Theater Director Jobs
Theater Director jobs are open across regional theater companies, university performing arts departments, nonprofit arts organizations, and commercial productions, covering specializations in dramatic works, musical theater, and devised performance, from emerging artist to executive artistic director. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Consistently ranked as one of the top elite entertainment and performing arts institutions in the world, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) offers an unparalleled education across live performance, film, television, and digital arts. We set the stage for innovation, storytelling, and performance that shapes the future of creative arts. We are seeking a Director of Development to join our team and drive the philanthropic support necessary to encourage the dreams and aspirations of tomorrow’s creators and trailblazers. Working in partnership with the Executive Director of Development, you will plan and implement a strong, proactive major gift program aligned with TFT’s strategic priorities. In this high-impact role, you will build and manage a premier portfolio of major gift prospects at the six- and seven-figure levels, launch and manage a Parent Giving Council ($10,000+ level), and staff key leadership, Dean, and faculty interactions. You will collaborate across TFT, Development, External Affairs, and campus-wide offices to align donor passions with space needs, academic initiatives, and visionary artistic endeavors. If you are a sophisticated fundraising professional with strategic acumen, strong volunteer management experience, and a drive to empower multifaceted artists and scholars, this is an extraordinary opportunity to thrive in an environment of excellence. UCLA is a great place to work, helping you achieve financial well-being with a pension and other retirement savings plans.
Explore more and embark on a rewarding career where you can shape the future of creative expression with us today!
Salary & Compensation
*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.
Qualifications
- Minimum of three years of fundraising experience and/or prior professional experience in a related field such as sales, marketing or business development. (Required)
- Experience in and strong documented record of gifts solicited and closed in the annual, special and/or major gifts range and/or solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity. (Required)
- Experience conceptualizing, planning and implementing special events. (Required)
- Working knowledge of the principles and practices of fundraising in a university setting with a strong understanding of the goals, functions and services of a research university or institution of equivalent complexity. (Required)
- Proven skills in and/or ability to develop sophisticated strategies in planning, implementing and administering major gift solicitations or other solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity. (Required)
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work harmoniously with volunteers, academic leaders, faculty, and other development staff toward the accomplishment of fundraising goals. (Required)
- Demonstrated skill and/or ability to work with a dean and/or senior faculty or equivalent leadership of a similar level and type at a comparable organization. (Required)
- Strong ability to recruit, orient, train, organize, motivate and evaluate staff and volunteers who support development goals and programs. (Required)
- Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple tasks and multi-phase projects simultaneously from inception to completion and complete work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment with minimum supervision. (Required)
- Ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, about UCLA’s fundraising goals and the specific priorities of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television; equal ability to listen perceptively and convey sensitivity and awareness. (Required)
- Excellent written and communication skills, with the ability to produce business correspondence, solicitation materials, appropriate letters of acknowledgement, proposals to individuals, corporations and foundations, and reports. (Required)
- Impeccable integrity and discretion in dealing with donors, alumni, students, administrators and colleagues as well as confidential information. (Required)
- Knowledge of Microsoft Suite of applications is required as is familiarity with other applications, programs and databases as needed with a willingness to learn new technologies. (Required)
Special Conditions for Employment
- Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
- Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed. (Required)
- Ability to travel as needed.
Schedule
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Union/Policy Covered
99-Policy Covered
Complete Position Description
https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Fundraiser%204%20(40060386) Apply
- Full Salary Range:
Consistently ranked as one of the top elite entertainment and performing arts institutions in the world, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) offers an unparalleled education across live performance, film, television, and digital arts. We set the stage for innovation, storytelling, and performance that shapes the future of creative arts. We are seeking a Director of Development to join our team and drive the philanthropic support necessary to encourage the dreams and aspirations of tomorrow’s creators and trailblazers. Working in partnership with the Executive Director of Development, you will plan and implement a strong, proactive major gift program aligned with TFT’s strategic priorities. In this high-impact role, you will build and manage a premier portfolio of major gift prospects at the six- and seven-figure levels, launch and manage a Parent Giving Council ($10,000+ level), and staff key leadership, Dean, and faculty interactions. You will collaborate across TFT, Development, External Affairs, and campus-wide offices to align donor passions with space needs, academic initiatives, and visionary artistic endeavors. If you are a sophisticated fundraising professional with strategic acumen, strong volunteer management experience, and a drive to empower multifaceted artists and scholars, this is an extraordinary opportunity to thrive in an environment of excellence. UCLA is a great place to work, helping you achieve financial well-being with a pension and other retirement savings plans.
Explore more and embark on a rewarding career where you can shape the future of creative expression with us today!
Salary & Compensation
*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.
