Director of Impact and Engagement

Director of Impact & Engagement 

Job Description

40 hours/week - Full-Time

 

Position Summary: 

Playwrights’ Center exists with a long-standing duality of both supporting playwrights and theatermakers in a deeply private and hands-on way, but also with a desire to create more inclusion and accessibility for those interested in engaging with this art form. The Director of Impact & Engagement will lead PWC’s continuing work on anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the organization. 

The Director of Impact & Engagement at Playwrights’ Center (PWC) will serve as an integral partner in furthering PWC’s mission through equitable engagement with audiences, artists, staff, students, and community. Their focus will be both external (our relationship to community) and internal (our staff and artist working culture). This role is a combination of strategy (i.e. understanding our current climate and determining PWC’s best placement within this context) and execution (i.e. creating project timelines/plans to carry out the ideas and initiatives put forward). This position operates as an individual role within a larger organizational plan and will work closely with various teams (internally and externally) to move their work forward. 

 

Responsibilities of the role will include:

Ambassadorship & Advocacy (External):

  • Identify opportunities for PWC to serve as a space for intersectional healing, growth, conversation, and community response working with PWC playwrights to enact that work.
  • Interact with community groups as a PWC representative to determine how we can best help move important initiatives forward and actively look for more opportunities to expand our current network/deepen existing community partnerships.
  • Prioritize and sustain people-first connections with organizations and individuals in the Creative Enterprise Zone, the Twin Cities, and statewide that provide insight, challenge, and/or uplift the work and mission of PWC.
  • Establish guidelines for mutually beneficial partnerships and events that align with PWC’s values, capacity, and resources. This includes strategizing on audience and member development, creating and leading community-focused projects, and advising artists and staff on community engagement.
  • As part of our Advocacy efforts, share out “Best Approaches” to the wider artistic community through public conversations/articles/joining community forums/etc, when appropriate.

 

Culture Building (Internal):

  • Work with board, staff, and artists to help ensure multiple perspectives/identities are considered throughout the organization’s programs, practices, and policies.
  • Ongoing examination and alignment of the Center’s work with inclusive best approaches from the field and community-at-large. Share learning and ongoing research with the organization to help provide ongoing education about what’s changing in the theatre field and the impact on how we work with artists and our community.
  • Create & refine anti-racist, intersectional, and mindful guidelines of engagement that center the needs of BIPOC, LBGTQ+, and artists with disabilities. Serve as the primary liaison and facilitator of our work with our consultants (Equity Quotient, Accessibility Committee, External Relations Committee, etc.).
  • Help to ensure PWC’s physical space (current and new location) is accessible, artist-centric, and holds true to the center’s mission and values. 
  • Partner with the General Manager to strategize and execute plans for greater organization-wide Accessibility, both in our current iteration and in the planning stages/actualization of the new building.

 

Soft Skills & Qualifications:

  • 3 - 4+ years of previous experience with similar roles or job functions 
  • Comfortable leading new initiatives and engagement strategies in an inclusive organization that is excited to move this work forward
  • Ability to motivate people, leverage relationships, and make progress on goals with teams and individuals
  • Ability and commitment to working with diverse groups in terms of gender expression, race, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, class, and immigrant status
  • Familiarity with theater production, new play development, and/or playwriting
  • Excellent communication skills, especially verbal and written
  • Experience maintaining systems for tracking data and communication to show growth metrics in relation to engagement goals 

 

Useful Previous Experience:

  • Facilitating conversations [virtual and live] in small and large groups 
  • Community organizing and coalition building around a specific group goal
  • Educator and/or teaching artist with adult students
  • Working in audience development/engagement for a theater or arts organization

 

The Director of Impact & Engagement will report to the Producing Artistic Director and is a full-time, 52-week position based in Minneapolis. Salary to low 60’s, DOE. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off in addition to holiday PTO, and an optional IRA plan.

 

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

The Playwrights' Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to the perspective of all voices in every aspect of our organization and its practice. We celebrate diversity and strive to create a dynamic work environment that values inclusion, respect and integrity, service, and innovation. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and résumé to: hr@pwcenter.org and include “Director of Impact & Engagement”  in the subject line.

General accessibility information for the Playwrights’ Center can be found at pwcenter.org/accessibility and we are happy to answer other accessibility questions sent to hr@pwcenter.org