Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society's greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners.

The Public Programs team at the Aspen Institute produces a number of events each year that are open to members of the general public. This position will support the major events and activities of the department, with special emphasis on Aspen Ideas Festival, held every summer over seven days on the Aspen Institute's campus in Aspen, CO.

The Aspen Ideas Festival is the nation's premier public gathering for leaders from around the globe and across many disciplines to engage in deep and inquisitive discussions about ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our times. The Aspen Ideas Festival fosters attendees and speakers from a wide range of international sectors and industries to engage in meaningful dialogue. Each year, the Festival covers a wide range of timely and critical topic areas through panels, workshops, book clubs, debates, deep dives, and interviews.

As part of the Public Programs team, the Associate Director, Marketing and Communications will be responsible for developing and implementing integrated campaigns to build audiences (both paid passholders and online) and stakeholder engagement for all departmental events, including but not limited to Aspen Ideas events, Aspen Community Programs, and Aspen Conference Services.

Our successful candidate will possess outstanding writing and analytical skills, be a dynamic self-starter with creative ideas and strong attention to detail to both strengthen and support communication efforts and help launch important new areas of work.

This position will report directly to the Executive Director. The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $125,000. Candidates will be in the greater Washington, DC region, with office presence required for at least 3 days a week.

Content Strategy and Development

• Manage year-round editorial calendar and communications strategy from content development to creation across Aspen Ideas digital channels; provide leadership and editorial oversight for digital storytelling across platforms, including web, email, and social media.
• Oversee and update the Aspen Ideas brand and style guides, including all portfolio extensions.
• Work with event leadership and external design firms to execute branded decks and toolkits and create audience-specific social media toolkits for public programs, as needed.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, design, and PR teams across the Aspen Institute to leverage the Institute's platforms, including newsletters, podcasts, special events, social media, and other opportunities.
• Develop and manage special editorial projects and design collaborations that elevate the Aspen Ideas brand and deepen audience engagement.
• Oversee the creation and curation of digital content that supports key institutional priorities, reinforces the Aspen Ideas mission, and promotes major Public Programs events and initiatives.
• Work closely with Aspen Institute's Associate Director of Media Relations to supply media-friendly story leads and monitor year-round coverage of Public Programs events.

Website Management

• Manage all aspects of the aspenideas.org website, including editorial calendar, writing/editing content, updating for events, and uploading/incorporating video, photos, and other related content.
• Oversee all functions of the website in collaboration with Ideas extensions programs.
• Partner closely with internal IT team, as well as outside developer on website maintenance contract; audit and adjust scope in line with event portfolio needs.
• Project manage special projects including development and design.

Email Marketing

• Manage year-round communications and marketing through regular newsletters regarding Aspen Ideas content, events, and speakers.
• Collaborate with editorial team to design and compose email content; adjust as needed in response to newsletter performance metrics and engagement.
• Manage CRM database, including all segmented distribution lists.

Mobile App Production

• Project manage build-out of custom mobile app for Aspen Ideas portfolio events.
• Coordinate delivery of assets to app developer and work with design agency on app branding and design deliverables.
• Run day-to-day app updates during events, including customer support, push notifications, and schedule changes.

Social Media Management

• Build and execute social media campaigns and advise on the latest social trends.
• Manage the strategic function of all Public Programs social media channels including, but not limited to: Meta, LinkedIn, and X.
• Lead strategy for Aspen Ideas social channels, emphasizing thoughtful audience engagement and growth.
• Lead RFP process for outside agencies; manage contracted social teams and/or content creators for Aspen Ideas events; edit and approve content to ensure brand voice and style.
• Manage ongoing relationship with social contractors to produce impactful year-round content.

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Develop direct and vertical marketing partnerships with key strategic partners.
• Identify, develop, and manage strategic brand partnerships with external organizations, platforms, and creative collaborators (e.g., digital media platforms, underwriter opportunities, merchandise partners, or content partnerships) that expand brand reach and visibility.
• Develop co-branded campaigns and content partnerships that align with the Aspen Ideas mission and expand audience visibility.
• Negotiate partnership deliverables, lead relationship management, and ensure brand alignment across all brand initiatives (e.g. venues, associations, community organizations, media outlets).

Event Photography Management

• Manage photography coverage plan and scheduling for Aspen Ideas events.
• Manage event photography organization, upload, and storage.
• Lead strategic use of event assets for use across all owned channels and more broadly across the Institute enterprise.

Marketing Strategy and Performance

• Oversee sales strategies for Aspen Ideas Festival and extension event passes, with the goal of driving year-over-year attendee growth and retaining past attendees.
• Lead the Aspen Ideas digital marketing strategy across paid, organic, and owned channels, emphasizing consistent brand visibility, pass sales and audience engagement.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive digital communications and marketing strategy that advances the Aspen Ideas brand and aligns with the Aspen Institute's overarching mission and goals.
• Support marketing of Aspen Conference Services across the Institute enterprise to meet departmental revenue goals.
• Manage deliverables for all marketing grants, as awarded.
• Manage the marketing budget, including paid media, agency contracts, and vendor relationships, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Generate graphics and copy for approved advertising.
• Monitor analytics and performance metrics to inform future marketing decisions and demonstrate ROI.
• Provide weekly sales and marketing updates to event teams during any live paid campaigns.

Merchandising

• Lead Ideas branded merchandising, including selection of Aspen Ideas event gift bags and development of event merchandising plans to meet revenue goals
• Work with merch partners on samples, order volume, staff and volunteer outfitting, inventory storage and management
• Develop new marketing initiatives with merch partners to expand Festival reach and encourage local audience growth

Graphic Design

• Ideation, design, and execution of creative and promotional materials across social, web, email, print, and more (e.g. still and moving graphics, videos, presentations, decks, and audience-specific toolkits)

Shared Responsibilities

• Contribute to effective engagement and stewardship of current and potential strategic partners.
• Aspen Ideas To Go podcast: recommend opportunities and adaptation of new media platforms to promote public programs.
• Social Media: share daily content creation and posting responsibilities with editorial team, as determined by scope of events, campaigns, and overall team schedule.
• Maintain audience list segmentation for digital and direct mail campaigns in collaboration with Aspen CRM+ team.
• Support the production of print materials, including promotional and informational materials ahead of and during events.

Team and Vendor Management

• Supervise junior digital communications staff, contractors, and seasonal team members, providing leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and management of seasonal interns.