Marketing and Communications Manager

ABOUT THE PAC

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a vibrant cultural hub and charitable organization located in downtown St. Catharines, the largest city in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. The PAC aims to engage people in exceptional live arts experiences and to enrich the lives of the citizens of St. Catharines and the Niagara region, while providing a world-class venue for local, national and international artists and community arts organizations to flourish. The PAC opened its doors in 2015 as part of a transformative effort to rejuvenate St. Catharines’ downtown area. and has been a key catalyst for downtown development and an economic driver for Niagara, with over 40 new businesses opening with an economic spin-off of $17 million. The PAC team believes that healthy communities are built through arts and cultural engagement, and that our individual and collective identities are shaped through the stories told. They engage audiences across the Niagara region and work to remove barriers for under-served community members to experience the arts.

The PAC features four performance venues: Partridge Hall, Recital Hall, Robertson Theatre, The Film House as well as the outdoor The Mann Raceway Plaza. Current PAC programs include: PAC Presents Live Performance Series, The Film House - an indie film house offering unique films and community screenings in a modern cinematic environment as well as facilitated community discussions, imPACt Education Series and access initiatives such as Pay-What-You-Can, discounted ticket prices for patrons under 30 years of age and partnership with the CANOO program to provide newcomers with access to free performing arts and film experiences. The PAC employs 27 full-time staff, 48 part-time staff, a pool of IATSE union workers and over 75 engaged and dedicated volunteers.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Located in the heart of Niagara’s vibrant cultural corridor, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a flagship destination for more than 100,000 visitors and hundreds of artists annually. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the PAC is ready to deepen relationships with the talented artists and arts organizations in the region as it continues to play a vital role in enriching the region’s creative and civic life.

The PAC presents a diverse range of programming, from popular to provocative, including signature initiatives such as the 2026 Art in Action: Climate Festival, which will feature Edward Burtynsky’s In the Wake of Progress, Ailey II, Elisapie, Tom Morello, Tenille Towns, the Tenors and more. These bold artistic undertakings reflect the PAC’s commitment to creative leadership and impact.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled, collaborative, forward-thinking Marketing and Communications Manager to join the PAC team. This organized, adaptive professional will efficiently execute multiple marketing channels, enhancing engagement and resonance throughout the Niagara region and beyond.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Engagement, the Marketing and Communications Manager is responsible for fostering and building on the relationship between the PAC and the public. Responsibilities include leading the marketing and communications team in promoting events, programs, activities, facilities, and branding, by developing and implementing marketing strategies that are analytically driven and aligned with the PAC’s strategic direction.

The Marketing and Communications Manager should be aware of and consider arts market research and analysis when designing marketing strategies and plans. They will develop and tactically roll out customer-oriented marketing campaigns, promotional materials, and deliverables on time and on budget, while meeting revenue targets. Astute financial management is integral to this role.

To ensure marketing strategies are integrative and responsive to the goals of the PAC, the Marketing and Communications Manager will skillfully collaborate with key positions both within their department and inter-departmentally. The Marketing and Communications Manager is also expected to utilize innovative marketing channels to target new and existing segments and help to drive meaningful audience, visitor, and membership growth and engagement.

To be successful in this position, the Marketing and Communications Manager must be an effective relationship builder who is creative, analytical, self-driven and strategically focused.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Marketing and Communications Planning and Execution

• Work with the Director of Marketing and Engagement to design, develop, and execute marketing and communications strategies that are both customer-focused and data-driven.
• Oversee the implementation of all media relations efforts on behalf of the PAC.
• Lead and execute marketing campaigns.
• Manage the outsourcing of all graphic design and video editing requirements and liaise with all advertising and promotions vendors.
• Manage key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics.
• Identify new opportunities to enhance marketing and communications initiatives.
• With guidance from the Director of Marketing and Engagement, set and administer the annual marketing and sponsorship budget.

