Job Description
Job Description
POSITION: Education Programs Manager
DEPARTMENT: Education
REPORTS TO: Director of Education
CLASSIFICATION: Annual, Full-time; Exempt (not eligible for overtime)
COMPENSATION: Medical, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off (PTO), sick leave, paid holidays; paid parental leave; flexible spending and health savings accounts; employer-sponsored life, supplemental, long-term and short-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match, access to free parking, and various other perks.
LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is an in-person position at our administrative offices located at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ, with occasional opportunity for remote work. In-person requirements are based on departmental needs and staff meetings. Regular business hours are Monday thru Friday, 9am – 5pm. Occasional Saturdays, as well as some evenings and holiday hours will be required dependent on class schedules and will be scheduled as far in advance as possible.
START DATE: This position is preferred to start in early September 2025, exact date is flexible.
POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
McCarter Theatre Center is seeking a collaborative, community-minded Education Programs Manager to help shape and expand our in-school, on-site, and community-based education initiatives. This role offers an exciting opportunity to build lasting partnerships, support a dynamic team of teaching artists, and co-create responsive programming that reflects McCarter’s mission and values. Working closely with the Director of Education, and Education Programs Coordinator, this role will play a key role in designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful programs, while also representing McCarter at Education-related public events and in community spaces. If you’re passionate about arts education, and creating meaningful connections through theater and performance, we’d love to hear from you.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & FUNCTIONS
· Cultivate and sustain relationships with schools and community partners to collaboratively design and implement responsive, mission-aligned programming, engaging with teachers, students, families, and community members with warmth, clarity, and competence.
· Monitor community needs and interests to inform new classes, workshops, residencies, and partnerships; pilot new engagement models such as masterclasses, pop-up workshops, and intergenerational offerings.
· Represent McCarter at education fairs and professional convenings to promote offerings, build community connections, and communicate the value of McCarter’s education programs to a wide range of stakeholders.
· Collaborate with the Director of Education to assess, revise, and grow education programs in alignment with McCarter’s mission and strategic goals.
· Support artist staffing for residencies and community programs; recruit, onboard, mentor, and provide additional oversight to a growing network of teaching artists, fostering peer learning and professional development.
· Attend and help oversee classes, camps, student matinees, and community residencies to assess program quality and ensure alignment between artists, partners, and McCarter.
· Collect and analyze program data, surveys, and feedback to evaluate impact, inform future planning, and prepare clear reports for funders and internal stakeholders.
· Help coordinate student matinee logistics, including prep work and day of responsibilities
· Develop education resources and promotional materials, including flyers, blurbs, and newsletters.
· Collaborate cross-departmentally (e.g., Development, Marketing, Front of House, IT) to support seamless program integration and storytelling in alignment with privacy and consent policies.
· Assist with planning and execution of major education events and initiatives; step in as a substitute or co-teacher as needed to ensure program continuity.
· With calm and precision, execute appropriate emergency procedures should a situation arise.
· Prioritize safe working practices while embodying McCarter's safety and community expectations policies to maintain a secure environment for all staff, students, and others.
· Participate in McCarter’s work to foster an equitable and inclusive workplace where a diverse team of arts professionals collaborate to advance its charitable mission; actively contribute to making the arts welcoming and accessible to all; and reflect McCarter’s values of “justice and joy, beauty and belonging.”
QUALIFICATIONS
· Experience teaching children and adults.
· Computer Skills: working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Sharepoint, etc.), as well as Google Workspace, Canva, Tessitura CRM (or similar).
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, fostering positive working relationships with colleagues and other collaborators.
· Proven ability to set priorities, work collaboratively, and take initiative, functioning independently as needed.
· A cooperative mindset, with the ability to work harmoniously with individuals from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and work styles, always approaching challenges with optimism, civility, and a solutions-oriented approach.
· This position requires a valid background check prior to start and may be subject to periodic re-screening. Individuals working directly with youth are expected to comply with New Jersey mandated reporting requirements related to child welfare and safety.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• CPR/AED/First-Aid Certification.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, or other languages.
• Experience working with neurodiverse learners and students with varying access needs.
• Familiarity with local school systems, community organizations, and arts education best practices.
• Experience developing age-appropriate, arts-centered curricula for youth and/or community-based programming.
• Experience working in culturally responsive ways with diverse populations
• Experience working with, training, and managing teaching artists; ability to support their teaching practice and effectively communicate education program needs and responsibilities, as needed.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
• Led by our core values, McCarter fosters and expects a culture of care and respect for the wellbeing of our staff. We seek individuals who share our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace, where diverse perspectives are valued and respected.
• Work will primarily be completed in a shared office space in our administrative office, subject to HVAC cooling and heating, with some work done in other space/rooms, including outdoors (e.g. Summer Camp)
• Especially when covering classes, this position entails extended periods of standing while moving and engaging in physical activity (e.g. 4-5 hour intervals), as well as manual dexterity for operating office equipment, and the ability to read and interpret documents, while sporadically requiring lifting and carrying objects up to 10 pounds (e.g. acting cubes and other minor scenic elements), engaging in repetitive tasks, sitting, walking, bending, and reaching within the office and classroom environment. McCarter is a hybrid (on site/off site) workplace.
• Employees will be asked to occasionally use a personal cell phone in order to access authenticator apps and related software necessary for work credentials/multi-factor authentication (MFA). Applicants should be comfortable using their personal devices for these purposes as part of their job responsibilities, as workarounds cannot be guaranteed in order to access certain platforms.
This job posting and position description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of McCarter.
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
McCarter is one of the country's flagship theatres, a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts, and a key cultural anchor for Central New Jersey. Located on the campus of Princeton University and incorporated as an independent, charitable nonprofit, the company is a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. A home for new play development and world premieres, the company has launched numerous works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world.
Among the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 7,500 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust arts-in-education offerings. The company offers more than 20 annual in-school residencies in classrooms in Princeton and Trenton, hosts schools from throughout the region for student matinee performances, and offers need-based scholarships to every one of its dozens of educational after-school and summer programs each year. Co-led by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Executive Director Martin Miller, McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
TO APPLY
Please visit our Career Center page to apply for this position. Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. We welcome any additional context you would like to share about your experience and interest in this role. We look forward to learning more about you and what you’d bring to this position!
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT
McCarter is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring, supporting, and promoting a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. As such, McCarter seeks team members who: contribute to a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to support an expansive artistic vision; are committed to engaging in ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression work collectively and individually; value collaboration, curiosity, flexibility, and an openness to continuous personal and professional growth.
We encourage all candidates to apply, even if they do not currently meet all the qualifications. We know there are great candidates who may not have all the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. McCarter is committed to on-the-job training and mentorship. We also encourage candidates who do not live within commuting distance to apply; we are eager to tell you about the area, which includes many vibrant communities and towns outside of Princeton.
McCarter Theatre Center is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in the application and hiring process for individuals with disabilities if needed and requested. To request disability accommodation, please contact (609) 258-6500 and connect with Human Resources or email jobs@mccarter.org.