Artistic Director of Theater
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Category: Theatre & Production
Type: Full-time
Min. Experience: Director
Salary: $78,000 - $84,000
Position Summary:
The Artistic Director of Theatre (Artistic Director), reporting to the Sr. Director of Artistic Strategy and Programs, provides inspirational leadership and management of COCA's on-site Theatre and partner use of the Berges Theatre. As the public face of these programs, the Artistic Director will engage with students, COCA families, audiences, donors, funders, employees, the media, and other community members, amplifying the organization’s reputation and brand locally and nationally. This role works to develop and implement audience development and student engagement strategies to meet set revenue and enrollment goals. This position is also responsible for managing, developing, and inspiring COCA’s Theatre faculty, furthering their professional growth. Committed to making art accessible to people from all backgrounds, the Artistic Director will be at the forefront of equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, ensuring that COCA is a place where everyone has a sense of belonging and feels welcomed.
Essential Functions:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Theatre Program & Educational Leadership:
Design, develop, implement, grow, and evaluate the educational direction of the theatre programs.
Provide artistic oversight and overall direction ensure the quality of the season for COCA’s theatre student companies.
Oversee theatre productions to ensure high quality rehearsals, tech rehearsals, residencies, and company performances.
Develop long and short-term plans and goals for assigned programs; evaluate effectiveness and ensure quality.
Participate in a collaborative curatorial team alongside the Sr. Director of Arts Programming and Artistic Directors to determine produced, presented, and co-presented performances, creating an annual series.
Work with agents to select any presented shows that would be included. Attend showcase performances and negotiate contracts.
Research available script for productions, price shows, negotiate and develop royalty contracts and obtain scripts/materials.
Collaborate cross-departmentally to evaluate programs, recommend new learning formats, new arts curriculum development and other responses to feedback from staff, faculty, students, and parents.
Meet annually set revenue and enrollment goals, created in collaboration with the Sr. Director of Arts Programming and COCA leadership. Manage program activities to meet those goals.
Direct one (1) production every other year, as needed.
Administration & Management:
Recruit, hire, train, and develop a highly experienced team of Theatre employees including production and teaching artists.
Process theatre payroll and the production independent contract schedule.
Support production elements of both internally produced shows as well as touring performances with company management duties and event coordination, including independent/artistic contracts, travel, per diem and hotel. Achieve exemplary hospitality standards and serve as a relationship liaison with those visiting artists.
Coordinate company auditions and casting process, including scheduling rooms, providing information for publicity of auditions. Coordinate auditions with individual directors, participate in the process of auditions and notify those cast.
Work with the registration department and Pre-Professional Division Manager on pre-professional division placements.
Collaborate with Marketing and Box Office teams to help guide promotions and drive ticket sales.
Collaborate with Development and Education teams to help develop special events and community programming related to theatre productions including but not limited to schooltime performances.
Develop and manage the theatre education and theatre production budgets. Manage and track expenses appropriately.
Relationship Building & Community Engagement:
Collaborate with Senior Leadership team to develop, strengthen and maintain program partnerships and key relationships with community organizations and external stakeholders.
Manage COCA’s Berges partners artistic exchanges that support student work.
Work with the Development team to be a participant in fundraising initiatives related to theatre.
Serve as a spokesperson for the department’s artistic vision via speaking engagements, public and social appearances, and, as requested, at fundraising events and solicitations.
Seek opportunities within the local and national regions for COCA programs to become involved and grow COCA’s visibility.
Other duties as assigned.
Education and/ or Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in education required; advanced degree preferred. Experience in education is required.
Technical fluency in theatre, visual art and design disciplines is required.
Eight (8) years in an educational leadership position or equivalent time in a leadership position in an art or cultural organization is required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, familiarity and experience in in grant writing and fundraising is a plus.
Must be proficient using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
A commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Competencies:
Ability to problem-solve, be flexible, imaginative, and innovative.
Ability to take initiative in the development of ideas and programs and be administratively self-sufficient.
Possess and demonstrate an excellent work ethic, positive attitude, and sense of humor. Participates in meetings and demonstrates group presentation skills.
Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification.
Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently. Plans for additional resources; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
Customer service skills required, able to tailor communication between internal team members and possible job candidates.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
This position may need to move objects weighing up to 20 pounds for various needs.
Ability to stand and circulate for extended periods.
Ability to bend, twist, stoop, kneel and reach in all directions.
This position is required to work nights and weekends, subject to COCA’s production schedule.
This position is eligible for remote & hybrid work, subject to supervisor discretion once the probationary requirements of the COCA Remote & Hybrid Work Policy are met.
COCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at COCA are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. COCA is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment. COCA complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@cocastl.org.
