Children's Theatre Company | Minneapolis, MN
Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000
Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of External Relations. This full-time, benefits-eligible position calls for an experienced senior leader who can set and advance integrated strategies for contributed and earned revenue, including fundraising, marketing, communications, and audience engagement. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, sound judgment, and a track record of building collaborative, high-performing teams while helping to position CTC for long-term growth and impact. Applicants should have exceptional communication, strategic planning, and relationship-management skills, as well as the ability to positively contribute to an anti-racist organization and assist in dismantling structural racism in theatre.
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 Rick Dildine and Managing Director Ryan French, 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 have a thriving and vibrant arts scene. The Twin Cities metro area is one of the largest theatre markets in the country, with over 150 theatres. Minnesota year in and year outranks 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 parks system has been called the best-designed, best-financed and best-maintained in America.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT
CTC is dedicated to increasing justice, 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 External Relations is responsible for overseeing the integrated audience and donor relations strategy and the associated revenue generated by earned and contributed income. Reporting to the Managing Director (MD), the Director sets the long-term development, marketing, communications, and audience engagement strategies for CTC. This position serves as the senior leader overseeing earned revenue (tickets, class registration, concessions, and merchandise) and contributed revenue (individual, corporate, foundation, and government) strategies. This collaborative leader ensures the overall patron and donor experiences are inclusive and welcoming to all visitors from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Working with the MD and other staff members, this position also contributes to the overall board relations strategy. The Director is a member of Senior Staff and a key executive partner with the Managing Director and Artistic Director.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Fundraising and Development (35%)
- Oversee the Associate Directors of Development to ensure all contributed income efforts executed by the Development team meet their goals including revenue, donor engagement, prospect development, and development communications.
- Manage a modest portfolio of high net worth or VIP individual, corporate, or institutional prospects.
- Serve as the campaign director for any special fundraising initiative or capital campaign.
- With the Associate Directors of Development, strategize with and prepare executive leadership (Managing Director and Artistic Director) for their roles in securing resources for CTC.
- Work closely with the Associate Directors of Development and Director of Finance to ensure all gifts (including outright gifts, pledges, and planned gifts) meet gift acceptance policies, naming policies, and all capital budget needs. Ensure all restricted gifts and grants follow donor intent.
- Create and help execute donor and event engagement strategies that seek to deepen donor relationships with CTC and advance key donor relationships.
- Foster close collaboration between the Development and Marketing & Communications teams to ensure efficient and effective use of staff resources, identify opportunities for integrated strategies, and align messaging.
Marketing and Communications (35%)
- Oversee the Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience and Associate Director of Communications.
- With the Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience, oversee the creation of strategic and tactical marketing, advertising, and digital communication plans that support
- CTC’s overall audience development, earned revenue, and attendance goals.
- With the Associate Director of Communications, oversee strategic communications efforts that drive show attendance and revenue, education attendance and revenue, and overall institutional messaging that positions CTC for success in fundraising and as a community partner and leader in the arts sector both locally and nationally.
- Approve all annual and long range institutional, programmatic, and show specific marketing and communication plans and ensure that they align with the strategic plan.
- Ensure CTC is a data-driven organization through regular data analysis, market research, and consumer insights studies to advance the strategic goals of the theatre.
- Serve as the chief steward of CTC’s brand and messaging platform overseeing brand-related work of the Design & Digital staff members, the Associate Director of Communications, and the Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience.
- With the Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience, ensure audience services (front-of-house, concessions, and ticket office operations) deliver excellent customer service to all guests and that revenue is maximized.
- With the Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience and Front of House leadership, identify areas to improve access for guests of diverse needs including ASL, Audio
- Description, Sensory Friendly, and mobility needs.
- Monitor cultural trends and peer organizations to identify new opportunities.
Board Relations (20%)
- With the MD, serve as staff co-lead for the Board Affairs & Governance Committee.
- Partner with Associate Director of Development, Individual Giving and Associate Director of Marketing & Patron Experience to support their roles as staff leads for Board of Directors External Relations Committee.
- With administrative support, ensure all board collateral is professional, accurate, and delivered in a timely manner, and all meetings are professionally executed.
- Establish a board member engagement and concierge strategy with MD, AD, and administrative staff to ensure board member needs are met.
Other (10%)
- Participate in Senior Staff, all staff, and small group meetings as well as project work groups.
- Ensure seamless integration of all external relations efforts across Development, Marketing, Communications, and Audience Engagement functions.
- Serve as institutional representative or spokesperson when requested or when the Managing Director is unable to do so.
- Participate in seminars, safety training classes, and other core job related trainings and educational activities and other duties or responsibilities as required or 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
- 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
Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience spanning at least three of the following: development, marketing, communications, audience development, revenue strategy, with direct fundraising experience required
- Demonstrated strong strategic planning skills with a proven record of developing and implementing effective marketing plan and strategies
- Past experience working with fundraising teams at all levels including direct fundraising
- Strong understanding of institutional and targeted messaging that compels potential audience members to attend or prospective donors to contribute
- Deep knowledge and implementation of customer service best practices
- Track-record of successful team leadership, creating a positive, collaborative and productive culture
- Skill in brand strategy and management
- Exceptional writing, communication and editing skills
- Ability to provide strong creative direction and evaluate brand, design and messaging work
- Demonstrated knowledge of /experience with Tessitura a plus, although not a requirement
- Demonstrated ability to work with all revenue generating departments
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Analytical Skills - Ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem
- Autonomy - Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Budget Management – demonstrated ability to allocate expenses and stay within financial constraints
- Collaboration - Ability to work with others and be a positive team member contributing to a positive culture
- Communication - Ability to communicate clearly and concisely
- Computer skills – demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, email and calendar programs
- Conceptual Thinking - Ability to think in terms of abstract ideas
- Consensus Building - Ability to bring about group solidarity to achieve a goal
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
- Diversity Oriented - Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or physical abilities
- Emotional Intelligence – Ability to perceive, manage, understand, and reason with emotional responses of self and others
- Inclusive – Skill and value of providing equal access of opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized
- Initiative - Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal
- Judgment - The ability to formulate a sound decision using the available information
- Persuasive - Ability to influence others to change position or to adopt a specific point of view
- Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems
- Project Management - Ability to organize and direct a project to completion
- Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines
- Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations
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
- A commitment to maintaining a safe work environment for all staff members following all facility codes designated by the City of Minneapolis and State of Minnesota
- Ability to positively contribute to an anti-racist/anti-bias organization and work to dismantle structural racism in theatre
COMPENSATION
The starting salary range for this full-time position is between $130,000 and $150,000 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 submit a cover letter and resume on our Careers Portal: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/7EB09C865F48106614568EA2AE32F260/career-page