Marketing Director
The Westport Library, Kansas City, MO, United States
This Is a Marketing Leadership Role - Not a Communications Role
The Westport Library is not seeking a traditional communications manager. We are seeking a growth-oriented Marketing Director who understands how to build demand, expand audience, increase engagement, and translate institutional strategy into measurable public impact. This role exists to drive growth.
If you are primarily a content producer, public relations manager, or internal communications coordinator, this is not the role for you. If you are a strategic marketer who thinks in campaigns, segmentation, conversion funnels, performance metrics, and brand positioning, read on.
About The Westport Library
The Westport Library is one of America’s few Five-Star Libraries and is a nationally recognized model for what a 21st-century public library can be. We serve nearly half a million annual visitors and operate: A dynamic civic dialogue platform (Common Ground Initiative) Verso Studios (professional media production studios and content engine) VersoFest (a multi-week music and media festival) Major literary and cultural series Lifelong learning platforms A vibrant public building that functions as cultural infrastructure We are not a traditional Library. We are a cultural and civic institution with national ambition. The Opportunity
The Library has strong programming, a strong vision, and strong leadership. What we need is strategic marketing that matches the ambition of the institution. This position will: Develop innovative awareness raising campaigns Implement measurable outcomes Build audience with intentionality Align marketing with fundraising, civic positioning, and strategic growth This is a transformation role. Position Overview
The Marketing Director is a senior leadership position responsible for: Building and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy aligned with the Library’s Strategic Plan Driving audience growth and engagement across all major initiatives Elevating brand perception locally and regionally Establishing measurable performance metrics Leveraging media production assets (Verso Studios) as a marketing engine Partnering with Development to strengthen donor storytelling and institutional positioning This role supervises the Marketing team and is a member of the senior leadership team. What Success Looks Like (First 18–24 Months)
The successful candidate will: Develop a clear, board-facing Marketing Strategy tied directly to Strategic Plan goals Increase program attendance through targeted segmentation and outreach Grow email engagement rates and list quality through strategy — not volume Improve conversion from awareness to attendance Establish and present dashboards quarterly to Administration and the Board Ensure the website functions as a strategic marketing platform, not merely an information repository Build cross-departmental marketing intake systems that prioritize high-impact initiatives Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Marketing Leadership
Develop a comprehensive annual Marketing Plan aligned with institutional goals Identify key growth opportunities across programming, space utilization, collections, and initiatives Prioritize high-impact campaigns rather than equal promotion of all events Align marketing efforts with Town advocacy and fundraising strategy 2. Campaign Development & Audience Growth
Design integrated, multi-channel campaigns with defined objectives and KPIs Segment audiences and tailor messaging strategically Drive measurable growth in: Attendance Circulation (physical and digital) Engagement depth Donor prospect awareness Brand perception
Shift from reactive promotion to proactive audience development 3. Brand & Institutional Positioning
Clarify and elevate the Westport Library brand Ensure consistent narrative alignment with the Strategic Plan Position the Library as A civic leader A cultural innovator A national model
Oversee reputation management with strategic discipline 4. Storytelling as Strategic Proof of Impact
Build a structured storytelling framework Collaborate with Development to support fundraising campaigns Translate survey data, testimonials, and usage metrics into compelling institutional narratives Use Verso Studios intentionally as a content amplifier 5. Data, Metrics & Accountability
Establish clear KPIs aligned to strategic objectives Implement campaign performance tracking Present quarterly marketing dashboards to Administration and Board Demonstrate ROI for paid advertising and digital initiatives Use analytics to guide decision-making, not justify activity Team Leadership & Organizational Influence
Lead and develop Marketing staff with clarity and accountability Implement project management systems that create visibility Educate internal stakeholders on marketing prioritization Maintain high standards of performance and strategic thinking Required Qualifications
8+ years of strategic marketing leadership experience Demonstrated success driving audience growth or revenue growth Experience leading campaign-based marketing strategies Proven ability to use data to inform and refine strategy Strong brand development expertise Experience presenting performance metrics to senior leadership or boards Ability to operate both strategically and tactically Comfort working in a high-visibility community environment Highly Valued Experience
Marketing for cultural institutions, media organizations, festivals, or mission-driven organizations Experience with audience segmentation and CRM strategy Experience building dashboards and performance reporting systems Experience integrating AI tools into marketing workflows This is a leadership position accountable for growth. Core Competencies
Strategic Thinking Data Fluency Brand Vision Organizational Influence Accountability & Execution The Marketing Director must be: Comfortable in a fast-moving, highly visible public institution Confident engaging with senior leadership and board members Motivated by measurable outcomes Application Process
