Manager, Communications and Digital

About the VSO

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Founded in 1919, the VSO is the third largest symphony orchestra in Canada, and the largest performing arts organization in Western Canada. The VSO creates, curates, and connects irresistible musical experiences—performing 150+ concerts annually in its home, the Orpheum Theatre, as well as numerous venues throughout Metro Vancouver, and online. The VSO is one of a handful of orchestras worldwide that has its own music school: the VSO School of Music. The organization delivers extensive education programs reaching more than 50,000 young people annually, and community engagement initiatives that reach a further 100,000+ people. Maestro Otto Tausk is the VSO’s Music Director and the Artistic Advisor of the VSO School of Music.

About the VSO School of Music

VSO School of Music, founded in 2010, is a 25,000 square foot state of-the-art music school located adjacent to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Vancouver. With a mission to enrich lives through the joy of learning, playing and performing the world’s great music, the VSO SoM develops experiences that are accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, playing level or economic circumstances; and by nurturing creative and engaged members of society through achievement in the musical arts. With a roster of over 1900 students, the School is proud to offer individual or group instruction by members of the Vancouver Symphony and other high-quality music educators.

The school also features a performance theatre (Pyatt Hall) and Reception space which sees a wide range of arts, entertainment, and corporate groups utilizing the space for performances, recordings, and special events.

Job Description-Manager, Communications and Digital

The Vancouver Sympony Orchestra is seeking a strategic and highly creative Manager, Communications and Digital Content to lead how the organization engages audiences and the public. Responsible for media relations, institutional communications, organic social media, photography, video, and editorial storytelling, this role develops and delivers compelling content that strengthens the VSO’s brand, expands audience reach, and deepens community engagement.

This is a strategic and highly hands-on role for an exceptional writer and social-first creator. The Manager identifies the strongest stories within the organization and translates the energy, humanity and emotional impact of live orchestral performance into clear, engaging and platformappropriate content.

The role also leads the editorial dimension of pre-concert chats and lobby activations, helping the VSO connect the artistic program to a richer in-person audience experience while extending that experience through digital storytelling.

Reports To: Senior Director, Marketing and Audience Experience

Direct Reports: Freelance writers, photographers, videographers, editors or other content specialists as assigned

Key Relationships: Marketing, Artistic, Production, Customer Service, Development, Education and Community Engagement, VSO School of Music, musicians, guest artists, media and community partners

COMMUNICATIONS AND EDITORIAL STRATEGY

• Develop and execute an integrated communications and editorial plan aligned with artistic, audience, revenue and institutional priorities.
• Establish and maintain a consistent, distinctive, accurate and engaging organizational voice.
• Create and manage an editorial calendar supporting campaigns, announcements, community initiatives, fundraising priorities, recordings, tours and major milestones.
• Identify timely stories that deepen audience connection and strengthen the VSO’s public profile.
• Translate complex artistic ideas into inviting and vivid language without diminishing their substance.

MEDIA RELATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with journalists, critics, editors, broadcasters, creators and media contacts.
• Write and distribute media releases, advisories, pitches, backgrounders, key messages and briefing materials.
• Identify proactive media opportunities for artists, musicians, programming, leadership, recordings, tours and community initiatives.
• Coordinate interviews, accreditation, media appearances and spokesperson preparation.
• Monitor coverage, public commentary and emerging issues and provide timely reporting.
• Support sensitive, executive and crisis communications in consultation with senior leadership.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL COMMUNITY

• Lead the VSO’s organic presence across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and emerging platforms.
• Develop content native to each platform rather than simply adapting traditional promotional materials.
• Write, schedule, publish and manage day-to-day content and appropriate audience engagement.
• Monitor platform trends, audience behaviour and relevant cultural conversations.
• Track reach, engagement, audience growth, traffic and other meaningful indicators and improve content accordingly.
• Coordinate organic storytelling with paid campaigns, email, publicity and ticket-sales priorities.

PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO AND VISUAL STORYTELLING

• Capture high-quality photography and video at rehearsals, concerts, interviews, backstage activities, community events and audience activations.
• Create and edit short-form video for social media, campaigns, artist storytelling and institutional communications.
• Conduct and film short interviews with musicians, conductors, guest artists, audiences, students and community partners.
• Develop visual concepts, shot lists and content plans for significant performances and events.
• Maintain organized archives of photography, video, permissions, usage information and final content.
• Coordinate external creators when additional capacity or specialized production is required.

