Director of Plays for New Audiences - The Children's Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of Plays for New Audiences. This is a full-time position with occasional evening and weekend hours. This position requires a self-starter with high attention to detail, demonstrated sales, customer service and project management skills, and someone has the ability to positively contribute to an anti-racist/anti-biased organization. CTC has identified PNA as an area of strategic importance for growth, and the Director of PNA must be an individual excited about the opportunities the business presents, and eager for the chance to grow a dynamic segment of CTC. Applicants for this role should have robust communication and relationship building skills, knowledge of sales and marketing, and demonstrated organizational skills.



CTC is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and justice in our organization and our community, and thus we seek a broad spectrum of employees. We strongly encourage and welcome applicants who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color, as well as those who are from other underrepresented communities.



ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Led by Artistic Director Peter Brosius and Managing Director Kimberly Motes, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s leading theatre for multigenerational audiences and is one of the 25 largest producing theatres in the United States. A winner of the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, CTC creates extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge and inspire young people. It has set standards of excellence in the quality of its productions, commitment to new work, and innovative education and community partnerships.



DESCRIPTION OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA

Minneapolis and the Twin Cities area has a thriving and vibrant arts scene. The Twin Cities metro area is one of the largest theatre markets in the country, with over 200 theatres. Minnesota year in and year out ranks near the top nationwide in federal and state arts funding and has a strong history of private arts philanthropy.

The Twin Cities area is the second largest economic center in the Midwest and is annually ranked as a top area in terms of quality of life. It is home to several restaurants and chefs who are James Beard nominees or winners. The Minneapolis park system has been called the best-designed, best-financed and best-maintained in America.



DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

CTC is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all of our hiring for staff, artists, and recruiting of board members. CTC is committed to a future where our theatre is a home for all people, all families, and is truly reflective of our community. We are also committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CTC prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.



POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Plays for New Audiences (PNA) is responsible for managing the entire business of PNA including financials, marketing, sales, contracts, and customer support. This individual must interact successfully with a wide range of personalities including staff, artists, volunteers, board members, committee members, donors and the general public.



PNA is the script licensing program of the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis (CTC), the leading theatre for multi-generational audiences. CTC is well-known for commissioning scripts that are topical, contemporary, and written by some of today’s leading playwrights. In addition to CTC’s body of work, PNA also represents a cannon of sophisticated, high-quality plays and musicals for multigenerational audiences created by respected playwrights nationally and internationally. The entire catalogue contains over 300 scripts. Through its service to the larger theatrical community, PNA is a catalyst to drive the American theatre to new heights.



This position will report the Chief Operating Officer.



ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Lead Plays for New Audiences

• Direct and manage CTC’s play licensing business, including annual revenue goals and plans

• Develop relationships with playwrights, producers, and other artistic leaders in an effort to secure new properties for the PNA catalogue

• Participate, with COO, in the negotiations for and acquisition of rights for properties

• Build and activate a sales plan that segments product and markets to grow number of licenses produced from the PNA catalogue

• Maintain a high level of customer service and response time to script licensing requests, royalty quotes, perusal script orders, and other customer questions/concerns

• Create the PNA annual budget, including both projected expenses and sales/revenue forecast

• Update PNA financial reports and process weekly deposits. Reconcile PNA financials with CTC Finance Director’s financial reports monthly, and providing final reports for the annual audit

• Create and implement a PNA marketing plan, including e-newsletters, website updates, advertisements, conferences, direct mail, and other marketing opportunities

• Write copy for printed materials, e-news and the website, as well as acquiring images and design

• Draft contracts, with COO, to obtain licensing rights with artists, publishers, theaters, and other individuals; maintain records on the status of current contracts, renewing as they expire

• Other duties as assigned



Collaborate with all staff in the furtherance of CTC’s goal of being an anti-racist theatre that works towards Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Assist with monitoring and ensuring access, representation, participation and decision making for historically marginalized communities within Plays for New Audiences

• Encourage and empower everyone to speak out against racist workplace practices and policies

• Study topics that lead to a deeper understanding of how white supremacy, racial violence, and systemic racism have shaped American society and how that shapes CTC’s workplace and the lives of CTC employees

• Positively contribute to the ACT One platform, creating a future where our theatre is a home for all people, all families, reflective of our community



POSITION QUALIFICATIONS



Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated skills and abilities in project management

• Demonstrated skills and abilities in sales and customer service

• Demonstrated skills in contract negotiation preferred

• Demonstrated ability in business finance preferred



Competency Statement(s)

• Adaptability – Ability to adapt to rapid pace in a changing workplace

• Analytical Skills - Ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem

• Budget – Ability to plan and work within budget parameters

• Creative - Ability to think in such a way as to produce a new concept or idea

• Communication - Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and ask questions effectively with others

• Decision Making - Ability to make critical decisions while following company procedures

• Detail Oriented – Thoroughness in accomplishing a task through concern for all the areas involved

• Inclusive – Skill and value of providing equal access of opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized

• Integrity – Ability to act with the highest ethical standards in making work related decisions

• Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task

• Relationship Building - ability to identify and initiate working relationships and to develop and maintain them in a way that is of mutual benefit

• Patience - Ability to act calmly under stress and strain, and of not being hasty or impetuous

• Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problem

• Project management skills – Ability to plan and manage workflows and personnel in a holistic and integrated fashion to ensure progress of projects, and awareness of responsibilities among staff

• Sales – Ability to manage the sales process, manage customer relationships and manage oneself in the sales process

• Self-Motivation – Ability to organize, direct and effectively motivate oneself

• Time Management - Ability to manage the available time to organize and complete work efficiently and effectively within given deadlines



Computer Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and Outlook, as well as Adobe Acrobat

• Knowledge of PowerPoint, Shopify and WordPress a plus, but not required

• Experience in working with accounting software, especially QuickBooks

• Experience with design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and In Design is a plus



Other Qualities

• A commitment to ethical conduct in all respects of the work environment

• A commitment to creating a just, equitable and inclusive work environment

• A commitment to the protection of confidential information to which this position has access



COMPENSATION

The starting salary range for this full-time position is between $51,000 and $56,000 annually. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance; short-term and long-term disability and life insurance; vacation and sick leave; nine paid holidays; and a 403(b)-retirement savings plan.



TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter and resume to Andrew Robertson, Director of Human Resources at jobs@childrenstheatre.org. Please include the name of the position(s) to which you are applying in the subject line of the email.


Salary: $51,000 to $56,000 annually