SEATTLE REP is seeking an Associate Director of Arts Engagement, Youth & Community to oversee youth-centered programming and develop all-ages audiences through relationship-based programs and strategies.

ABOUT US

Seattle Rep is committed to producing the highest quality programming, and we believe that our ability to contribute to excellence in the arts depends on building a community whose members come from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences.

We are part of a growing movement in theater to ensure inclusion of those who have been excluded historically; focusing particularly on racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and women, ensuring they are at the decision-making table and reflected in our community.

Mission

Seattle Rep collaborates with extraordinary artists to create productions and programs that reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of our region.

Vision

Theater at the heart of public life

Values

Artistic Vitality, Sustainability, Generous and Inclusive Practices

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Associate Director of Arts Engagement, Youth & Community is an integral member in the strategy and growth of the Arts Engagement department, with a focus on youth development. They connect Seattle Rep’s award-winning programming with young people in our region, increasing access to the arts and cultivating the next generation of theater goers. They contribute to audience growth by building relationships with students, educators, community leaders, and youth-serving organizations across the greater Seattle area. 

Specifically, the Associate Director of Arts Engagement, Youth & Community envisions, develops, and supervises youth-centered programs and collaborates with the Director of Arts Engagement on all of Seattle Rep’s engagement programs, ensuring that all activities are aligned with Seattle Rep’s mission and goals. The work is distributed among three key areas: Community Relationships, Program Development, and Administration.

Typical duties include: 

Community Relationships: Build, grow, and maintain relationships with community organizations, leaders, and individuals of all ages.

Serve as a Seattle Rep ambassador in the community

• Stay current on local community and educational needs and seek out ways to partner, support, and engage
• Maintain & grow relationship with schools involved in the Student Matinee Program and Youth Engagement Residencies
• Develop new partnerships around appropriate programming, including the Next Narrative Monologue Competition and Black is the Light
• Maintain relationship with TeenTix for Teen Nights
• Attend community events regularly

Contribute to Audience Development initiatives

• Develop & execute strategies for growing youth audiences
• Deepen and broaden relationships with BIPOC youth and youth-serving organizations
• Leverage youth & community relationships to grow participation in programs & attendance at productions
• Support audience development tactics within the Arts Engagement department, such as calling campaigns, research, program marketing, and external communications

Cultivate Seattle Rep’s Teaching Artist cohort through recruitment, programming, and facilitation of meetings

• Manage a diverse Teaching Artist cohort, of up to 20 people
• Recruit and hire Teaching Artists as needed

Program Management: Oversee, strengthen, and grow programs in accordance with departmental and organizational goals, and in response to partner and community need and interest. 

Manage the Student Matinee program, which serves approximately 6,000 students every year

• Build and maintain relationships with classroom teachers and youth-serving organizations to encourage student matinee attendance
• Make initial contact to promote attendance at student matinees, and follow up as appropriate
• Host student matinees, working with front of house staff to craft student experience
• Moderate post-show conversations
• Manage in-school Youth Engagement Residencies in conjunction with Student Matinee productions

Manage the Next Narrative Monologue Competition (NNMC)

• Organize and run the NNMC. Efforts include but are not limited to:
• Build and maintain relationships with classroom teachers to schedule recruitment and in-school coaching sessions
• Develop in-class curriculum for school visits and provide advanced coaching for competition
• Teach and/or supervise teaching artists for recruitment visits at regional high schools and community organizations
• Organize, staff, and run preliminaries as well as the Seattle regional finals
• Arrange coaching for finalists for national competition
• Maintain a roster of teaching artists, coaches, and qualified judges
• Arrange coaching sessions between November and February for interested students
• Develop and maintain relationships with young artists and the network of past participants to integrate them into the fabric of Seattle Rep
• Manage partnership with True Colors Theater Company, who runs the national arm of the competition
• Chaperone finalists to NNMC national competition in NYC
• Participate in regular national NNMC partners meetings
• Create, distribute, and analyze data collection and program evaluations

