Missouri Botanical Garden
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63146
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Join to apply for the
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
role at
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden, a National Historic Landmark and one of the world’s leading botanical institutions, seeks an experienced and strategic
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
to join its executive leadership team during a transformative period in its history. Founded in 1859, the Garden’s mission, “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life,” drives its global leadership in plant science, conservation, sustainability, and education. With over 79 acres of curated gardens, a world‑renowned herbarium, and three additional properties—the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve and Litzsinger Rd Ecology Center—the Garden serves more than one million visitors annually as a cultural icon in our community, and engages in research and conservation efforts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In 2025, the Garden welcomed Dr. Lúcia G. Lohmann as its new President and Director. A globally respected botanist and conservationist, Dr. Lohmann brings a collaborative leadership style and a bold vision for expanding the Garden’s scientific and cultural impact. Reporting directly to the President and Director, the
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
will serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and is a strategic leader in shaping the Missouri Botanical Garden’s identity and public presence. This senior leadership role ensures an integrated Communication and Marketing strategy that enhances brand visibility and strengthens engagement with audiences locally, nationally and internationally. It will drive educational outreach efforts to make the Garden’s mission and work known, support revenue growth by broadening visitor demographics and deepening relationships and community partners, and communicate the Garden’s scientific and environmental impact in ways that are accessible and inspiring.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and direct a cross‑functional team of marketing, communications, digital, and design professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture focused on efficiency, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Co‑construct and implement an annually mission‑aligned marketing and communications strategy to advance the Garden’s brand and institutional goals.
Serve as a strategic advisor and partner to the President, Senior Leadership, and Board of Trustees to position the Garden as a cultural icon in St. Louis and a global leader in plant science and sustainability.
Ensure financial stewardship of the Garden’s resources, managing paid media campaigns for effective budget use across digital, print, broadcast, signage, outdoor advertising, collateral and other media placements.
Oversee the development and management of content for presidential presentations and scripts, adapting messages for various audiences and maintaining high quality and consistency.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with key partners and stakeholders, both internal and external.
Champion interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and external partners in support of programmatic and operational goals.
Use market research, community insights and performance analytics to guide brand positioning, measure audience engagement and refine communication approaches.
Brand Stewardship
Oversee and ensure consistent messaging, visual identity, and tone for all internal and external communications across diverse platforms, properties, and partnerships.
Assist in creating and maintaining a culture of philanthropy, ensuring donor, member and volunteer messaging aligns with Institutional Advancement.
Enhance brand visibility locally and globally across diverse platforms, promoting the Garden’s historic legacy with contemporary relevance.
Co‑construct targeted campaigns to broaden visitation and deepen engagement with the Greater St. Louis community, and oversee integrated campaigns for major exhibitions, seasonal events and new initiatives.
Digital Strategy & Innovation
Lead the Garden’s digital evolution with a unified cohesive strategy across website, mobile, social media, and email marketing platforms.
Improve the user experience through digital storytelling, search optimization, analytics, and audience targeting.
Evaluate and adopt emerging digital tools and platforms to stay at the forefront of museum and public garden engagement.
Communications & Public Relations
Oversee internal and external communications, media relations, content development, and crisis communications.
Identify and manage public relations risks and develop contingency plans for potential crisis situations.
Position scientific, conservation, and sustainability work in compelling, publicly accessible formats across media channels.
Establish brand‑protective strategies and proactive communication protocols to safeguard organizational reputation during high‑visibility issues.
Cultivate strong relationships with local, national, and international press, influencers, and strategic partners.
Supervisory Responsibilities Direct reports include Director‑Marketing, Senior Public Relations Officer and their teams. Oversees third‑party agencies and contract editors, designers, developers, photographers and writers as required.
Qualifications
Minimum of 10 years of senior‑level marketing and communications leadership, preferably within a large cultural, educational, or nonprofit institution.
Deep experience in brand management, public engagement strategy, digital marketing and team leadership.
Record of accomplishment in audience development and driving visitation/revenue growth.
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, especially with scientific or technical content.
Understanding and appreciation of plant science, sustainability, biodiversity or environmental education preferred; strategic thinker with passion for mission‑driven storytelling.
Collaborative and confident leader with high emotional intelligence.
Innovative, analytical and adaptable to change.
Committed to representing diverse voices in all communications.
Scheduling flexibility allowing work some weekends, evenings and holidays.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations or a related field, required. Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent combination of education, skills and experience may be considered.
Seniority level Executive
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries Non‑profit Organizations
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Missouri Botanical Garden by 2x
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St Louis, MO .