Qualifications
- Minimum of three years of fundraising experience and/or prior professional experience in a related field such as sales, marketing or business development. (Required)
- Experience in and strong documented record of gifts solicited and closed in the annual, special and/or major gifts range and/or solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity. (Required)
- Experience conceptualizing, planning and implementing special events. (Required)
- Working knowledge of the principles and practices of fundraising in a university setting with a strong understanding of the goals, functions and services of a research university or institution of equivalent complexity. (Required)
- Proven skills in and/or ability to develop sophisticated strategies in planning, implementing and administering major gift solicitations or other solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity. (Required)
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work harmoniously with volunteers, academic leaders, faculty, and other development staff toward the accomplishment of fundraising goals. (Required)
- Demonstrated skill and/or ability to work with a dean and/or senior faculty or equivalent leadership of a similar level and type at a comparable organization. (Required)
- Strong ability to recruit, orient, train, organize, motivate and evaluate staff and volunteers who support development goals and programs. (Required)
- Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple tasks and multi-phase projects simultaneously from inception to completion and complete work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment with minimum supervision. (Required)
- Ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, about UCLA’s fundraising goals and the specific priorities of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television; equal ability to listen perceptively and convey sensitivity and awareness. (Required)
- Excellent written and communication skills, with the ability to produce business correspondence, solicitation materials, appropriate letters of acknowledgement, proposals to individuals, corporations and foundations, and reports. (Required)
- Impeccable integrity and discretion in dealing with donors, alumni, students, administrators and colleagues as well as confidential information. (Required)
- Knowledge of Microsoft Suite of applications is required as is familiarity with other applications, programs and databases as needed with a willingness to learn new technologies. (Required)
Special Conditions for Employment
- Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
- Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed. (Required)
- Ability to travel as needed.
Schedule
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Union/Policy Covered
99-Policy Covered
Complete Position Description
https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Fundraiser%204%20(40060386) Apply
- Full Salary Range:
See All 10 Theater Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Theater Director JobsTheater Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in theater director jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in theater, directing, or a related performing arts discipline
- Five or more years of professional directing experience across multiple production types
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, production timelines, and artistic staff
- Strong knowledge of dramatic literature, script analysis, and production design collaboration
- Experience building relationships with playwrights, designers, and community stakeholders
- Proficiency with scheduling and project management tools used in live production environments
Tips for Your Theater Director Job Search
Tailor your resume to production scale
Theater director resumes should list productions by budget range, cast size, and venue capacity, not just title and company. Hiring committees want to see whether your experience matches the scale of their organization before they read anything else.
Build a digital production portfolio now
Attach a portfolio link to every application that includes production photos, video excerpts, and program notes. Many theater director candidates skip this and lose ground to candidates who make it easy for committees to visualize their artistic vision immediately.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists theater director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations by artistic mission alignment
Read each company's recent season and mission statement before applying. Artistic directors are frequently passed over because their cover letters reference a neutral interest in the role rather than a specific artistic connection to that organization's programming history and community focus.
Prepare work samples before the interview stage
Many theater director interviews ask you to present a concept for a hypothetical production or discuss how you would develop a specific script. Have at least two detailed production concepts ready that reflect your directorial approach, complete with casting philosophy and design collaboration notes.
Negotiate beyond salary in offer conversations
Theater director offers often include production budgets, rehearsal timelines, and marketing support as negotiable terms. Clarify these before accepting, since constraints on rehearsal days or design budgets affect your ability to execute the work you were hired to do.
Theater Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most theater directors?
The companies hiring the most theater directors right now include Zach Theater, aka NYC, and city of americus, with the largest share of openings in Texas, Maine, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nonprofit regional theaters and university performing arts programs account for the majority of active searches.
How many theater director jobs are remote?
About 100% of theater director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most remote-eligible roles concentrated in development, community engagement, and artistic planning rather than hands-on production work. Roles that require active rehearsal room presence are almost always on-site.
How do you become a theater director?
Most theater directors begin by assisting established directors, stage managing, or directing student and community productions to build a body of work. Earning a graduate degree in directing strengthens candidacy for institutional roles. From there, directing original or lesser-known works helps establish a distinct artistic voice, which is what most hiring committees evaluate first.
Can you get hired as a theater director with little experience?
Entry-level theater director roles do exist, typically as assistant directors, associate directors, or directors of small community or fringe productions. Organizations hiring at this level prioritize a compelling creative perspective and collaborative working style over a long resume. Documenting your work through video recordings and production documentation makes a significant difference at this stage.
What does the theater director interview process look like?
Theater director interviews typically begin with a portfolio or work sample review, followed by a conversation about artistic vision and leadership philosophy. Finalists are often asked to present a directorial concept for a specific script or meet with board members and company stakeholders. The process can extend across multiple rounds and may include a community conversation or public forum.
Where can I find and apply to theater director jobs?
You can find and apply to theater director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your experience and artistic focus, then apply directly to each listing from the job page.
See All 10 Theater Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Theater Director Jobs