Associate Artistic Director

Under the direction of the Producing Artistic Director, the Associate Artistic Director facilitates the creative management of productions and other artistic projects. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the support and/or management of the following areas: season selection, pre-production planning and hiring, casting, active production oversight, artistic educational programming, readings of new works, workshops, and other special projects.

• Assists and supports the Producing Artistic Director with the administration and management of the Artistic Department of Paper Mill, and of other departments and projects in the absence of the Producing Artistic Director.
• Serves as a key point of communication between the Producing Artistic Director, the organization, and external creative and business personnel.
• With Producing Artistic Director, supervises department staff and manages departmental budget.
• Works with Producing Artistic Director on season planning and related activities; curates and supervises other artistic programs as required, including special performances for board and donor events, community events, etc.
• Acts as a liaison between casting directors and artistic personnel to create audition schedules which fulfill AEA requirements and the needs of each individual production.
• Supports and participates in the Education Department’s programs as a key representative of the Artistic Department, including audience education initiatives, student classes, talkbacks, and direct involvement in staging the annual Rising Star Awards, and the annual New Voices Concert.
• Serves as the primary artistic staff person to read and evaluate submissions of new work for further development including researching new creative material. Identifies emerging performers, directors, choreographers, designers, etc. by attending various performances, readings, workshops, and college showcases.
• Maintains a personal and professional artistic commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
• Supports the Development Department by attending and hosting donor events such as backstage tours, invited technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals, and cultivation lunches and dinners; supplying information for grant applications; and coordinating talent and programing for annual galas and other events throughout the season in partnership with Producing Artistic Director.
• Supports the Marketing Department by contributing to newsletters, brochures, and programs. Attends and coordinates talent for publicity events. Makes live curtain speeches when necessary. Hosts numerous audience development events such as Cast Talkbacks and subscriber tech tours.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in artistic administration, producing, casting, directing, or related theatrical leadership roles.
• Excellent judgment to be used in determining which decisions and actions should be referred to the Producing Artistic Director and which items others can handle. The position requires outstanding human relations skills; tact and diplomacy are essential.
• Demonstrate highly developed presentation skills and an understanding of how the various elements of the creative process interrelate and contribute to the development of successful musical theater productions.
• Experience working with both union and non-union work forces.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding access, equity, diversity, inclusion, implicit bias, and institutional racism; ability and experience developing and implementing strategies to identify and define complex equity and inclusion issues when producing artistic programming.
• Experience communicating effectively both verbally and in writing to artists, actors, casting agents, managers, executive leadership, teams, Board members, partners, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience with new theatrical work including local, national and international relationships.

• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, collaborative approach, and sense of humor.
• Proficient public speaker
• High levels of professionalism, interpersonal skills, discretion/confidentiality, good judgment and influencing skills with personal integrity and the ability to inspire confidence and trust.
• Professional experience as a producer, artistic director or associate, line producer, director is preferred. The ideal candidate will have experience in more than one of these areas.
• Alignment with Paper Mill Playhouse’s mission and values.