Director, Civic Actor Studio

Department

AI Court Artistic

About the Department

Winner of the 2022 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.

Job Summary

Court Theatre seeks an experienced and collaborative Director of Civic Actor Studio to lead and advance its civic arts leadership programming. This grant-funded position is responsible for fundraising, cohort recruitment and selection, and the design and facilitation of two Civic Actor Studio retreats annually. In addition, the Director will serve as Project Manager for the Cook County Justice Advisory Council’s Community of Care, a nationally recognized initiative supporting leaders and staff engaged in violence prevention work that has received a National Association of Counties (NACo) Award for innovation and impact. Reporting to the Artistic Director, this role integrates theater practice, civic leadership, and community care to strengthen democratic and community-building outcomes.

This is a part-time, benefits-eligible, grant-funded position, renewable contingent on continued funding.

Responsibilities

• Designs, leads, and evaluates two Civic Actor Studio retreats per year utilizing theater-based and participatory practices.
• Ensures program alignment with Court Theatre’s artistic mission, civic values, and community engagement goals.
• Serves as Project Manager for the Community of Care initiative, an award-winning program supporting violence prevention leaders and staff across Cook County.
• Coordinates program planning, timelines, and deliverables in collaboration with Cook County Justice Advisory Council staff and partners.
• Facilitates arts-based, relational, and trauma-informed practices that support leadership sustainability, peer connection, and collective care.
• Tracks program outcomes and prepare narrative and data reports required by Cook County and for other funders and internal stakeholders.
• Leads fundraising and grant stewardship efforts for Civic Actor Studio and related civic arts initiatives.
• Collaborates with Court Theatre leadership and development staff on donor cultivation, grant writing, and reporting.
• Recruits, selects, and supports diverse cohorts of civic leaders, including artists, nonprofit professionals, journalists, educators, organizers, and violence prevention practitioners.
• Builds and maintains relationships with civic, cultural, and community partners.
• Serves as the primary liaison between Civic Actor Studio, Community of Care partners, and Court Theatre leadership.
• Contributes to strategic planning and long-term visioning for civic arts initiatives at Court Theatre.
• Coordinates communications with Court Theatre’s marketing team.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in theater, arts administration, nonprofit leadership, civic engagement, public policy, or a related field.

Experience:

• Background in program leadership, project management, facilitation, or arts-based community work.
• Familiar with immersive or participatory theater practices.
• Working with violence prevention, community safety, or public-sector partners.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated success securing funding for arts or civic programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder projects and work collaboratively across diverse communities.
• Strong written, verbal, and facilitation skills.
• Commitment to people-centered, culturally responsive practice.

Working Conditions

• This is a part-time position of approximately 25 hours per week.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• References Contact Information (3) (preferred)

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

25

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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