Content Strategist

WE’RE HIRING!
Position: Content Strategist
Reports to: Marketing Director
Direct Reports: None
Indirect Reports: None
Status: Regular Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $45,000 – $48,000, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays/Days of Celebration, Matched Retirement Plan, Disability and Life insurance, Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

The Content Strategist serves as the creative pulse of the marketing team. You will lead on creating all content and copy for social media (both organic and paid), website, email, playbills, advertisements, and external communications. You will serve as a liaison between the marketing team and all other departments, including our PR agency of record, ensuring that the energy of the vibrant artistic work at Stages is translated into compelling narrative content and the stories we tell are effectively and creatively communicated to the public. You have an obsession with aesthetics and high standards for quality.

About us
Stages tells compelling stories in an intimate setting where audiences can connect with both the art on stage and the people who create it. We produce a broad scope of plays and musicals ranging from jukebox musicals and family entertainment to world premieres and new work by emerging writers.

Stages was founded in 1978 and we’ve grown to become Houston’s sixth largest nonprofit performing arts producer and the largest outside the downtown theater district. We perform year-round with an average of 12 productions and 75,000+ visitors each season. We’ve opened our new home, The Gordy, made possible by a fully-funded $35 million capital campaign.

We’re a welcoming, collaborative culture that encourages each staff member to take initiative, share ideas, and help shape the organization. Working at Stages hits the sweet spot between struggling startup and corporate behemoth.
About you
You are a natural storyteller with a passion for the arts, always keeping a customer-first approach in mind to ensure their needs and experiences are at the heart of what you do. You are an incredible wordsmith, and you can spin an exciting narrative out of what others might miss at first glance. You know how to curate a visually compelling Instagram feed, and you have an eye for thumb-stopping digital content. You understand the need to and are adept at communicating with diverse communities and centering their stories in your work. You don’t shy away from writing about difficult subjects with compassion, wit, and sensitivity. You work well with other creatives, and relish in the opportunity to turn artistic compromise into a win-win for all stakeholders. You thrive as the hub of a busy team, knowing that your work helps create unforgettable arts experiences for others.

What you’ll do at Stages
Be the voice of Stages. You will shepherd our institutional voice through crafting and curating all messaging and content on social media, emails, web content, and playbill content
Ensure that grammar, punctuation, and mechanics are polished in all written communications, while still feeling comfortable bending conventional rules for the occasional flair of personality
Identify storytelling opportunities and source and create content to share these stories with our audiences, including the capture of visually engaging photo and video content to be used in all external placements
Write and manage all copy for advertisements and press releases, ensuring timely delivery and publication
In close collaboration with the Marketing Director, track and analyze the performance of advertising copy, social media placements, web content, and more, making recommendations for enhanced performance
Lead on the creation of social media copy and content to be used as advertising placements across digital platforms
Lead on the cross-departmental curation of playbill content for each show, working closely with the Graphic Design Lead to ensure the timely publication of each playbill
Live by the marketing calendar, ensuring regular and consistent content is produced for organizational needs across platforms
Organize and execute all photo and video shoots, both show-specific and for season campaigns.
Field requests for content from the marketing team and internal departments; field media requests for photos and other content as needed

To excel in this job, you’ll need
3-5 years experience in communications, journalism, advertising, or media; arts experience is preferred
Experience maintaining and upholding aesthetic standards and perceived quality of a brand
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated proficiency and use of best practices in managing business social media accounts
Excellent time management, organizational skills and attention to detail
Dynamic, proactive team player attitude
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Passion for Stages’ work and desire to play a vital role during a transformational period of growth
Evening and weekend work, as needed

It’s also great to have
Willingness to tackle projects outside your area of expertise
Knowledge of Google Ads/GA4 and Meta advertising
Familiarity with (and a passion for) reading plays and musicals
Experience with photography, videography, video editing, website design or maintenance, and graphic design
Degree in communications, journalism, advertising, media studies, English, or related area

This is important
Stages is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe creative environment for staff, artists and our community. We know that through discussion and expression we can continue to promote change in a positive direction. We believe that diversity on and off stage is important. We are committed to bridging cultural gaps and creating an environment of inclusion and equity for all. It is our intent to provide equal opportunities to all who may apply. We welcome every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic makeup, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, and thinking style.

Our hiring process
First, send us some information about yourself—please include an introduction to help us understand who you are and why you’re right for this position (eg: cover letter, email, personal statement, video) as well as anything you think might be helpful to understand your background, experience, and skills. This could include a resume, event materials, writing or other work samples, personal website, LinkedIn profile, etc.

Human Resources Generalist
Stages
800 Rosine Street
Houston, Texas 77019
humanresources@stageshouston.com

If we think you might be a good fit, we’ll contact you to schedule an introductory interview with our team. This conversation will help us learn about you, share more about the job and Stages, and answer your initial questions. From there, we may also invite you to talk with other staff members from positions across the organization so that you have an opportunity to explore Stages’ culture and work environment, and we can get a sense of what you’ll bring to the team.