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Vice President, Communications and Marketing
role at
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden, a National Historic Landmark and one of the world’s leading botanical institutions, seeks an experienced and strategic
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
to join its executive leadership team during a transformative period in its history. Founded in 1859, the Garden’s mission, “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life,” drives its global leadership in plant science, conservation, sustainability, and education. With over 79 acres of curated gardens, a world‑renowned herbarium, and three additional properties—the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve and Litzsinger Rd Ecology Center—the Garden serves more than one million visitors annually as a cultural icon in our community, and engages in research and conservation efforts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In 2025, the Garden welcomed Dr. Lúcia G. Lohmann as its new President and Director. A globally respected botanist and conservationist, Dr. Lohmann brings a collaborative leadership style and a bold vision for expanding the Garden’s scientific and cultural impact. Reporting directly to the President and Director, the
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
will serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and is a strategic leader in shaping the Missouri Botanical Garden’s identity and public presence. This senior leadership role ensures an integrated Communication and Marketing strategy that enhances brand visibility and strengthens engagement with audiences locally, nationally and internationally. It will drive educational outreach efforts to make the Garden’s mission and work known, support revenue growth by broadening visitor demographics and deepening relationships and community partners, and communicate the Garden’s scientific and environmental impact in ways that are accessible and inspiring.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and direct a cross‑functional team of marketing, communications, digital, and design professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture focused on efficiency, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Co‑construct and implement an annually mission‑aligned marketing and communications strategy to advance the Garden’s brand and institutional goals.
Serve as a strategic advisor and partner to the President, Senior Leadership, and Board of Trustees to position the Garden as a cultural icon in St. Louis and a global leader in plant science and sustainability.
Ensure financial stewardship of the Garden’s resources, managing paid media campaigns for effective budget use across digital, print, broadcast, signage, outdoor advertising, collateral and other media placements.
Oversee the development and management of content for presidential presentations and scripts, adapting messages for various audiences and maintaining high quality and consistency.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with key partners and stakeholders, both internal and external.
Champion interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and external partners in support of programmatic and operational goals.
Use market research, community insights and performance analytics to guide brand positioning, measure audience engagement and refine communication approaches.
Brand Stewardship
Oversee and ensure consistent messaging, visual identity, and tone for all internal and external communications across diverse platforms, properties, and partnerships.
Assist in creating and maintaining a culture of philanthropy, ensuring donor, member and volunteer messaging aligns with Institutional Advancement.
Enhance brand visibility locally and globally across diverse platforms, promoting the Garden’s historic legacy with contemporary relevance.
Co‑construct targeted campaigns to broaden visitation and deepen engagement with the Greater St. Louis community, and oversee integrated campaigns for major exhibitions, seasonal events and new initiatives.
Digital Strategy & Innovation
Lead the Garden’s digital evolution with a unified cohesive strategy across website, mobile, social media, and email marketing platforms.
Improve the user experience through digital storytelling, search optimization, analytics, and audience targeting.
Evaluate and adopt emerging digital tools and platforms to stay at the forefront of museum and public garden engagement.
Communications & Public Relations
Oversee internal and external communications, media relations, content development, and crisis communications.
Identify and manage public relations risks and develop contingency plans for potential crisis situations.
Position scientific, conservation, and sustainability work in compelling, publicly accessible formats across media channels.
Establish brand‑protective strategies and proactive communication protocols to safeguard organizational reputation during high‑visibility issues.
Cultivate strong relationships with local, national, and international press, influencers, and strategic partners.
Supervisory Responsibilities Direct reports include Director‑Marketing, Senior Public Relations Officer and their teams. Oversees third‑party agencies and contract editors, designers, developers, photographers and writers as required.
Qualifications
Minimum of 10 years of senior‑level marketing and communications leadership, preferably within a large cultural, educational, or nonprofit institution.
Deep experience in brand management, public engagement strategy, digital marketing and team leadership.
Record of accomplishment in audience development and driving visitation/revenue growth.
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, especially with scientific or technical content.
Understanding and appreciation of plant science, sustainability, biodiversity or environmental education preferred; strategic thinker with passion for mission‑driven storytelling.
Collaborative and confident leader with high emotional intelligence.
Innovative, analytical and adaptable to change.
Committed to representing diverse voices in all communications.
Scheduling flexibility allowing work some weekends, evenings and holidays.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations or a related field, required. Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent combination of education, skills and experience may be considered.
Seniority level Executive
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries Non‑profit Organizations
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Missouri Botanical Garden by 2x
Get notified about new Vice President Communications jobs in
St Louis, MO .
#J-18808-Ljbffr