Marketing & Communications Team Management

• Oversee the work and performance of the team in a manner that promotes working cohesively and collaboratively within the department as well as inter-departmentally.
• Effectively communicate to the team the department goals and objectives while also seeking to provide them with the tools and resources to perform their respective jobs at an optimal level.
• In partnership with the Director of Marketing and Engagement, recruit, select, train and develop team members.
• Mentor, coach, and support team members in their day-to-day responsibilities, and in the achievement of their departmental and job-specific objectives, through effective performance evaluation processes.

Internal & External Collaboration & Relationship Management

• Develop a close and collaborative working relationship with the Ticketing Services Manager to ensure that box office, marketing, and communications strategies are responsive to changes in market trends.
• Provide support to fund development team around communications strategies and campaigns with compelling collateral and impact messaging to inspire the PAC’s growing family of supporters.
• Support the PAC’s organizational needs by conceptualizing, designing, and producing signage, marketing assets, and other creative materials that align with brand standards and enhance audience engagement.
• Work collaboratively with various departments to promote the PAC events.
• Be a key PAC advocate by building strong, effective relationships within the community.

Research, Analysis & Digital Marketing Management

• Working with the Director of Marketing and Engagement, conduct audience research to inform strategies
• Audit the marketing needs for various departments to produce increasingly effective and innovative marketing programs and materials, including the website.
• Oversee and manage the effectiveness of strategies, programs, and platforms.
• Develop and oversee the integration of digital media marketing strategies.
• Track and measure the success of marketing strategies and initiatives through data analysis to provide ROI reporting.

Qualifications

• At least five (5) years’ experience in a managerial marketing role, leading teams and being accountable for the design and execution of marketing and/or communications budgets and strategies required.
• Experience working with audience, ticketing, and CRM systems, required. (AudienceView, preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field, preferred.
• Experience working for a professional performing arts centre or major entertainment venue, preferred.
• Established portfolio of media and PR contacts, an asset.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to build working relationships and meaningfully collaborate with internal and external contacts.
• Extensive knowledge of marketing strategies, channels, branding and best marketing practices.
• Strong copywriting, budget development and negotiation skills.
• Ability to effectively analyze and interpret marketing data.
• Ability to manage, motivate and evaluate the work of a team.
• Knowledge of and experience with digital and print marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing platforms and systems.
• Proficiency with HTML, content management systems, and design software.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Open office setting, primarily.
• Must function effectively in high pressure environment bearing a great responsibility for the work completed by those supervised.
• Decisions made take into consideration the direct impact on team members, customers, and overall organizational success

OUR PAC EMPLOYEE PROMISE

Working at the PAC means embracing the values of collaboration, creativity, care, and continued learning. We offer a robust health and dental benefits plan including an employee assistance program and extended health care, pension plan, opportunities for learning and growth and vacation flexibility. The PAC is a casual, creative environment that offers an open-concept, pet-friendly workplace, supports flexible work schedules and believes in the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, feels valued and respected. Managers commit to a nondiscriminatory leadership and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in their department, programs, and work environment. All the PAC employees will respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices within their team and the FirstOntario PAC are valued and heard.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All employees will be expected to follow all company policies and procedures with regards to Health & Safety. A worker shall work in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations; use or wear the equipment, protective devices, or clothing that the worker's employer requires to be used or worn. A worker must report to their employer or supervisor the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective devices of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself, or another worker; and report to their employer or supervisor any contravention of this act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows. No worker shall remove or make ineffective any protective device required by the regulations or by their employer, without providing adequate temporary protective device and when the need for removing or making ineffective the protective device has ceased, the protective device shall be replaced immediately; use or operate any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger themselves or any other worker; or engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct. A worker is not required to participate in a prescribed medical surveillance program unless the worker consents to do so. (OHSA Sec. 27)

HOW TO APPLY

If you think your experience and career aspirations are aligned with this opportunity – please send your cover letter and resume to hiring@firstontariopac.ca with the subject title “Marketing and Communications Manager”.

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is an equal-opportunity employer, and we believe that our organization is stronger when we have a team that reflects our region’s diversity.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will consider accessibility accommodations to applicants upon request.