Manager of Communications and Events

Manager of Communications and Events

Reports to: Director of Development and Communications
FLSA Status: Full-time, exempt, 35 hours per week
Salary Range: $45,000 – $50,000

Position Overview
Playback Memphis (PBM) is seeking an energetic creator and planner to share the organization’s stories and coordinate its events. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who loves being at the center of the action. The Manager of Communications and Events will not only ensure an event’s success from start to finish but will also share its impact through PBM’s various communications channels. This position is well-suited for detail-oriented, creative thinkers eager to bring Playback’s mission to the community in real time and in captured content.

Organizational Overview
Founded in 2008, Playback Memphis’ mission is to bring stories to life, in a safe space to unlock healing, transformation, and joy. Playback Memphis (PBM) trains and employs professional artists and facilitators to use the unique art form of Playback Theatre to engage diverse groups of people in a variety of settings. Playback Theatre is a healing, restorative practice that emphasizes deep and empathic listening to a community member who shares a personal experience or story. Through improvisational, embodied storytelling, ritual and music, that person’s story is given a voice, their humanity affirmed. Playback staff and contracted artists also employ a variety of experiential learning tools to create a process of shared exploration where people and organizations can nurture integrity and cultivate the courage to act on their core values and purpose.

Our vision for 2027 is to become a leading resource for developing community based, culturally responsive, transformative tools for social healing and community wellbeing, elevating Memphis as a national model for the transformative power of Applied Playback Theatre. In spring of 2022, we completed an extensive strategic planning process giving clarity and direction for expanding our mission-driven work in 2023-2025. We are in a time of exciting growth!

At Playback Memphis, we strive daily to cultivate a healthy and thriving organizational culture by living into the following practices:

• We practice presence and create a space for compassionate listening.
• We deepen dialogue and build trust.
• We acknowledge that each person’s story is a gift.
• We foster goodwill and strengthen communal bonds.
• We create ample opportunity for laughter and reflection.
• We practice ongoing self-evaluation and self-critique.
• We celebrate diversity and create hospitable spaces of equity and belonging.
• We work to fix power imbalances by lifting up voices that have been marginalized.
• We develop partnerships with people and groups who advocate for those living on the margins.
• We inspire people to see themselves, one another, and their community in new and refreshing ways.
• We model the kinds of personal sharing we are inviting by opening our hearts and sharing our own stories.
• We respond with nimbleness to change.

Our core/flagship programs have historically engaged 2,000+ individuals per year.  All programs have evolved organically from the voices, stories, and dreams of community members.

Essential Job Functions

• Communications
• Create content for and manage PBM’s social media accounts
• Capture photos and some video and maintain PBM’s media archive
• Manage the PBM website and assist the Director of Development and Communications with the redesign of the site
• Create and manage PBM’s email marketing campaigns
• Design graphics for PBM’s programs and marketing efforts (flyers, signage, one-sheets, presentations, etc.) and maintain promotional toolkits
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and Communications on strategies for enhancing PBM’s communications tactics
• Track progress towards strategic goals and course correct, as necessary
• Support strategic planning and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  Events
• Coordinate pre-event logistics for PBM’s events, including volunteer scheduling, venue sourcing, facility maintenance, run-of-show, ticket/registration management, catering, etc.
• Coordinate day-of logistics for PBM events, including on-site event management, setup and breakdown, introductions and welcome speeches, and collection of real-time attendee/performer demographic information (evening and weekend available will be required)
• Send post-event surveys and analyze data through various evaluation tools
• Track progress towards strategic goals and course correct, as necessary
• Support strategic planning and key performance indicators (KPIs)

Additional functions

• Support Director of Training and Applied Playback with logistics for Ensemble trainings, rehearsals, and professional development
• Serve as an ambassador and champion for the organization in the community, expressing the core values of Playback Memphis within work
• Actively participate in the organization’s ongoing development of a broadly inclusive and equity-based culture
• Other duties, as necessary

Experiences and Proficiencies

• 3-5 years of professional experience
• Experience in content creation, communications, journalism, event planning, and/or performing arts preferred
• Presentation and public speaking experience required; comfortable being on camera and representing the organization on social media/video
• Creative and adept at telling stories through photos and short-form videos
• Detail-oriented – able to manage multiple projects and events concurrently
• Able to think critically and adapt to changing situations
• Committed to the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice and motivated to build relationships with organizations with aligned missions
• High level of self awareness and growth-oriented mindset
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and InDesign; Premiere and Illustrator a plus
• Working knowledge of content management systems and email marketing platforms
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.
• Working knowledge of Google Drive: Forms, Sheets, Word, etc.
• Working knowledge of SurveyMonkey or similar platform
• Ability to work evenings and weekends to manage events

Equal Opportunity Employment Commitment
Playback Memphis is committed to promoting an inclusive and equitable work environment that welcomes and values diversity as a guiding principle of all our work. Playback is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion (creed), gender identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other basis made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations.

If this opportunity resonates with you, please email your cover letter and resume to info@playbackmemphis.org. We are an organization committed to hearing everyone’s story, so even if you don’t check every box above, we’d love to hear what you could bring to this role.