Director of External Relations

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

PlayMakers Repertory Company ( PRC) is the premiere professional theatre company of North Carolina, serving as a working laboratory for the Department of Dramatic Art and as a nationally recognized cultural destination for UNC and the entire southeast region. PlayMakers Repertory Company strives to produce entertaining, relevant, and courageous work that tells stories from and for a multiplicity of perspectives and creates transformational impact in our immediate and extended communities. PRC manages the planning and oversight of a 3.1 million dollar professional and educational theatre operation. This unit has a staff of about 175 which includes approximately 47 employees, 20 independent contractors, 30 workstudy students and up to 100 volunteers. Approximately 37 of these employees are seasonal employees, requiring new contracts and university personnel paperwork for each season. This unit is responsible for creating significant professional artistic programming, student and community engagement activities and attendant fundraising endeavors. The unit functions as a program of the Department of Dramatic Art. Employees of the unit are essentially employees of the department and the budget of the unit falls under the budget of the department.

With support of the Producing Artistic Director ( PAD), The Director of External Relations ( DER) serves as the lead external facing administrator for PlayMakers Repertory Company ( PRC) and requires a background in arts management, fundraising, business management and/or communications. The DER works in constant collaboration with both the PAD and the Chair of Dramatic Art to sustain, grow and elevate PRC's standing as a nationally recognized professional theater, inextricably linked to the department's educational mission and operations. The Director of External Relations oversees the Marketing department and manages an assistant director of annual giving. Additionally, the person in this role manages relationships and strategic partnerships with the community, and, as a key member of the leadership team, develops the strategic vision for PRC in conjunction with the PAD. The DER expands awareness of PRC's impact and priorities across a broad community of stakeholders; develops audiences who are effectively welcomed into and engaged with our offerings and maximizes philanthropic and earned revenues. They participate in short and long-range strategic planning and ensure that fundraising, communications, and audience development strategies align with and maximize broad-based support for existing needs and growth plans. All development work is done in partnership with the Arts and Sciences Foundation liaison.

This position is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive strategies to increase transformational individual, corporate, and institutional investments in PlayMakers Repertory Company. The Director of External Relations is responsible for setting and meeting fundraising goals in partnership with the Arts and Sciences Foundation liaison. As such, they demonstrate an exceptional ability to cultivate close relationships with stakeholders across various mediums: donors, volunteers, patrons, the national arts community, faculty, students, colleagues, and the entire educational community of UNC-Chapel Hill. The DER helps ensure a sustainable plan to increase fundraising results. This individual is expected to leverage strong major gift experience and innovative strategies to identify new major gift prospects, increase annual giving, and diversify PRC's donor base in collaboration with the Arts and Sciences Foundation liaison.

The Director of External Relations also provides leadership for marketing and communications to ensure that PRC puts forth a cohesive message, a distinct brand, and a consistent narrative while clearly articulating PRC's mission, vision, programs, and impact. They oversee a comprehensive brand engagement strategy that welcomes and builds loyalty among a wide range of audiences, donors, students, partners, staff, and other stakeholders. Their efforts facilitate strategic relationships that position PRC's brand locally, regionally, and nationally. The DER directs the creation and implementation of audience development plans based in quantitative and qualitative research, evolving market trends, and contemporary outreach strategies.

This position works in close partnership with the Director of Operations.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity or comparable background in independent academic or instructional activities, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. This experience may be related to the direction/oversight of programs that focus the academic and research resources of a higher education institution towards community or regional issues.

Minimum five years of theatre management experience or equivalent in non-profit or arts management; Ability to work independently, meet high goals, and interact efficiently in a comprehensive research university; Demonstrate project management experience; Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced working environment; Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with staff members, artists, faculty and volunteers; Integrity. Authenticity, and enthusiasm; Exceptional written and oral communication skills; Exceptional interpersonal skills; Ability to monitor and meet multiple deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement strategy, including envisioning and articulating future direction
- Demonstrated experience recognizing, integrating, and leveraging interdependent relationships between marketing, communications, and development functions
- Broad knowledge of fundraising best practices, nuanced external relationship development and management, strategy development and implementation, strategic communications, and multi-stakeholder coordination
- Highly developed and effective storytelling skills in all mediums including written, verbal, presentation, and visual communications
- A history of collaborating with various groups to develop impactful, mutually beneficial partnerships and achieve ambitious results
- A strong relationship builder who engenders confidence and trust with executives, peers, prospects, donors, and board members
- High energy and passion for PRC's mission. Proven ability to connect one's own work and goals to the broader mission and values of an organization
- Ability to travel occasionally
- Frequent evening and weekend work required

- Experience in higher education fundraising and/or in fundraising for a theater or arts organization strongly preferred
- Demonstrated record of success raising six- and seven-figure gifts, as well as corporate and foundation fundraising strongly preferred
- Ability to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising program working independently and collaboratively, preferably with a background in and passion for fundraising for the arts or arts related endeavors
- Demonstrated leadership experience related to communications, marketing, and/or media relations as part of broader efforts to advance an organization's mission and goals among internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to interact effectively in a comprehensive environment such as a research university setting and to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism and performance as evidenced by collaborative teamwork, initiative, critical thinking, good judgment, consistency of output, and timeliness of follow-through
- Ability to respond positively to change as evidenced by adapting approaches, goals, and methods to achieve solutions and results in dynamic situations; helping others cope with the ongoing demands of change and finding the benefits; and recovering quickly from setbacks to find alternative ways to reach goals or targets

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.