Please submit: Resume Cover letter outlining a specific example of a campaign you led that produced measurable growth Optional portfolio of campaign work TO APPLY: Submit application materials to jobs@westportlibrary.org and include Marketing Director Application in the subject line. 20 Jesup Road Westport, CT 06880 203.291.4800
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The Westport Library is one of America’s few Five-Star Libraries and is a nationally recognized model for what a 21st-century public library can be. We serve nearly half a million annual visitors and operate: A dynamic civic dialogue platform (Common Ground Initiative) Verso Studios (professional media production studios and content engine) VersoFest (a multi-week music and media festival) Major literary and cultural series Lifelong learning platforms A vibrant public building that functions as cultural infrastructure We are not a traditional Library. We are a cultural and civic institution with national ambition. The Opportunity
The Library has strong programming, a strong vision, and strong leadership. What we need is strategic marketing that matches the ambition of the institution. This position will: Develop innovative awareness raising campaigns Implement measurable outcomes Build audience with intentionality Align marketing with fundraising, civic positioning, and strategic growth This is a transformation role. Position Overview
The Marketing Director is a senior leadership position responsible for: Building and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy aligned with the Library’s Strategic Plan Driving audience growth and engagement across all major initiatives Elevating brand perception locally and regionally Establishing measurable performance metrics Leveraging media production assets (Verso Studios) as a marketing engine Partnering with Development to strengthen donor storytelling and institutional positioning This role supervises the Marketing team and is a member of the senior leadership team. What Success Looks Like (First 18–24 Months)
The successful candidate will: Develop a clear, board-facing Marketing Strategy tied directly to Strategic Plan goals Increase program attendance through targeted segmentation and outreach Grow email engagement rates and list quality through strategy — not volume Improve conversion from awareness to attendance Establish and present dashboards quarterly to Administration and the Board Ensure the website functions as a strategic marketing platform, not merely an information repository Build cross-departmental marketing intake systems that prioritize high-impact initiatives Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Marketing Leadership
Develop a comprehensive annual Marketing Plan aligned with institutional goals Identify key growth opportunities across programming, space utilization, collections, and initiatives Prioritize high-impact campaigns rather than equal promotion of all events Align marketing efforts with Town advocacy and fundraising strategy 2. Campaign Development & Audience Growth
Design integrated, multi-channel campaigns with defined objectives and KPIs Segment audiences and tailor messaging strategically Drive measurable growth in: Attendance Circulation (physical and digital) Engagement depth Donor prospect awareness Brand perception
Shift from reactive promotion to proactive audience development 3. Brand & Institutional Positioning
Clarify and elevate the Westport Library brand Ensure consistent narrative alignment with the Strategic Plan Position the Library as A civic leader A cultural innovator A national model
Oversee reputation management with strategic discipline 4. Storytelling as Strategic Proof of Impact
Build a structured storytelling framework Collaborate with Development to support fundraising campaigns Translate survey data, testimonials, and usage metrics into compelling institutional narratives Use Verso Studios intentionally as a content amplifier 5. Data, Metrics & Accountability
Establish clear KPIs aligned to strategic objectives Implement campaign performance tracking Present quarterly marketing dashboards to Administration and Board Demonstrate ROI for paid advertising and digital initiatives Use analytics to guide decision-making, not justify activity Team Leadership & Organizational Influence
Lead and develop Marketing staff with clarity and accountability Implement project management systems that create visibility Educate internal stakeholders on marketing prioritization Maintain high standards of performance and strategic thinking Required Qualifications
8+ years of strategic marketing leadership experience Demonstrated success driving audience growth or revenue growth Experience leading campaign-based marketing strategies Proven ability to use data to inform and refine strategy Strong brand development expertise Experience presenting performance metrics to senior leadership or boards Ability to operate both strategically and tactically Comfort working in a high-visibility community environment Highly Valued Experience
Marketing for cultural institutions, media organizations, festivals, or mission-driven organizations Experience with audience segmentation and CRM strategy Experience building dashboards and performance reporting systems Experience integrating AI tools into marketing workflows This is a leadership position accountable for growth. Core Competencies
Strategic Thinking Data Fluency Brand Vision Organizational Influence Accountability & Execution The Marketing Director must be: Comfortable in a fast-moving, highly visible public institution Confident engaging with senior leadership and board members Motivated by measurable outcomes Application Process
Please submit: Resume Cover letter outlining a specific example of a campaign you led that produced measurable growth Optional portfolio of campaign work TO APPLY: Submit application materials to jobs@westportlibrary.org and include Marketing Director Application in the subject line. 20 Jesup Road Westport, CT 06880 203.291.4800
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