Director, Producing and Artistic Operations

The University Of Chicago; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Court Theatre is seeking a Director of Producing and Artistic Operations to lead the theatre’s producing and operations function in Chicago. This role partners with the Artistic Director to drive season planning, production management, co-productions, touring, and strategic partnerships.

The position oversees budgets, staffing, and contracts, and ensures artistic work is financially sustainable and institutionally aligned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a college or university degree in a related field.
• Seven+ years of progressively responsible experience in artistic producing, theatre management, or artistic operations.

Responsibilities

• Leads multi-year producing strategies aligned with Court Theatre's artistic and institutional goals.
• Develops long-range production capacity planning and advises senior leadership on production scale, staffing, scheduling, and institutional priorities.
• Conducts feasibility analyses for productions, commissions, festivals, touring initiatives, and strategic artistic projects.
• Develops Court Theatre's long-term production pipeline, supporting future touring, remounts, co-productions, publications, and scholarly engagement.
• Owns the institution-wide producing calendar and coordinates production timelines across artistic, engagement, and institutional initiatives.
• Maintains the Theatre's production, event, and programs portfolio, balancing budgets, staffing, facilities, and organizational capacity.
• Supervises artistic operations staff, including producing personnel, company management, literary fellows, interns, and project-based producers.
• Leads producing relationships for co-productions, touring, commissions, festivals, and presenting partnerships.
• Negotiates producing agreements and memoranda of understanding with external partners, in collaboration with the Managing Director.
• Serves as Court Theatre's principal producing representative with artists, agents, presenters, peer theatres, funders, and University partners.

Education

Degree in arts administration or theatre

Job description

## Director, Producing and Artistic OperationsApply: Hybrid: Chicago, IL: Full time: Posted Today: JR35042**Department**AI Court Artistic**About the Department**Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago and a Tony-award winning nationally recognized center for classic theatre. Located on Chicago's South Side, Court produces artistically ambitious work that combines rigorous inquiry, innovative interpretation, and deep engagement with scholars, students, artists, and the public. As Court looks to its 75th anniversary and expands its artistic reach through convenings, co-productions, touring, commissions, and strategic partnerships, the Director of Producing will play a central leadership role in building the systems that support this next phase of growth.**Job Summary**The Director of Producing serves as Court Theatre's chief producing executive and principal operational partner to the Artistic Director. The Artistic Director establishes the theatre's artistic vision and programming priorities; and leads the institutional planning, partnerships, producing strategy, artistic operations, and project execution necessary to realize that vision. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Producing provides strategic leadership across season planning, production management, co-productions, touring initiatives, artistic operations, budgeting, and external partnerships. This role works collaboratively with the Artistic Director, Executive Director, Managing Director, Director of Production, Director of Engagement, and other University and community partners to ensure that Court's artistic work is operationally excellent, financially sustainable, and positioned for long-term impact.**Responsibilities*** Leads multi-year producing strategies aligned with Court Theatre's artistic and institutional goals.* Develops long-range production capacity planning and advises senior leadership on production scale, staffing, scheduling, and institutional priorities.* Conducts feasibility analyses for productions, commissions, festivals, touring initiatives, and strategic artistic projects.* Develops Court Theatre's long-term production pipeline, supporting future touring, remounts, co-productions, publications, and scholarly engagement.* Owns the institution-wide producing calendar and coordinates production timelines across artistic, engagement, and institutional initiatives.* Maintains the Theatre's production, event, and programs portfolio, balancing budgets, staffing, facilities, and organizational capacity.* Supervises artistic operations staff, including producing personnel, company management, literary fellows, interns, and project-based producers.* Develops efficient workflows, production documentation, and post-production evaluation processes.* Leads producing relationships for co-productions, touring, commissions, festivals, and presenting partnerships.* Negotiates producing agreements and memoranda of understanding with external partners, in collaboration with the Managing Director.* Serves as Court Theatre's principal producing representative with artists, agents, presenters, peer theatres, funders, and University partners.* Cultivates national and international partnerships that expand Court Theatre's artistic impact.* Collaborates on production, event, and program budgets with Finance, Production, and Engagement leadership.* Forecasts production costs, manages contingencies, and supports long-range financial planning.* Oversees contracting and negotiations for guest artists and producing agreements.* Ensures compliance with labor agreements, University policies, and industry best practices.* Represents Court Theatre in meetings with donors, artists, University leadership, and external partners, especially when the Artistic Director is unavailable.* Champions innovation in producing models, institutional partnerships, and artistic operations.* Develops long- and short-term programs to achieve the artistic goals for the theater. Ensures the availability of artistic and production resources necessary to implement programs.* Oversees stage productions and artistic teams. Leads the planning of auditions and selection of music/dance/theatre productions.* 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.**Certifications:****---****Preferred Qualifications****Education:** * Degree in arts administration, theatre, or a related field.**Experience:** * Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in artistic producing, theatre management, or artistic operations.* Demonstrated experience managing complex productions, budgets, schedules, contracts, and cross-functional teams.* Background in a LORT, university-affiliated, or mission-driven theatre.* Leading co-productions, touring projects, festivals, or multi-institutional artistic collaborations.**Preferred Competencies*** Knowledge of theatrical labor agreements, production finance, and contracting.* Commitment to collaborative leadership, inclusion, belonging, and artist-centered practice.* Passion for classical theatre and intellectually rigorous artistic work.* Communicates effectively and builds collaborative relationships.* Exercises sound judgment while balancing artistic ambition with operational realities.* Leads multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.* Demonstrates strategic thinking, organizational stewardship, and financial acumen.* Demonstrates the utmost professionalism and diplomacy.**Application Documents*** Resume/CV (required)* Cover Letter (preferred)* References Contact Information (3)(preferred)The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) **MUST** be uploaded via the **My Experience** page, in the section titled **Application Documents** of the application.**Job Family**Museum & Arts**Role Impact**People Manager**Scheduled** **Weekly Hours**37.5**Drug Test Required**No**Health Screen Required**No**Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required**No**Pay Rate Type**Salary **FLSA Status**Exempt **Pay Range**$90,000.00 - $110,000.00The 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**YesThe 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.