Director of Youth Programming

Compensation

$65,000 - $75,000

Position Overview:
The Director of Youth Programming at Dallas Children’s Theater is responsible for overseeing all of the organization’s spring, summer, and fall classes, selecting plays and musicals for teen actors, and hiring and training teaching artists. Reporting directly to the Artistic Director, this leadership role ensures the delivery of high-quality, engaging, and educational theater experiences for youth while fostering an inclusive and creative environment and an understanding of industry standards and best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of all youth classes across spring, summer, and fall seasons.
• Select and develop plays and musicals tailored for teen actors, ensuring educational value and artistic quality.
• Recruit, hire, and train teaching artists to deliver engaging and professional instruction, and plan and implement professional development.
• Collaborate with the Artistic Director and organizational leadership to align programming with Dallas Children’s Theater’s mission and goals.
• Develop and manage budgets for youth programs, and work with the Production Manager to understand staffing and production costs.
• Promote inclusivity and accessibility within youth programs and classes.
• Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and support to teaching artists and staff.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Marketing and marketing team to promote and fill education programs and related productions.
• Evaluate program effectiveness with the marketing team, gather feedback, and implement improvements.
• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders to expand youth engagement.
• Manage administrative tasks related to program scheduling, registration, and reporting.
• Work with the Director of Development and Development team to cultivate and secure philanthropic support for youth programming.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Theater Education, Performing Arts, Arts Administration, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Proven experience in theater education, youth program management, directing, producing, or related roles.
• Strong knowledge of theater production, curriculum development, and youth engagement.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and support teaching artists and program staff.
• Budget management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of Tessitura software is a plus.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and Google Drive.

Work Environment:
This position involves regular working hours during program seasons, with some evenings and weekends aligned with class schedules and productions. Travel within the North Texas region for outreach and partnerships may be required. This is a full-time salaried position. Benefits include medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance and paid time off. While this description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, it is not necessarily exhaustive of all responsibilities, duties, requirements, or expectations of this position. DCT reserves the right to revise or amend this description based on business needs or changes to the work environment. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

To apply, email a resume and cover letter with the following information: background and experience that makes you an ideal candidate to staff.openings@dct.org with Director of Youth Programming in the subject line.