AUDIENCE-EXPERIENCE CONTENT

• Develop editorial concepts and storytelling for pre-concert chats, lobby activations, artist and musician encounters and related audience experiences.
• Prepare speaker briefs, questions, scripts, display copy, signage language and promotional content.
• Work with Artistic colleagues to ensure accuracy, relevance and a meaningful connection to the performance.
• Promote audience experiences before the event, capture them on site and extend their value through post-event content.
• Contribute creative ideas while working within objectives, budgets and production plans established by the Senior Director.

CAMPAIGN AND PUBLICATION COLLABORATION

• Develop copy, photography and video that can be adapted and tested within paid campaigns.
• Serve as editorial lead for Allegro and other concert or institutional publications.
• Commission, write and edit content while maintaining accuracy, accessibility and editorial quality.
• Collaborate with the Junior Marketing Officer and external designers to ensure approved content is delivered accurately and on schedule.

DECISION RIGHTS AND ROLE BOUNDARIES

• Owns organizational voice, media relations, organic social, editorial content and the editorial dimensions of live audience experiences.
• Does not own paid-media budgets, audience targeting, media buying, conversion optimization, publication layout or general graphic-design production.
• Shapes and amplifies audience experiences but is not the sole logistical producer of every activation.
• Escalates sensitive, legal, reputational or executive communications for appropriate senior approval.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• At least five years of progressive experience in communications, social media, journalism, public relations, content marketing, digital media or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, interviewing and editorial skills.
• Success leading social media for a substantial organization, brand or public figure.
• Strong hands-on photography and short-form video creation and editing skills.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud or comparable professional photo, video and design tools.
• A portfolio demonstrating visual judgment, platform fluency, storytelling and technical skill.
• Strong editorial judgment and experience preparing media materials, pitching stories and coordinating interviews under tight deadlines.
• Postsecondary education in communications, journalism, marketing or a related field, or equivalent experience.

ASSETS

• Experience in the performing arts, entertainment, culture, media, tourism or another audience-driven sector.
• Advanced photography, videography, sound, lighting, motion-graphics or video-editing skills.
• Experience producing content in live-performance or event environments.
• Experience supporting issues management or crisis communications.
• Existing relationships with Vancouver, British Columbia or national media.
• Knowledge of orchestral music or strong curiosity and willingness to learn.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Exceptional written communication and editorial integrity
• Visual judgment and social-first storytelling
• Media judgment and discretion
• Audience empathy and creative initiative
• Collaboration and organization under pressure

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• The VSO communicates with a clear, distinctive and consistent voice.
• Organic content is timely, visually strong, platform-appropriate and connected to audience and institutional priorities.
• Media opportunities are identified proactively and managed professionally.
• Photography and video capture the quality, energy and humanity of the VSO.
• Pre-concert and lobby experiences are supported by accurate, engaging and meaningful storytelling.
• Content is organized, rights-aware and available for effective reuse.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Full-time, Vancouver-based role requiring regular in-person collaboration and content production.
• Requires some evening and weekend work around rehearsals, performances and special events.
• Requires comfort working backstage, in public areas and with artists, audiences and media under time pressure.

Renumeration

• $64,000.00 Annually
• 4 Weeks Vacation
• Extended Health, Medical, and Dental Benefits

What it’s like to work here

The VSO and the VSO School of Music offer a fast-paced, creative, and strategically minded workplace environment. We are a group of music-loving arts administrators, with a passion for the performing arts, combined with business acumen, personnel management, and leadership, in a strong and collaborative environment. We are proud of the VSO’s legacy in musical excellence and are working towards growing our reputation as a world-class orchestra, with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, outreach programs, as well as a community of engaged, philanthropic fans.

The VSO and VSO School of Music offer hybrid working models, though given that we work in live performing events, we know that some evening and weekend work will be required on site.

The VSO and the VSO School of Music value diverse perspectives, experiences and cultures and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We encourage applications for this position from members of all groups experiencing barriers to equity.

Benefits

The VSO and the VSOSoM offer a flexible work environment, extended medical benefits available to full time employees, and other incentives and perks.

To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter combined into one document via email to employment@vancouversymphony.ca

Please include “Manager, Communications and Digital” in the subject line.

The VSO and the VSOSoM thanks all applicants for their interest, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Application deadline

• Open until Filled