Author Archives: robbucher

Job Description:  The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) has a unique opportunity for a part-time Program Director to lead multiple programs with national scope – specifically, JumpStart Theatre (JST) and educational theatre grant programs administered by ETF. Responsibilities include: strategic and executional leadership, process definition, analysis, communication of programs, budgeting, and business model definition.

Schedule: The work requires approximately 2 days/week of effort. While much of it can be independently managed, it is helpful to work at least one day/week from the ETF main office to ensure optimum awareness of goals and objectives, and to enable effective collaboration.

Job Responsibilities:

1. JumpStart Theatre (JST)
   • Defines the transferable elements of the JST program, identifies potential partner candidates, negotiates partner agreements, and helps partner get program initiated.
   • Provides ongoing mentoring to regional JST partners, helps them problem-solve, and ensures they have the tools to manage each aspect with success.
   • Develops projection of expenses across all sites on a multi-year basis relative to program income.
   • Identifies resources, capabilities and policies (e.g., of regional school systems) to support sustainability of the JST program executions in each regional market as well as nationally.
   • Defines impact measures and practical method of obtaining the measures ongoing.
   • Communicates the overall program and impact in multiple ways, including formal and informal presentations, written articles, and overall brand management.
   • Manages one direct report (ETF Program Manager). Some travel required.
2. Grants to Schools (e.g. RISE America in 2018)
   • As part of a multifunctional ETF team, develops key parameters of potential grant programs for school theatre programs, and methods to execute and steward such programs.
   • Ensures competitive applications are received, assessed and awarded in line with program goals, objectives, and publicly communicated expectations.
   • Serves as point person to grant applicants and ensures funds are disbursed and then applied as expected.
   • Solicits, compiles, edits and communicates on the usage of grant funds, such that ETF and its supporters appreciate the ROI of the grants.
3. Skills and Qualifications:
   • Bachelor’s degree. MBA or Masters in Art Administration preferred.
   • 8-10+ years of relevant professional experience including project leadership, marketing, financial budgeting, processes and procedures, and working collaboratively in a multifunctional team, preferably in a non-profit setting. Knowledge of inner workings of schools and school theatre programs a plus.
   • Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into a practical and viable operational model.
   • Ability to effectively communicate key project details and impact to all partners and stakeholders, including regional partners, school personnel, ETF management, Board, donors, media, and others.
   • Ability to work as a business partner with ETF leadership as the organization grows and expands its reach.
   • Ability to plan and determine strategies to move the programs forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results
   • Advanced attention to detail, along with the ability to anticipate and see big picture perspective
   • Ability to prioritize a wide-ranging work load for self and department, and work independently
   • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
   • Ability to foster teamwork by working cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.

About Us: The Educational Theatre Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), an international association with more than 135,000 active members. EdTA’s mission is shaping lives through theatre education: honoring student achievement in theatre; supporting teachers by providing professional development, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.  EdTA is the home of the International Thespian Society, an honorary organization established at more than 4,700 schools, that has inducted more than 2.3 million theatre students since its founding in 1929.

About JST: JumpStart Theatre is an inspiring and transformative program of The Educational Theatre Foundation, in collaboration with NYC-based companies iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI). JST builds sustainable musical theatre programs in middle schools where there previously were none. Participant schools receive the materials, funding, training, and mentor support to produce one junior musical production each year on a three-year path to sustainable capability.  JST is now being implemented in seven states through partnerships with education departments of leading professional regional theatres.

Please submit cover letter and résumé by email (Subject Line: Program Director) to: HRManager@schooltheatre.org.

First consideration will be given to applications received by 3/15/19.

No phone calls, please.