Manage Teen Nights

• Organize Teen Nights for every play in the season, in partnership with TeenTix
• Deepen relationship with TeenTix
• Work with Marketing & Communications to develop strategies to grow a consistent teen audience

Produce the annual Youth Works Festival

• Determine a schedule for the weekend festival that integrates existing youth programs and partnerships into a weekend of performances and workshops
• Coordinate with the Production department for producing support and staffing
• Schedule and coordinate rehearsals, tech, and performances
• Contract Teaching Artists, coordinators, and production support as needed

Manage and grow newer programming

• Collaborate with the Director of Arts Engagement and lead Teaching Artists to strategize and grow programs that have started within the last year:
  • Black is the Light – a program for BIPOC youth, which includes various classes and workshops throughout the year
  • Improv for Wellness – a new improv program for ages 15-19, taking place weekly throughout the season
  • YWE Speak – a year-long theater class in partnership with Young Women Empowered

Create and execute strategies to deepen & grow programs in all metrics

• Collaborate with the Director of Arts Engagement on long-term department strategies, with a focus on youth programs and community partnerships
• Create metrics in collaboration with the Director of Arts Engagement
• Collect data and track metrics
• Develop data-informed strategies for program growth

Administrative:

Collaborate closely with other departments, especially Marketing, Artistic, and Development

• Spearhead the creation of the Play Guides for all Seattle Rep shows, with support from Communications and other Engagement staff, the content of may be adapted for lobbyturgy, show programs, and other supplemental play content
• Actively participate in fundraising efforts to support Engagement programs
• Build relationships with funders and foundations to report on the progress of our programs and ensure program alignment with funders’ priorities
• Contribute to grant writing and development activities
• Support our development department in measuring impact and collecting data for all programs
• Be a part of the Senior Management Team and attend scheduled meetings

Manage Teaching Artists and the Youth Engagement Apprentice

• Hire, supervise, and mentor the Youth Engagement Apprentice (20 hours/week seasonal position)
• Hire, supervise, coach, schedule, and inspire teaching artists – including onboarding, professional development opportunities, and individual check-ins

Serve as an essential contributor to Seattle Rep’s culture and success

• Add constructively to the collaborative and collegial health of the organization
• Actively participate in the EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) work of the organization
• Engage with and strive to advance Seattle Rep’s mission, vision, and values in all aspects of work

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong racial equity and social justice lens
• 3-5 years of experience with youth/education programs, as a teacher, teaching artist, supervisor, and/or administrator
• Experience in (non-profit) administration, including creating and managing budgets and multiple programs
• Comfort working with diverse populations, and evidence of active participation in multiple communities (e.g., membership on boards, volunteer commitments, etc.)
• Ability to effectively represent Seattle Rep’s mission and goals to a variety of communities
• Ability to brainstorm, collaborate, and strategize effectively
• Well-organized, flexible, able to prioritize multiple tasks
• Excellent communication, writing, and public speaking skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated personal and/or professional commitment to engaging with BIPOC and other historically under-invited communities

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated personal and/or professional commitment to centering Black and Indigenous communities.
• BA in Education, Theater, or related field, and/or five years of relevant professional experience
• Experience in managing and delegating to a team of teaching artists; ability to collaborate on curriculum and effectively evaluate performance and consistency in the classroom
• Knowledge of Tessitura, Microsoft Teams, and/or Outlook
• Knowledge of local (King County) communities and school systems.
• Experience in marketing/communications.
• Interest in theater.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to physically move boxes of supplies, tables, chairs, and other event-related materials.

TO BE CONSIDERED

1. Submit a resume detailing related experience and education.
2. Attach a cover letter that outlines how your related experience and education qualifies you for the position.
3. Applicants are reviewed the day after the position closes.
4. First round of interviews tentatively scheduled for the week of August 8, 2022.

Seattle Rep has a mandatory vaccination policy for all employees, with accommodations for medical and religious exemptions only.

Contact hr@seattlerep.org with any questions regarding the application process.