Founded in 2009, Sanitas Playback Theatre has been serving the citizens, communities and organizations of the National Capital Region (NCR) through its performances and workshops in playback theatre.
Along with his professional experience as an actor and in experiential corporate training, Artistic Director Brie Barker draws upon his passionate ten years of practice and training in playback theatre in guiding the company’s work. Currently, the company’s performance ensemble has eight full members and three apprentice members.
More complete information about the company can be found on their website at www.sanitasplayback.com.
The Nature of Playback Theatre:
Playback is an improvised theatrical art form that honours people’s real-life experiences. Stories are told live by volunteering audience members and then immediately re-enacted through the artistry of the ensemble’s actors and musician.
Playback creates a shared space between and amongst the performers and audience members, a space that holds and reflects the full emotional spectrum of what it is to be human. Playback serves to bring people closer together; it generates an authentic feeling of community and illuminates the universality that flows within our experiences as individuals:
• It's entertaining, though deeper than entertainment.
• It's profound, though not precious.
• It's sophisticated, though easily accessible.
The History of Playback Theatre:
Playback was developed in the mid-1970s in upstate New York. Today, playback is practiced in over 50 countries and is supported globally through the IPTN (International Playback Theatre Network) and in North America by the Centre for Playback Theatre and Playback North America.
Job Description:
Sanitas Playback Theatre is looking to substantially increase its logistical capacity to serve a greater number of people, communities and organizations within the National Capital Region (NCR); in particular, through projects involving the NCR’s non-profit organizations and social service agencies.
To that end, Artistic Director Brie Barker is seeking an individual to fulfill the role of Managing Director. The Managing Director will apply their passion for the company’s work through their business/administrative skills, in complement with Brie Barker’s passion and artistic skills.
In collaboration with the Artistic Director, the Managing Director will be expected to:
1. Develop a formal business plan for the company.
2.Lead the migration of the company from its current status as a sole proprietorship to that of a non-profit corporation.
3. Manage the day-to-day administrative operations of the company in areas such as:
• New project development
• Project/task management
• Financial management
• Grant writing / fundraising
• Communications, marketing and promotion
• Calendar/contact database management
• Hiring/managing paid and volunteer ad hoc support
Hours & Remuneration:
Those who are interested in fulfilling this role through either half or full-time work are equally encouraged to apply.
At the outset, the Managing Director will work as an independent contractor whose financial remuneration will be through the company’s profit-sharing model. Beyond that, the position type and compensation model will likely shift in accordance with the aforementioned future business plan and migration of the company’s legal structure to that of a non-profit corporation, e.g. the position may become that of an employee with a fixed salary.
Your Essential Outlook:
• A strong belief in the values inherent in playback theatre and how Sanitas Playback Theatre manifests those values
• A passion for a wide variety of administrative work
• A desire to build something meaningful in partnership and collaboration
• A desire to communicate openly and positively
• Optimism informed by prudent feasibility
• Embracing smiles and humour
Strong Skills Required:
• Fluency in English
• Time management and task delegation
• Establishing and maintaining efficient administrative systems
• Attending to detail
• Communicating clearly
• Working in collaboration with others
• Working independently
• Self-motivation
Computer Skills:
An overall comfort and proficiency with computers is required, most desirably in a Mac environment. Software programs currently in use include:
• Daylite (a contact/calendar program)
• Quickbooks
• MS Office (esp. Word, Excel)
• Website Tonite (a GoDaddy.com website building tool for non-programmers)
• Firefox
• Mail (Mac’s e-mail program)
Education & Experience:
The ideal candidate will have formal education and experience in one or more of the following fields:
• Arts Administration
• Small Business Administration
• Non-profit Management
In addition to the aforementioned day-to-day activities inherent in the job, the ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Community development
• Business development
• Sales
Bonus Attributes:
• Fully bilingual, English/French
• Use of a car
• Your own Mac and internet access
• Open to working from home or in an office
• Open to working flexible hours (details by mutual agreement)
How to Apply:
Please send your resumé and a cover letter to Artistic Director Brie Barker at brie@sanitasplayback.com.
