Group Sales & Community Access Manager

DEPARTMENT: Marketing, Communications and Ticketing

REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing & Audience Strategy

PAY: Full-time; Annual; Exempt

LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is an in-person position reporting to our administrative offices located at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm. Some evening and/or weekend hours may be required and scheduled in advance.

START DATE: This position will be filled as early as possible.

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The position of Group Sales & Community Access Manager is charged with increasing audience attendance at the full range of McCarter programming by initiating and cultivating relationships with new and returning group audiences. Success will be measured by the achievement of an annual revenue goal for group sales and student matinee income, as well as by meeting established benchmarks as project lead for McCarter’s Stage Door Access program, which provides free or low-priced tickets to the regional community thru engaging and stewarding McCarter’s relationship with a roster of social-service organizations, schools, charities and other partners.

The ideal candidate will be a “connector” who embodies an enthusiasm for theatre and live performing arts. They will be motivated both by the thrill of a sold-out performance that achieves sales benchmarks, and by a genuine desire to make attending the arts economically accessible for all.

This position will collaborate with all members of the Marketing, Communications & Ticketing department, working closely with the Sales Concierge to identify prospects and solicit sales. If you’re ready to make an impact by building audience relationships, expanding access to the arts, and increasing attendance at our performances, join us to connect communities with McCarter’s inspiring programming alongside a passionate and dedicated team!

Essential Functions & Duties:

• As its primary function, this role leads group sales strategy and outreach to meet established sales/revenue goals for the season; targets existing buyers and identifies new prospects; and works with the Box Office to ensure group orders are fulfilled and paid on schedule.
• Builds relationships with communities, organizations and businesses to promote specific events and McCarter as an institution.
• Leads the promotion and sales efforts for McCarter’s student matinee program, including coordinating direct mail and email campaigns with the Marketing team, and making direct outreach to schools and community groups.
• Works with director of marketing & audience strategy and the marketing team to identify target audiences for specific events and programs and makes direct outreach to identified communities, organizations or individuals.
• As the project lead for the development and implementation of the Stage Door Access Program, actively seeks and cultivates a roster of social-service organizations, schools and charities as program partners – stewarding program relationships, managing inventory allocations, processing ticket requests, tracking program data and preparing reports on program usage and impact.
• Works closely with McCarter’s front of house manager and Box Office team to share information regarding Audio Described, ASL interpreted, Open Captioned and Relaxed Performances through outreach to groups and organizations that serve individuals and communities for whom these programs might remove a barrier to participation.
• Represents McCarter at external events to increase visibility and awareness of the institution within the community. Collaborates with the communications director to identify opportunities and plays a lead role in planning, executing and personally staffing McCarter booths at community events.
• Prioritize safe working practices while embodying McCarter's safety and community expectations policies to maintain a secure environment for all staff, patrons, and guest artists.
• Engage in the ongoing work of fostering an equitable and inclusive environment at McCarter. Actively seek ways to improve work practices to ensure greater accessibility, representation, and belonging for all, while upholding and exhibiting our stated values of 'justice and joy, beauty and belonging.’

Qualifications:

• Previous sales experience required, preferably in a performing arts environment
• Experience and proficiency with a CRM/ticketing system and database (Tessitura preferred)
• Experience building and maintaining mutually beneficial business relationship/professional partnerships
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects with a keen eye for detail and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, fostering positive working relationships with colleagues, vendors, and artists, across various departments.
• Proven ability to set priorities, work collaboratively, and take initiative.
• A collaborative 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.
• Exhibit a critical consciousness and genuine interest in promoting equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace values and practices while working with individuals of diverse needs, personalities, and work styles, and employing an optimistic and solution-oriented mindset towards fostering inclusivity and support within the team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will embody an enthusiasm for theatre and live performing arts, with particular interest in supporting and elevating the work of global artists across many disciplines
• Experience with the administration and management of performing arts institutions and theatre

Work Environment:

• Led by our core values, McCarter fosters and expects a culture of care and respect for the wellbeing of our staff.
• Work will primarily be completed in a shared office space, subject to HVAC cooling and heating.
• This position entails extended periods of sitting, manual dexterity for operating office equipment, and the ability to read and interpret documents, while occasionally requiring lifting and carrying objects up to 20 pounds (e.g., materials for community events), engaging in repetitive tasks, standing, walking, bending, and reaching within the office environment, as well as possible set-up and breakdown for external events.
• Position may be asked to use personal transportation for meetings with various stakeholders and to attend off-site events with access to mileage reimbursement.
• Employees may be asked to 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 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.

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.