Strategic Chief of Staff for Theater

Playbill, Inc.; Pittsfield (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA is seeking a strategic Chief of Staff to partner with the Executive Director and align operational priorities across the organization.

This on-site role oversees production budgeting, artist contracts, union compliance, and cross-department coordination, demanding sound judgement, discretion, and a producer's practicality to move complex work forward.

Qualifications

• Experience in theatre general management or arts administration.
• Ability to build and manage production budgets and negotiate agreements.
• Strong financial fluency including forecasting and variance analysis.
• Exceptional project management and follow-through across multiple productions.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with seasonal producing schedules and changing demands.
• Knowledge of theatrical agreements (AEA, LORT, SDC) preferred.
• Commitment to an inclusive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted partner to the Executive Director on management, planning, problem-solving, and follow-through.
• Translate priorities into clear workplans with owners, deadlines, dependencies, and decision points.
• Prepare the Executive Director for key internal meetings with concise recommendations.
• Represent the Executive Director in internal meetings and advance decisions.
• Design and manage cross-department operating rhythms, calendars, decision logs, and follow-up systems.
• Ensure all departments share timely information to do their work.
• Clarify ownership when responsibilities cross departments; identify gaps and overlaps.
• Facilitate resolution of interdepartmental issues with direct communication and accountability.
• Support implementation of strategic-plan priorities and organization-wide initiatives.
• Develop and monitor production budgets with leadership; provide cost scenarios and implications.
• Draft, negotiate, and track artist and production-related agreements with counsel as needed.
• Coordinate union requirements and ensure compliance with contracts and reporting obligations.
• Maintain contract pipeline and ensure documentation reaches Finance and other departments.
• Collaborate on calendars, housing, travel, onboarding, and other contractual logistics.
• Review invoices and change requests against contracts and budgets; secure approvals.
• Provide forecasts and variance reporting including risks and corrective actions.

Skills

Theatre management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Negotiation

Seasonal work

Job description

Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA is seeking a strategic Chief of Staff to partner with the Executive Director and align operational priorities across the organization.

This on-site role oversees production budgeting, artist contracts, union compliance, and cross-department coordination, demanding sound judgement, discretion, and a producer's practicality to move complex work forward.