Director of Marketing & Events

About the role

The Zoological Society of New Jersey is hiring a Director of Marketing & Events to transform how we grow and engage our community. The Society supports Essex County Turtle Back Zoo through membership, fundraising and events that connect people with wildlife and conservation.

This is a senior, strategic role with hands-on ownership. You'll work across the organization to drive event attendance, membership acquisition and renewal, annual appeal results and broader community engagement. You'll have full editorial oversight of our content, own all marketing functions, including PR, paid media, our website, social media and email, use audience segmentation and data to improve results, and lead the organization's full event calendar.

We're looking for a self-sufficient, proactive leader who can set the strategy, build the plan and get it done.

Key responsibilities

Marketing strategy and growth

• Own all marketing functions and lead an annual marketing strategy tied to organizational goals and budget

• Drive membership acquisition and renewals with targeted, multi-channel campaigns

• Increase the reach and results of the annual appeal in partnership with development staff

• Grow attendance and ticket sales across all Society events

• Set KPIs, track performance and report results to leadership, adjusting tactics based on data

Channels, content and audience segmentation

• Manage all Society social media channels: strategy, content calendar, community management and paid social

• Develop and maintain email marketing: campaign planning, list health, automation and performance reporting

• Segment audiences (members, lapsed members, donors, event attendees, prospects) using CRM data to deliver targeted messages that drive results

• Maintain a consistent brand voice across all channels and materials

• Hold complete editorial oversight of all Society content across channels, and create content hands-on as needed

• Take charge of public relations: media relations, press releases, pitching stories 

• Handle paid media: plan, buy and optimize digital, social, print and broadcast advertising against clear ROI targets

• Edit the Society's website: content, user experience, conversion paths for membership, tickets and donations, and analytics

Events

• Manage the Society's full annual event calendar and ensure events support mission, revenue and engagement goals

• Provide strategic oversight of our two flagship events, Brew at the Zoo and Casino Night: set goals, budgets and marketing plans, and oversee the contract Event Manager who runs day-to-day planning and execution

• Fully own all other events from planning through execution, including post-event evaluation and learnings

Leadership and collaboration

• Manage, coach and develop 1–2 direct reports

• Partner closely with development, membership, zoo operations and leadership to align priorities and share workload

• Work closely with Turtle Back Zoo's marketing leadership and other public and private stakeholders to coordinate campaigns, messaging and events

• Negotiate the marketing and events budgets and relationships with agencies, vendors and media partners

• Work independently and proactively, spotting opportunities and bringing solutions forward

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of marketing experience, including 3+ years in a strategic leadership role

• Proven results growing membership, attendance, subscriptions or donations through data-driven campaigns

• Hands-on expertise across social media, email marketing, paid media, PR and website management, including audience segmentation and performance analytics

• Experience planning and managing events and an organization-wide event calendar

• Experience managing staff and outside vendors or contractors

• Experience working with public and private stakeholders, such as government or county partners, corporate sponsors and community organizations

• Self-starter who works independently, sets priorities and follows through

• Strong writing, editing and content creation skills

• Availability for evening and weekend events

• Ability to work outside in seasonal weather conditions

Preferred

• Prior experience at a zoo, aquarium, museum, or community-focused, member-driven nonprofit

• Experience with annual appeals and donor communications

• Familiarity with CRMs (e.g., Salesforce NPSP) and email platforms

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or a related field

Compensation and how to apply

This full-time, salaried position has a target salary of $95,000, based on experience. 

To apply, send a resume and a cover letter describing a campaign you led that grew membership, attendance or giving, with results, to View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Zoological Society of New Jersey is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds.

About the Zoological Society of New Jersey

Zoological Society of New Jersey is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation, organized under the laws

of the State of New Jersey. Its mission is to promote the general welfare of Turtle Back Zoo; to

stimulate the public’s interest in the growth, improvement, and development of the Zoo through

education and research, with an emphasis on natural conservation of all species of animals; to

support and sponsor fund-raising events and encourage Society membership, in order to help in

the financing of new facilities, purchase of equipment, and acquisition of animals.