Community Engagement Manager

The Community Engagement Manager provides support to Stages’ community engagement endeavors and provides staff leadership to the Houston Theater Training Coalition. The Community Engagement Manager also supports the logistics, engagement, and outreach in support of Stages’ productions and programs.

About you

You are passionate about theater! You care deeply about the training of theater-makers and artists of all kinds. You believe deeply in building community. You flourish in collaborating with the artistic team. You love details and logistics and scheduling; you are organized and adaptable. You like to plan ahead. You are at home interacting with artists, board members, and other community stakeholders. You have a can-do attitude and enthusiasm for the organization and its artistic vision. You let the values of anti-racism and anti-oppression guide your work and are passionate about creating inclusive spaces.

What you’ll do at Stages

• Serve as the primary administrator and organizational lead for the Houston Theater Training Coalition (HTTC), working directly with Stages leadership to steward and strengthen the Coalition and actively engage participating theaters. Responsibilities include maintaining communication and relationships with Coalition stakeholders, coordinating logistics for trainings and Coalition meetings, leading Stages’ mentor and mentee programs.
• Coordinate Community Engagement programming. This includes engaging consultants, scheduling meetings, and communication with staff and board to share information and set expectations for participation.
• Develop programs and cultivate community partnerships that support and extend the reach of Stages’ productions and programs, with particular attention to engaging underserved, underrepresented, and non-traditional theatre-going communities.
• In collaboration with Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director, or Artistic Associate, coordinate pre/post show discussions, community panels, and public events tied to productions.
• Schedule and maintain a retrospective review calendar, take detailed notes of each retrospective review meeting, and communicate results and actions to responders.
• Propose and develop creative concepts and initiatives to increase community presence at Stages and Stages’ presence in the community, working with Stages leadership and appropriate departments to evaluate and advance approved initiatives.
• In collaboration with the Artistic Director, serve as internal advocate for education and community perspectives in programming and DEI initiatives in programming at Stages.
• Collaborate with Artistic, Production, and Front of House staff to ensure community education priorities are represented in season planning and providing access to audience services (ex: listening devices, ASL, and sensory-inclusive shows).
• Work with Production Director and/or Production Manager to maintain communication flow between Production, Artistic, and Inclusion, Engagement and Training departments.
• Work with Production Manager and Events & Organizational Operations Manager to coordinate facility usage for Engagement activities.
• Support the Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director, and Artistic Associate in the planning and coordination of audience and community engagement efforts associated with Stages’ productions and programs, including activities such as talkbacks, community conversations, pre- and post-performance engagement opportunities, and lobby displays. Coordinate with Patron Services, Front of House, and other departments as appropriate to support effective communication and execution.
• Coordinate and support Stages’ youth and education programming, including student matinees, Young Artist Conservatory, and community-based workshops; contribute to the development and refinement of programming in collaboration with Artistic leadership and other appropriate departments.
• Provide oversight and program coordination for the Young Artist Conservatory, working in partnership with the Lead Teacher on curriculum planning and implementation, teaching artist selection and hiring, scheduling, and other program needs.
• Participate in evaluating scripts for educational programming.
• Coordinate with Patron Services and Group Sales in providing K–12 educators with copies of scripts and obtaining assurance that student group leaders have affirmed knowledge of scripts’ contents and have approved of the program.
• Build and grow Stages’ mentorship and apprenticeship programs with a focus on emerging professionals from underrepresented communities.
• Support the Sin Muros Festival Coordinator in artistic endeavors of annual festival.
• Uphold the Stages brand, culture, and EDI values in your day-to-day workflow.
• Uphold anti-oppressive practices learned as a staff member with our visiting artists and technicians.
• Demonstrate a commitment to EDI through continuous development and participation in EDI initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

To excel in this job, you’ll need

• Proven ability to work well both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and relationship building skills.
• Teaching experience a plus

This is important

Stages is committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe creative environment for staff, artists and our community. We know that through discussion and expression we can continue to promote change in a positive direction. We believe that diversity on and off stage is important. We are committed to bridging cultural gaps and creating an environment of inclusion and equity for all. It is our intent to provide equal opportunities to all who may apply. We welcome every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic makeup, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status and thinking style.

Our hiring process

First, send us some information about yourself—please include an introduction to help us understand who you are and why you’re right for this position (eg: cover letter, email, personal statement, video) as well as anything you think might be helpful to understand your background, experience, and skills. This could include a resume, event materials, writing or other work samples, personal website, LinkedIn profile, etc.

Human Resources

Stages

800 Rosine St.

Houston, Texas 77019

If we think you might be a good fit, we’ll contact you to schedule an introductory interview. This conversation will help us learn about you, share more about the job and Stages, and answer your initial questions. From there, we may also invite you to talk with other staff members from positions across the organization so that you have an opportunity to explore Stages’ culture and work environment, and we can get a sense of what you’ll bring to the team.

Pay: $52,000.00 - $58,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person