Communications Director - McCarter Theatre Center

POSITION: Communications Director

DEPARTMENT: Marketing, Communications, and Ticketing

REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing & Audience Strategy

LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is an in-person position reporting to our administrative offices located at 91

University Place in Princeton, NJ. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm.

START DATE: This position will be filled no sooner than approximately mid-September – early-October.



POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

McCarter Theatre Center is seeking a dynamic Communications Director to support our institutional

objectives by maximizing positive exposure in local and national markets. In this role, you will be key to

creating content as a copywriter/editor, cultivating and managing media relations, and actively seeking earned media placements. Your efforts will elevate and advance McCarter’s institutional profile while promoting our diverse programming, including Theatre, Music, Dance, Jazz, Family, Education, and Fundraising events. Join us and make a significant impact on our mission.



Essential Functions & Duties:

• Ensure consistency of institutional voice and style across all projects by writing, proofreading, and

editing copy for a variety of materials.

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing & Audience Strategy and external PR firms to develop and

position earned media story ideas for all programming.

• Write and distribute press releases to media outlets, ensuring listings and community calendars are up

to date.

• Seek and facilitate interviews for feature stories and broadcast segments.

• Coordinate press coverage of events, including Opening Nights and other key moments.

• Maintain consistent awareness of institutional events, meetings, and other information through

company email and other communication channels.

• Develop and maintain promotional partnerships with community businesses to enhance McCarter

programming and events.

• Represent McCarter at external events to increase visibility and awareness. Collaborate with the Group

Sales & Engagement Manager to identify opportunities, and lead the planning, execution, and staffing

of McCarter booths at community events.

• Stay informed about current trends and better practices in communications, public relations, and related management through professional development activities, networking opportunities, and ongoing education.

• Prioritize safe working practices while embodying McCarter's safety and code of conduct policies to

maintain a secure environment for all staff and guest artists.

• Participate in the work to make McCarter an anti-racist theater. Actively seek ways to improve our work

practices to make the Marketing department more equitable and inclusive, while upholding and

exhibiting our stated values of “justice and joy, beauty and belonging.”



Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

• 5 or more years of experience in marketing, copywriting and media relations

• High level of attention to detail with the ability to prioritize projects effectively.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, fostering positive working relationships with

colleagues, and artists, across various departments.

• Proven ability to set priorities, work collaboratively, and take initiative.

• A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work harmoniously with individuals from diverse

backgrounds, personalities, and work styles, always approaching challenges with optimism, civility, and

a solutions-oriented approach.

• Exhibit a critical consciousness and genuine interest in promoting equitable, diverse, inclusive, and

accessible workplace values and practices while working with individuals of diverse needs,

personalities, and work styles, and employing an optimistic and solution-oriented mindset towards

fostering inclusivity and support within the team environment.



Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will embody an enthusiasm for theatre and live performing arts, with particular

interest in supporting and elevating the work of global artists across many disciplines

• Experience with the administration and management of performing arts institutions and theatre



Work Environment:

• Led by our core values, McCarter fosters and expects a culture of care and respect for the wellbeing of

our staff.

• Work will primarily be completed in a shared office space, subject to HVAC cooling and heating.

• This position entails extended periods of sitting, manual dexterity for operating office equipment, and

the ability to read and interpret documents, while occasionally requiring lifting and carrying objects up to

20 pounds, engaging in repetitive tasks, standing, walking, bending, and reaching within the office

environment, as well as possible set-up and breakdown for external events.

• Position may be asked to use personal transportation for attending community events, meetings, and

other off-site activities; mileage reimbursement is available.

• Employees may be asked to use a personal cell phone in order to access authenticator apps and

related software necessary for work credentials/multi-factor authentication (MFA). Applicants should be

comfortable using their personal devices for these purposes as part of their job responsibilities, as

workarounds cannot be guaranteed in order to access certain platforms.



This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job

described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of McCarter.



TO APPLY

Please email jobs@mccarter.org with your name and “Communications Director” in the subject line and include a cover letter, resume, and portfolio with a minimum of three writing samples: At least one press release, one article or story (for a newsletter, blog or publication) and one or more example of marketing copy for direct mail, webpage or targeted email. Do also mention where you heard about the position. We look forward to learning more about you!



EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT

McCarter is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring, supporting, and promoting a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. As such, McCarter seeks team members who: contribute to a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to support an expansive artistic vision; are committed to engaging in ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression work collectively and individually; value collaboration, curiosity, flexibility, and an openness to continuous personal and professional growth.

We encourage all candidates to apply, even if they do not currently meet all the qualifications. We know there

are great candidates who may not have all the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. McCarter is committed to on-the-job training and mentorship. We also encourage candidates who do not live within commuting distance to apply; We are eager to tell you about the area, which includes many communities and towns outside of Princeton.



McCarter Theatre Center is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in the application and hiring process for individuals with disabilities if needed and requested. To request disability accommodation, please contact (609) 258-6500 and connect with Human Resources.
Salary: PAY: $75,000; Full-time; Annual; Exempt BENEFITS INCLUDE: Medical, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and holiday time; flexible spending and health savings accounts; employer-sponsored life, long-term, and short-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match, access to free parking, and various perks.