Vice President of Marketing & Communications

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP serves as the strategic marketing and communications leader and organization-wide brand steward for the San Antonio Botanical Garden. This position combines strategic marketing leadership with hands-on brand management, leading a four-person team while serving as the primary liaison between marketing and communications, department leads, and external agencies. The VP develops and executes comprehensive marketing strategies that advance SABG’s mission, drive attendance and revenue, and position the organization as a world-class botanical institution.

The marketing and communications team serves as a facilitator and strategic partner to departments across SABG, working to co-create solutions and platforms that strengthen organizational success. SABG systems and processes are grounded in relationships, ensuring that support is people-centered, responsive, and aligned with the needs of staff and the community.

This role requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, PR, brand and marketing expertise, and collaborative leadership. The VP ensures brand integrity across all touchpoints, elevates storytelling that showcases SABG’s plant conservation and community impact, and builds trust through high-quality, consistent communications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Marketing and Communication Leadership (30%)

• Develop and guide an annual or 18-month strategic marketing and communications plan in partnership with organizational leaders, ensuring alignment with the Garden’s master plan and institutional priorities.
• Serve as a collaborative marketing partner to department heads, helping translate their goals and initiatives into effective, audience-focused communications that support organizational outcomes and revenue targets.
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration by participating in planning meetings, establishing clear communication rhythms, and building proactive systems that support thoughtful project planning and reduce last-minute needs.
• Guide public relations strategy and execution, supporting media outreach, press release development, and media advisories, in collaboration with an external public relations agency.
• Coordinate marketing and communications activities with the external agency and support internal team members to ensure smooth workflows, shared understanding, and cohesive execution across all channels.
• Review and interpret marketing performance metrics and ROI, offering data-informed insights and recommendations to leadership on growing audiences, improving campaign effectiveness, and optimizing resources.
• Oversee the marketing and communications budget, vendor relationships, and resource allocation with an emphasis on efficiency, impact, and strategic investment.
• Champion the marketing and communications team as a facilitative, relationship-centered partner, building trust and credibility with internal and external stakeholders and empowering departments to generate strong, aligned content with marketing and communications’ guidance and support.

Brand Stewardship & Content Strategy (30%)

• Serve as a collaborative brand steward, helping departments consistently reflect SABG’s identity across materials, platforms, and communications following the 2026 brand launch.
• Develop, maintain, and uphold accessible brand guidelines, creating supportive training programs and staff education so all teams feel confident and equipped to use the brand effectively.
• Manage organization-wide brand governance through user-friendly systems that empower departments to create high-quality, on-brand materials with ease.
• Guide overall content strategy and storytelling, working with teams to surface and elevate SABG’s conservation efforts, horticultural expertise, educational impact, and scientific contributions in compelling, audience-centered ways.
• Provide copywriting and editing support for major SABG communications, including fundraising materials, donor correspondence, program descriptions, website content, and marketing collateral—ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with brand voice.

Team Leadership & Operations Management (25%)

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and professional development for a three-person marketing team: Digital Marketing Manager, Graphic Designer, and Marketing Coordinator.
• Manage workflow, project prioritization, and quality control across all marketing activities; implement and maintain project management systems that enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• Develop, implement, and uphold clear approval processes and quality standards that ensure marketing outputs align with organizational goals, stakeholder needs, and brand expectations— holding the marketing team accountable to these standards in a supportive, growth-oriented way.
• Establish service level agreements and realistic timelines for marketing requests; educate stakeholders on appropriate lead times and collaboratively set expectations based on project scope and impact.
• Conduct regular team meetings focused on strategic planning, creative collaboration, refinement of processes, and ongoing professional development—beyond status updates.

Marketing Execution & Campaign Management (15%)

• Lead campaign planning and execution for key initiatives—including membership acquisition, annual fund appeals, major events, exhibitions, and programs—ensuring strategies are developed collaboratively with departmental stakeholders and aligned with shared institutional goals.
• Oversee digital marketing and communications strategy in partnership with cross-department teams, incorporating their insights while guiding tactics toward the highest standards of clarity, accessibility, and brand alignment.
• Direct the creation of marketing collateral by working closely with internal stakeholders to understand objectives and desired outcomes, then shepherd materials through a collaborative process that ensures strategic alignment, high-quality execution, and adherence to brand and messaging standards.
• Ensure marketing efforts drive measurable conversions—including attendance, membership growth, program enrollment, and revenue generation—and share performance insights with stakeholders to support informed, collective decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate media relations and public relations activities in collaboration with internal leaders; serve as organizational spokesperson when appropriate, ensuring messaging reflects the perspectives and priorities of key departments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience, required.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive marketing and communications experience, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role
• Proven experience in nonprofit, cultural institution, museum, zoo, botanical garden, or similar mission-driven organization strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in brand management and strategic brand implementation
• Strong portfolio demonstrating excellent copywriting, content strategy, and campaign development

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking: Ability to develop long-term marketing and communications strategies aligned with organizational goals
• Public Relations: Strong command of PR strategy, narrative development, and media relations, with the ability to work in close partnership with SABG’s external PR agency to secure earned media, manage sensitive communications, and strengthen SABG’s public profile.
• Brand expertise: Deep understanding of brand development, governance, and implementation
• Exceptional writing: Outstanding copywriting and editing skills across diverse formats and audiences
• Revenue fluency: Understanding of how marketing and communications directly support revenue-generating functions, including admissions, membership, events, venue rentals, and philanthropy.
• Collaborative leadership style: Demonstrated ability to lead through both strategy and direct contribution.
• Relationship building: Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build trust with stakeholders at all levels
• Project management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail
• Working knowledge of digital marketing platforms, content management systems, email marketing, social media, and analytics tools, with a willingness to engage directly with the platforms the team relies on.
• Creative direction: Ability to provide creative direction and quality control while respecting team expertise

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in technology platforms (CRM, email marketing, project management tools such as Monday.com)
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and design principles
• Familiarity with website content management systems preferred
• Strong analytical skills with experience using Google Analytics or similar platforms
• Experience with budget management and vendor coordination

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience launching or managing major brand initiatives or rebrands
• Background in conservation, environmental, or science communications
• Understanding of horticulture, botany, or environmental sciences
• Experience working with external creative agencies
• Awareness of fundraising and development practices
• Familiarity with the San Antonio market and regional tourism landscape
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are a plus

Full-time benefits include Medical, Dental, PTO, paid holidays, and 401(k) Match.

San Antonio Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Full job description available at sabgtx.org.