Posted: Apr 23, 2026

Director of Marketing & Sales

Full-time

Salary: $105,200.00 - $123,800.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Jun 1, 2026

Director of Marketing and Sales

As a member of the Zoo’s Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Marketing & Sales is responsible for the development and execution of all marketing, communications, and sales strategies to drive attendance, increase revenue, and create brand awareness. This position drives attendance and earned revenue through ticket sales, membership, and events while ensuring all communications support the Zoo’s brand as a leader in conservation, education, and community engagement.

This position’s pay range: $105,200 - $123,800

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES AT JBZ

The Director of Marketing and Sales provides leadership and direction to the communications, creative, marketing, sales, and public events staff. They lead, implement, and measure the success of a comprehensive marketing strategy and plan to enhance the Zoo’s brand and position in the marketplace and the general public, driving attendance and sales. This role oversees all media representation of John Ball Zoo, develops and maintains community partnerships, and implements a comprehensive communications and PR plan. This role is also responsible for brand strategy and guidelines and ensuring that the Zoo’s brand is protected and consistent, internally and externally.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES AT JBZ

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field
7-10 years of progressively responsible and demonstrably successful experience in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, and/or Sales
Experience leading and mentoring teams, promoting a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation
Excellent leadership, communication, culture-building, and decision-making skills
Excellent interpersonal communication skills; team player with a mindset of continuous learning and improvement
Proven ability to effectively handle multiple priorities with exceptional organizational and time management skills
Strong analytical skills with a strategic mindset focused on data-driven decisions
Accountability for key performance indicators (e.g., attendance, revenue)
Computer literacy and working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, computer graphics, multimedia presentation and database applications

BENEFITS AT JBZ

We offer incredibly competitive benefits. This includes FREE:

Medical plan option
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Dental & Vision for employee & family
12 Full weeks of parental leave

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

We offer generous Vacation and Personal time, and 11 paid Holidays each year. We offer a 4% match and 3% employer contribution to your 401k, Zoo discounts, employee-only Zoo experiences, tuition reimbursement, additional medical benefits to meet your and your family's needs, and a FREE Premium Zoo membership for you and your family.

Who We Are:
At John Ball Zoo, our mission is to inspire our community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and our natural environment. John Ball Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1983 which assures excellent animal care and a dedication to conservation. As one of the top attractions in Grand Rapids, we welcome over 700,000 guests each year who are able to experience over 2,000 animals of over 230 species that represent the beautiful wildlife living in our world! We are passionate about our mission focused on education and conservation but know that our 120+ full time and 350 seasonal people guided by our core values accomplish this mission. Our core values are:

Conservation
Education
Community
Celebrate
Compassion

John Ball Zoo is a drug free facility under federal regulations.