Director of Programming

About the Long Center

The Long Center is Austin’s home for creativity and community. As a nonprofit performing arts center, we provide access to world-class performances, community programs, and transformative cultural experiences.

Position Summary

The Director of Programming leads the Long Center’s programmatic work, creating year-round impact for performing arts in Austin. Booking great shows is a critical part of the role, but this position goes further: it builds an annual body of programming, partnerships, education and outreach that advances our mission and gives donors, sponsors, and funders compelling reasons to invest.

The Long Center’s presenting inventory is limited, so success depends on creativity and collaboration rather than volume. The Director builds partnerships with local and national colleagues to program the Michael and Susan Dell Hall. They also find and grow non-traditional programming across the Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre, the City Terrace, the HEB Stage and beyond: community events, family and educational programs, and other formats that serve new audiences.

The Director works closely with the President & CEO on artistic vision and strategy, and partners with Advancement, Marketing, Sales and Operations so that every program is well funded, well attended, and well executed.

As a member of the senior management team, the Director of Programming helps set the tone for the Long Center’s culture. They’ll build strong working relationships with colleagues and model the collaboration, accountability and care the organization expects of everyone.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Artistic Vision and Programming

• Develop and lead a cohesive, year-round programming plan that reflects the Long Center’s mission and engages the full range of Austin’s communities.
• Research, evaluate risk, select and negotiate terms for performances presented by the Long Center, including Long Center Presents (LCP) programming in Dell Hall.
• Build an annual calendar that balances presented shows, co-promotions, community programs, education and special events.
• Cultivate relationships with agents, managers, producers and artists, and stay current on local, national, and international trends in the performing arts.

Co-Promotions and Partnerships

• Develop and manage co-promotion partnerships with local and national partners.
• Serve as a primary contact for promoters, ticketed rentals, and community partners.
• Identify and build partnerships with cultural, civic, educational, health and community organizations that extend the Long Center’s reach and impact.
• Establish relationships with programming departments at comparable venues in Texas and the Southwest, allowing for opportunities to book tours as a block.

Education and Outreach

• Design, launch and grow education and outreach programs for students, families, artists, and lifelong learners.
• Connect presented and partner programming to education and community engagement opportunities such as workshops, residencies, talkbacks, and school performances.
• Set goals and measure the reach and impact of education and outreach programs.

Non-Traditional Programming and New Initiatives

• Identify new formats and areas for programming growth beyond traditional presenting, such as community events, festivals, family programs, outdoor and seasonal events, and cross-sector programs.
• Use all Long Center spaces creatively, including our stages, conference rooms, and outdoor spaces.
• Research opportunities and build business plans for new initiatives.
• Pilot new programs, evaluate results, and scale what works.

Mission-Driven Fundraising

• Partner with the VP of Advancement to make programming a fundraising driver, shaping programs that attract individual donors, corporate partners, foundations and government funders.
• Provide program content, impact data and stories for grant applications, sponsorship proposals, donor cultivation and reports.
• Help identify sponsorship and underwriting opportunities tied to programs, series and initiatives.
• Participate in donor and sponsor cultivation and stewardship events as needed.

Financial Management

• Develop programming budgets with the CFO.
• Monitor revenue and expenses throughout the season and provide regular forecasts.
• Manage risk across the programming portfolio, balancing presented, co-promoted, and partner-funded work.
• Oversee contracts from negotiation through settlement, working with Box Office, Finance, Operations, and other departments.

Calendar and Cross-Department Collaboration

• Oversee the programming portion of the organization’s calendar, working with Sales, Operations, and Production to resolve conflicts and use inventory well.
• Work with Marketing and Sales on audience development and ticket sales goals.
• Work with Operations and Production to make sure programs are well executed and serve patrons and artists at the highest level.

Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the Programming team, ensuring a high-performing department.
• Set clear annual goals and priorities tied to the programming plan and organizational strategy, and track progress throughout the year.
• Coach staff through regular one-on-ones, real-time feedback, and development conversations.
• Delegate meaningful ownership and hold staff accountable for results, addressing performance or behavior issues promptly, fairly and directly.
• Conduct performance evaluations, recognize strong work, and identify training and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a team culture of collaboration, creativity, open communication and trust.

Senior Management

• Serve as an active member of the senior management team, contributing to organization-wide decisions, priorities and the Long Center’s strategic plan.
• Build strong, trusting working relationships with fellow department heads, including Advancement, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Production and Finance, to align priorities and solve problems together.
• Bring an organization-wide perspective to leadership discussions, weighing what is best for the Long Center as a whole, not only for programming.
• Champion internal communication so that staff across departments understand programming plans, goals, and successes.
• Represent the Long Center onsite and in the community.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Strategic and creative vision: Sees programming opportunities beyond traditional presenting; connects artistic choices to mission, audiences and revenue.
• Partnership building: Builds trust with presenters, artists, community organizations and funders; creates partnerships that benefit everyone involved.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: Tests new ideas, measures results and grows what works; comfortable with calculated risk.
• Fundraising orientation: Understands how programs attract donors, sponsors and grants; communicates impact persuasively.
• Financial acumen: Builds and manages budgets, negotiates deals and evaluates financial risk.
• Collaboration: Works across departments and ensures appropriate input in decisions.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively for artists, donors, partners, staff and the public.
• Project management: Plans and coordinates multiple programs at once, on time and on budget.
• Community engagement: Brings a genuine commitment to serving Austin’s diverse communities and expanding access to the arts.
• Judgment and adaptability: Makes timely, sound decisions and adapts to change, delays and unexpected events.
• Leadership and coaching: Sets clear goals and expectations, coaches and develops staff, delegates effectively and holds people accountable with fairness and candor.
• Culture building: Models the organization’s values; builds trust, inclusion and engagement within the team and across the organization.
• Teamwork: Builds strong peer relationships with other department heads; balances departmental goals with organizational priorities and handles disagreement constructively.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: At least 7 years of programming or presenting experience in a performing arts center or comparable organization, with increasing leadership responsibility.
• Industry knowledge: Broad knowledge of the national and international performing arts field, artists, agents and new works; strong negotiation skills. Knowledge of Austin’s cultural landscape and experience working in a unionized (IATSE) environment is a plus!
• Management: Demonstrated success managing and developing a team, including setting goals, coaching, conducting performance evaluations, hiring and addressing performance issues.
• Senior leadership: Experience serving on, or working closely with, a senior management team with a track record of building collaborative relationships with peer department heads and contributing to a positive organizational culture.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel; experience with event scheduling and ticketing software.

Work Environment

This position is based on site at the Long Center, located in the heart of beautiful Austin, TX, and regularly requires evening and weekend event attendance. The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made. 

Benefits

The Long Center offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, 401k plan with employer match, generous paid time off, prime parking and amazing experiences with the best view in town.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Long Center is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and we strive for a team that reflects Austin’s diverse culture. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex or age.