Director of Education

Position Profile:

Beginning as part-time with the potential to move quickly to full-time, the Director of Education will manage CATF’s summer programming including the high school program Hostel YOUTH!, and the festival talktheater events – the humanities series. The Director of Education will also serve as the staff leader for the summer intern company. In the off-season the Director will serve as liaison to the Education Committee of the Board of Trustees and lead CATF’s programming within the public schools of the West Virginia Eastern Panhandle. Additionally, the successful candidate will value and practice Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive (ARAO) efforts. Click here to learn about CATF’s ARAO Values.

History:

Founded by Ed Herendeen in 1991 with the mission to produce and develop new American theater, CATF has grown to a $2.5M organization at the center of new play development and production in the nation.  Now led by Artistic Director Peggy McKowen, CATF’s core values of fearless art, diverse stories, inclusivity, community-building, ARAO, and care guide all its actions from play selection to human resource management.  Nestled in Shepherdstown, WV, approximately 1.5 hours from Washington, DC and Baltimore, CATF produces a summer festival of 5 plays on the campus of Shepherd University along with new play development and educational programming year-round. Over the course of 35 seasons, CATF has produced 144 new plays by 104 playwrights including 66 world premieres and 11 plays commissioned by the Festival.  CATF premieres have gone on to Broadway, London, off-Broadway, and regional theaters as well as adapted into major motion pictures.  Learn more at catf.org.

Responsibilities

Fall: Outreach and planning, Spring: Program Implementation, Summer: Festival Events

• Lead recruitment for and implementation of the summer high school program, Hostel YOUTH!
• Lead the implementation and expansion of the public-school educational programming including building relationships with Boards of Education, public school administrators, and teachers
• In collaboration with Artistic Director, develop and update curriculum and materials for educational programming
• Serve as the staff liaison to the summer intern company
• Organize and implement programming, review processes, and events for the summer intern company
• Serve as the staff liaison to the talktheater series for the summer festival
• Assist Artistic Director in strengthening the relationship with Shepherd University and the Contemporary Theater Studies Program
• In collaboration with Artistic Director, recruit students for educational opportunities
• In collaboration with Artistic Director, organize and teach lifelong learning classes
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Education Committee
• Serve as a public representative for CATF to the community

Qualifications and Core Competencies 

• Minimum three years of progressive leadership experience in performing arts education, preferably within a theater or performing arts organization
• Excellent organizational, written/oral communication, and interpersonal skills
• Creative and strategic thinking, with an ability to grasp the organization’s big picture
• A belief that art makes our world a better place
• Ability to foster strong relationships with diverse stakeholders both outside and inside the organization
• Demonstrated success in program development, staff supervision, and budget management
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and evaluate arts education programs and initiatives
• Comprehensive understanding of current trends in performing arts education and training, theater for young audiences, accessible arts programming, and other current areas of practice, such as: arts and neurodiversity, arts and health, arts and life-long learning o Arts integration
• Strong knowledge of educational best practices and curriculum development
• Excellence in team building and professional development of staff
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail
• Flexibility to participate in off-site meetings and events outside regular business hours
• Strong commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression practices

Salary and Benefits

Salary range $34,000-$38,000, part-time, moving to $60,000-72,000 when full-time, commensurate with experience. Full-time benefits package includes 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees; a Simple IRA retirement plan with company match; a generous PTO policy; and 10 paid company holidays per year.