Community Engagement and Outreach Director
Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary is pleased to invite applications for the position of community engagement and outreach director. We are looking for a dynamic, innovative and collaborative individual who will work with the rest of the Lunchbox team to advance the company’s focus on developing and producing exceptional one-act plays.
About Lunchbox Theatre
Vision Statement
Lunchbox Theatre presents one-act plays with a focus on celebrating human stories, creating engaging theatre that is accessible, inclusive, affordable and sustainable.
Mission Statement
Lunchbox Theatre presents an enriching and engaging theatre experience with an emphasis on accessibility for audiences and artists. We create and produce one-act plays primarily at the noon hour, with a focus on entertaining new Canadian works that examine and explore socially relevant issues. The theatre seeks to provide rewarding and memorable experiences to its audiences, casts, and supporters by delving into a variety of works that reflect our audience and their particular world, as well as works that will offer fresh experiences and new understandings. Lunchbox is a hub for artistic development—for artists as well as plays, with emerging artists working alongside established professionals.
About to enter into its 49th season, Lunchbox Theatre produces four (4) shows per season, as well as two festivals of new play development. The theatre has an annual operating budget of approximately $750,000, a full-time staff of three, part-time staff of one-two, and produces shows in the Vertigo Studio at the base of the Calgary Tower. Lunchbox is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, operating under the Canadian Theatre Agreement.
About the Position
The community engagement and outreach director (CEOD) will lead a two-year project to help us explore and develop initiatives that deepen our connection to local communities.
This position will focus on three priority areas:
- Connecting with new audiences—schools, seniors’ facilities or activity groups, and culturally-specific communities
- Developing meaningful relationships with local Indigenous communities, artists and Elders.
- Supporting the local artistic/theatrical community, especially emerging artists.
Reporting to the artistic director and executive director, the community engagement and outreach director is responsible for overseeing and developing new engagement programming—researching models for projects, initiating activities, and establishing and stewarding relationships and partnerships with the public and artists.
This new position is funded by a grant from the Calgary Foundation for two years, from August 2023 until July 2025, with the possibility of staying on at Lunchbox in the future, pending funding.
Responsibilities
- Research and planning: Learn about practices and programs that already exist here in Calgary and determine how we might contribute to them.
- Look for outreach models in other cities that we can adapt to our context.
- In relation to our theatre productions: find potential partners and the individual voices from specific communities to consult with to design programs and activities that serve the communities they are intended for.
- In collaboration with the artistic director, build relationships with local Indigenous Elders, artists and communities, with an emphasis on seeing how Lunchbox can contribute meaningfully to reconciliation and our shared responsibility and care for the land and local communities.
- Reach out to schools, seniors’ facilities or activity groups, and culturally-specific communities.
- Support additional engagement activities, including artist talkbacks, study guides and workshops for students, professional development programs for emerging artists and voices that are new to Lunchbox Theatre.
- Organize and support community-building events.
- Collect feedback from partners and participants both through our conversations at planning meetings, during events and post-mortems, and by sending out online surveys after events.
- Create contact lists, templates for communications, and event outlines that can all be improved on as we pilot the activities and then replicated in future seasons.
Lunchbox Theatre encourages a team-oriented environment. All personnel are required to participate in a wide range of activities or take on additional responsibilities from time to time that may be outside of the Core Responsibilities & Duties for each position.
Hours of Work
This is a “light” full-time position with the benefits of being a full-time employee combined with significant flexibility. 30 hours per week depending on the production schedule, with some evenings and weekends required. Hybrid work including work-from-home is encouraged where possible. As this is a management position, overtime is not applicable. Lunchbox Theatre encourages managers to organize their schedules as required to balance out heavier work periods vs. lighter in order to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
Compensation:
- $40,000 per year, paid monthly
- Four weeks holidays per annum plus stat holidays
- Extended Health and Dental plan after three months with cost shared 30/70 between employee and employer
- Access to building amenities, including fitness centre and tenant lounge
- Professional development opportunities
- Flexibility to take on outside work when not in conflict with the production schedule
Please note parking expenses are the employee’s responsibility and no designated parking is available onsite.
Deadline to Submit
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with interviews starting as soon as July 17, 2023.
Anticipated start date can be as early as August 8, 2023.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter with a resume as well as three references to Patti Neice, Executive Director at admin@lunchboxtheatre.com.
Please use the subject line Community Engagement and Outreach Director.
At Lunchbox Theatre we are committed to a respectful work environment and a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals including members of the global majority and people with disabilities.
Thank you to all applicants. If you need additional assistance to apply for this position, please call 403.265.4292 x230 or email admin@lunchboxtheatre.com
For more information about Lunchbox Theatre please visit our website, lunchboxtheatre.com.
