Position Title: Manager, Education and Community Engagement
Position Type: Permanent Full-Time
Salary Range: $57,000-$67,000
Start Date: March 2023
ABOUT CANADIAN STAGE
Canadian Stage is one of the country’s leading not-for-profit contemporary performing arts organizations.
An anchor organization in Toronto’s vibrant cultural scene, Canadian Stage is a home for new and
dynamic art forms, as well as an incubator and exporter of leading-edge contemporary and
multidisciplinary performance.
Sharing innovative work from Canada and worldwide, the company stages an annual season across three
Toronto venues, including its beautiful heritage building on Berkeley and Front Street in the vibrant St.
Lawrence Market neighbourhood.
In its long and storied history, Canadian Stage has employed thousands of artists and produced hundreds
of new productions for over 5,000,000+ audience members, including the premieres of over 350+ new
Canadian theatre and dance works. Many of the plays developed by Canadian Stage have been
nominated for Canada's most prestigious literary and performing arts honours, including Governor
General's, Chalmers, and Dora Mavor Moore Awards.
POSITION SUMMARY
Contemporary artistic expression is for everyone. Canadian Stage is committed to breaking down the
barriers that keep people from experiencing the deep joy and penetrating insight that today’s artists have
to offer. As such, we seek a passionate individual to join the organization to forge innovative pathways for
the public to access new bespoke programs, connect with our work and with each other, and use art as a
tool for community and personal connection.
Reporting to the Artistic Director, with a secondary report to the Executive Director, the Manager of
Education and Community Engagement is responsible for creating and delivering effective activities to
help Canadian Stage achieve several key objectives:
- To develop and expand Canadian Stage’s Education Program, including school groups, learning
materials, and onsite and off-site activities. - To develop and implement programs and initiatives that connect and engage with the many
diverse and multi-generational communities in the GTA. - To develop creative strategies and activities that deepen engagement between artistic offerings
and their intended communities/audiences. - To work collaboratively with the Programming team to centre principles of inclusion and equity across the organization's programs, including education, community, and audience activities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Partnership-building and management:
- Relationship: Initiates, builds, and maintains relationships year-round with Canadian Stage
community partner organizations and local schools/educators. - Outreach: Plans and initiates active engagement with communities, particularly priority
demographics (youth/educators, seniors, under-served communities), through regular outreach
work. - Engagement: Works closely with the Programming and audience development teams to scout,
organize, and onboard new and existing Canadian Stage community partner organizations. - Representation: Represents Canadian Stage at community partner events.
Program design and execution:
- Design: Plans strategy-led engaging, inclusive, participatory activities and events, particularly from
multi-generational and intersectional communities. - Implementation: Realizes program design and objectives in effective and timely ways.
- Leadership: Functions as a lead facilitator for a variety of community engagement projects and/or
curates and supervises external facilitators. - Evaluation: Assesses and reports on the effectiveness and impact of activities, events, and
initiatives. - Representation: Attends all major Canadian Stage community and educational programming.
Other:
- Works with the Marketing Department to support the promotion of community partner
performances and events. - Is a Programming Team member and participates in weekly programming meetings.
- Manages the planning and coordination of all post-performance talkback sessions.
- Prepares annual reports for education and outreach donors and sponsors and contributes to
proposals to renew or secure funding.
KEY COMPETENCIES FOR THIS POSITION:
Inclusion: fosters relationships and provides equitable opportunity across a diverse spectrum of people
and organizations.
Communication: engages partners in a manner that is relevant and exciting to them; obtains buy-in for
company mission and objectives from a variety of stakeholders; positively communicates relevant issues
of concern.
Tenacity and Problem-Solving: works independently and autonomously; conducts appropriate data
gathering and collaboration for creative problem resolution; remains affable and calm within a fast-paced
and changeable environment.
Leadership and Accountability: Leads by example, demonstrating Canadian Stage values in all aspects of
their work while providing guidance and oversight to a range of collaborators and freelancers; with
independent sound judgement, effectively manages projects to accomplish Canadian Stage’s mission and
objectives.
Stewardship: delivers programs within recommended and approved budget and schedule parameters.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in a community-based arts program or professional theatre.
- As a steward for internal and external programs, you have cultural competencies that are
centered around equity and inclusion and in ways that are responsive to the needs of diverse
communities. - Knowledge and understanding of the Ontario school curriculum. Experience with school boards
and school groups is a plus. - Experience in implementing arts education and/or community-based arts programs that were
geared for individuals of diverse backgrounds and experience levels. - Experience building collaborative relationships with a diverse array of people.
- Experience in facilitation or teaching environments is a plus.
- Intermediate skills with MS Office particularly Word and Excel. Any experience with Sharepoint
and Asana would be a plus. - Must have availability on evenings and weekends for programs and events.
STATEMENT OF INTENTION
Canadian Stage is committed to building an anti-racist organization and an equitable and inclusive cultural
institution. We are working to reflect the stories, ideas, concerns, and priorities of the communities we
have been entrusted to serve authentically and meaningfully.
To address the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous employees at Canadian Stage and to
affirm the importance of diverse lived experiences and insights for this position and Canadian Stage as a
whole, we encourage and welcome applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour in
the application process.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please submit applications no later than February 13, 2023. Applications should include:
- A Letter of Intent stating the candidate’s interest in the position, relevant experience, and critical
responsibilities. The letter should be no longer than one page. - A Resume, no longer than two pages.
If possible, please merge your cover letter and resume into one PDF. Please send your application to:
hr@canadianstage.com and use the email subject header “Manager of Education and Community
Engagement”.
The review of candidates may begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is
filled.
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada
will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be
contacted.