experience with and understanding of best practices in traditional direct marketing, digital marketing and prospect demand generation
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of complete marketing cycle from plan to production; experience producing multi-format marketing collateral (digital, print and multimedia), and managing prospect lists
Excellent written and oral communication skills to support efficiencies between clients, team members and vendors; ability to respectfully push back when necessary
Strong project management skills with keen attention to detail and ability to multi-task to meet deadlines
Sound judgment and decision-making skills — ability to monitor and prioritize production schedules to adjust resources and deadlines as necessary
Ability to conceptualize, develop and manage budgets
Ability to negotiate agreements and successfully manage relationships with external vendors
TECHNOLOGIES:
Experienced user of Microsoft Office Suite applications (including required advanced capabilities in Excel) and Google Workspace (especially Google Sheets)
Experience with media monitoring services/reporter database search services
Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite applications—experience with Acrobat, Dreamweaver (or other HTML editors) and Photoshop preferred
Familiarity and facility with website content management systems
