Artistic Director | Children's Musical Theater San Jose

CMT's Marquee production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024). Photo by Camille Grochowski.

OPPORTUNITY

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (CMT) seeks an engaging, collaborative, and strategic Artistic Director to help guide its next chapter. Now in its 57th Season, CMT is one of the nation’s foremost theaters producing work by and for young people. Theater leaders with a passion for artistic excellence, a commitment to nurturing diverse voices and perspectives, and an excitement for mentoring young people and early-career artists will find a receptive and supportive community at CMT. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors and serves as the company’s co-leader, working in close collaboration with the Managing Director.

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These are the primary roles and responsibilities of the Artistic Director:

1. Foster an innovative artistic vision for CMT that aligns with the organization’s mission and values; set a strategic programmatic course for that vision that inspires performers, audiences, donors, staff, and Board.
2. Lead the season planning process, including the selection of productions and artistic teams.
3. Oversee season productions and work with artistic teams to ensure that CMT’s values of artistic excellence, inclusion, and community are being met.
4. Develop and manage annual production budgets in coordination with other key staff.
5. Collaborate with other senior staff to innovate educational programs that further CMT’s mission, production work, and overall institutional position.
6. Foster a productive partnership with the Managing Director; lead jointly and by example.
7. Maintain a working culture that supports and inspires the best work of program participants, artistic professionals, staff, and Board.
8. Hire, lead, and mentor the artistic, education, and production teams.
9. Imbue and deepen CMT’s efforts articulated in their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Plan.
10. Serve as a primary public face and ambassador of CMT with civic organizations and public officials, institutional and corporate funders, as well as patrons, volunteers, and participant families.
11. Work with the Managing Director, staff, and Board to strengthen CMT’s fiscal sustainability including support of fundraising activities and earned revenue generation.
12. Help plan and execute the organization’s annual fundraising Gala, including the artistic components.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL TRAITS

While no single individual will likely possess all of these qualifications, the Search Committee will make their evaluation on the following criteria:

1. Demonstrable track record as a highly creative theater artist, with deep experience especially in musicals.
2. Strong producing skills and the ability to lead and inspire teams of professionals and volunteers in a high-volume production environment.
3. A deeply held commitment to working with young people and early-career professionals, and facilitating their artistic and personal growth.
4. A strategic thinker, able to adapt and innovate in collaboration with the Managing Director and Board to achieve mutually agreed objectives.
5. A collaborative, positive, communicative leadership style.
6. A demonstrable commitment to equity and access and a desire to create an inclusive environment.
7. Prior roles in non-profit theater organizations.
8. A dynamic public presence that will inspire the Board, staff, and public to support the theater’s artistic work and organizational vision.
9. Strong written and verbal communication skills; a good listener as well as a compelling speaker.
10. A wide knowledge of the musical theater industry and canon (classic and contemporary).
11. Satisfaction in facilitating the best work in others.
12. Integrity, truthfulness, and ethics.

COMPENSATION AND START DATE

The annual salary range for the Artistic Director starts at $125,000 and includes a full benefit package including: paid vacation/PTO and holidays; health, dental, and vision insurance; disability and life insurance; and a 403(b) plan.

CMT is committed to inclusive recruitment and hiring practices throughout all levels of the organization, ensuring that its staff, management, and executive leadership reflect and serve its communities.