Community Engagement Manager - Ensemble Studio Theatre

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Department: Marketing

Position: Part-Time, Year-Round

Location: New York City, hybrid with at least one day per week in-person at EST

Start Date: September 18, 2023

Compensation: $24/hr; 20 hours a week



Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), an acclaimed, award-winning nonprofit developmental theatre in Hell’s Kitchen, seeks a creative and dynamic Community Engagement Manager to join our team. EST develops and produces original, provocative and authentic new plays, discovering and nurturing new voices and supporting artists throughout their creative lives. EST is a dynamic community committed to a collaborative process and to inclusion across all aspects of identity. We acknowledge and work to end systemic marginalization and oppression at all levels of the organization. We believe that this extraordinary support and commitment to inclusivity are essential to yield extraordinary work. EST supports and is made up of a vibrant, 600-member artistic community (“membership”).



In the 2023/24 season, EST will produce two mainstage productions and a variety of satellite programs and developmental work (including workshops, readings, and onsite events, both open to the public and internal).



EST’s Equity and Justice Work

Since 2013, EST has engaged in a deepening process of transformation toward becoming an inclusive and anti-racist organization. As a historically predominantly White institution, in 2020 we commissioned an independent study by Rebecca KellyG to delve deeply into every aspect of our operations and identify white supremacist practices and assumptions. EST’s Transition Team then led the organization through a leadership transition, recently hiring two new co-Artistic Directors and preparing to embark on a permanent Managing Director search in the coming year. Our goal is to create a more holistic, inclusive, intentional, and healthy work environment. This work includes ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression training, and creating affinity spaces for those within the EST community. For more information on our transition, please visit Ensemblestudiotheatre.org/artequityjustice.



COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT JOB PROFILE

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) is seeking a Community Engagement Manager who will work closely with EST’s artistic and marketing teams to research, cultivate, and deepen new and existing community and industry partnerships; implement and develop community-led engagement events and audience development strategies; identify cross-promotional, group sales, or other opportunities; and lead the strategy and implementation of the theater’s social media presence in concert with the goals above.

The Community Engagement Manager collaborates closely with relevant EST staff and season partners, and is supervised by the Co-Artistic Directors. The Community Engagement Manager has direct interaction with members of the 600 strong EST membership of ensemble artists, as well as an extended artistic community.

We recognize that the Community Engagement Manager’s work is based on developing trust and deepening relationships over time. As a new position, the focus will be on laying a foundation and building systems to support the growth and evolution of this work at EST. Depending on the time of year and activity at the theatre, the approximate time spent on each of the areas below will fluctuate. This job may require some weekend and evening hours as necessitated by the production calendar.

The Community Engagement Manager’s major responsibilities will include:

Community Engagement

- Research new potential community, industry, and neighborhood partners

- Design strategies in collaboration with EST staff to develop meaningful relationships with both new and existing partners and communities

- Listen to and be in conversation with community partners to deepen relationships and learn how EST can support partners' stated goals

- Develop and manage database of community contacts

- Get to know EST’s existing artistic community and help develop systems for consistent and meaningful engagement to best serve them

- Conceptualize and implement plans for continued audience development and partnership work in conjunction with EST’s artistic programming, including community events, conversations, and student and other groups

Social Media

- Collaborate with various departments to develop a holistic social media strategy that thoughtfully engages EST’s existing communities and invites in communities new to EST

- Plan social media schedule, draft copy for posts, execute using social media management platform Later, and oversee audience engagement on social media channels

- Coordinate cross-promotional opportunities and incorporate them into the communications schedule

- Assist with artist engagement, including potential behind the scenes photo/video for social media

The ideal candidate will:

- Enjoy human-to-human interaction, building relationships and engaging with a wide variety of communities

- Be bold in thinking creatively and outside-the-box

- Possess excellent verbal, written, and listening communication skills

- Excel at working collaboratively with a small team, as well as independently

- Lead with patience, adaptability, and a sense of humor

- Enjoy conceptualizing and systems-building

- Be proficient with social media platforms and social media management platforms

- Have some knowledge of the NYC theatre scene

- Respect and maintain confidentiality as necessary

- Be a thorough, proactive, and creative problem-solver

- Embody and represent the core values of EST to our artists, audiences, and partners, which includes a dedication to anti-oppressive practices in the theatre and beyond and/or a willingness to learn and embody these practices

- Experience in planning and executing community-based initiatives, and/or working in community organizations or collectives (whether arts-related or not), is a plus!

We recognize that no one person will encompass all of the experience and qualities that we are seeking, and encourage and welcome applications from candidates with varied backgrounds and different applications of skills. Applicants from historically excluded communities are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.

TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through Friday, September 1. Please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@ensemblestudiotheatre.org and type “Community Engagement Manager” as the subject line. In your cover letter, please describe your relevant experience and specific reasons for wanting to work at EST. No phone calls please. For more information on Ensemble Studio Theatre, please visit www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org.


Salary: $24/hr