Digital Strategist

The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century.

Today, the museum typically hosts close to 400,000 visitors annually and reaches millions more through youth STEAM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, online citizen science, and other outreach efforts. With the Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to learn more about science and space discovery, and to explore their universe together under the sky we all share.

Position
The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Senior Digital Engagement Strategist to join our dynamic team on Chicago’s Museum Campus. In this role you will serve as the museum’s digital performance lead. You will be the driving force behind executing, optimizing, and analyzing the vital digital channels that propel attendance, membership, engagement, and revenue. Reporting to the Associate Director of Marketing, you will spearhead email marketing, SEO, and paid digital advertising, utilizing data‑driven insights to ensure stellar performance across every single digital touchpoint. This is a union position with the Adler Planetarium Workers United, AFSCME Council 31.

Key Responsibilities

Plan, execute, and optimize stellar paid campaigns across Google, Meta, and other platforms while managing budgets, creative, and driving attendance.

Own the daily optimization of paid digital advertising, digital partnerships, email marketing, SEO, and digital analytics dashboards.

Build, deploy, and test automated email journeys, manage audience segmentation, and partner with content managers on copy and creative assets.

Monitor digital channel performance, track KPIs across all channels, and provide tactical recommendations to boost conversions.

Lead keyword research, optimize metadata, and tune content for AI search parameters to maintain high organic visibility.

Support user experience (UX) improvements and content updates to ensure the website remains accessible, accurate, and perfectly optimized.

Work Schedule
The typical work schedule for this position is 35 hours per week, from 9 AM to 5 PM, with a flextime and telecommuting option – 2 days a week telecommuting and 3 days on‑site at the museum.

Compensation & Benefits
Base Pay Range: $62,500/yr

Work-Life Balance

Eligible to accrue up to 15 vacation days per year to start

3 sick days as of date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)

4 Personal Holidays (Prorated for new hires starting after January1)

Flexible Work Arrangements

Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty

Competitive Health Coverage

Healthcare, Dependent Care & Commuter flexible spending accounts

Adler Paid Short-Term Disability insurance

Retirement Savings Plan

403B plan with Adler match (100% vested immediately)

Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire

Network of Support through our EAP programs

Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues

Face-to-face, telephonic, and web-based services

Free subscription to the Calm Premium app

Employee Loan Program

Discounted Onsite Parking Program

Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions

The Person
The ideal candidate is a data-loving digital pioneer who thrives on connection and collaboration. You aren’t just looking for a typical 9‑to‑5 desk job; you are energized by the idea of driving attendance and revenue and providing outstanding experiences at a world‑class cultural institution. You possess top‑tier communication skills, a knack for original thinking, and an adaptable strategic mindset that can pivot when conditions change. If you are an analytical wizard who enjoys a flexible, hybrid workplace (3 days at the museum, 2 days telecommuting) and loves translating complex data into captivating digital stories, you are exactly the kind of person the Adler Planetarium is looking for!

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree or 5+ years of professional marketing experience, plus at least 3 years of relevant on‑the‑job digital marketing experience.

Demonstrable experience leading and managing SEO/SEM, email, social media, and/or display advertising campaigns.

Proven experience setting up and optimizing Google Ad campaigns.

Strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of digital metrics and KPIs.

Working knowledge of web content management systems.

A basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Preferred Qualifications

Specializations in new media, digital advertising, or AI in Marketing.

Official certifications in digital marketing, particularly in search and paid social (e.g., Google Ads, Meta Blueprint).

Knowledge of or hands‑on experience with Salesforce, WordPress, and MailChimp.

Equal Opportunity Statement
The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to complying with its Equal Opportunity employer obligations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email the Human Resources Department at recruiting@adlerplanetarium.org with the nature of your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

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