Communications and Operations Coordinator

Organization:

Dark Glass Theatre

Deadline:

Until Filled

Organization Description:

Dark Glass Theatre exists to tell stories that enable us to see, face to face, people we might not otherwise meet, thereby decreasing judgement, increasing compassion, and fostering empathy. One of the most damaging forces at work in our world is the demonizing of the “other.” Whether separated by trauma, social standing, religion, race, sexual orientation, geography, age, or gender, breaking down barriers begins with a willingness to see beyond labels like ‘us’ and ‘them’. Therefore, we aspire to tell stories that build bridges between groups or individuals separated by discord or trauma, and to equip individuals to explore and express their own stories of forgiveness and healing.

Established in 2016, our work includes a regular live storytelling event (TRESPASS Storytelling); original productions; scripted plays; and community workshops. In 2023, we launched an initiative called Artistic Midwifery with the goal of helping other individuals and companies to birth their artistic babies. Our work takes place throughout the Lower Mainland in a variety of venues.

Dark Glass Theatre was founded on the idea that empathy can change the world. We believe that giving voice to those who do not feel heard and bringing to life experiences that might otherwise remain hidden, can free us from judgement and enable us to see each other more clearly, and this process can bring about a compassionate revolution.

Our Values

We aspire to question, at every step, whether our practices and policies actively promote and support people and voices that have been marginalized, particularly those silenced due to systemic forces, and to shape the organization in a way that de-centres privilege.

In this spirit, we endeavour to cultivate:

• Grace and generosity - we seek to be open and humble, acknowledging the humanity of each individual, admitting our mistakes, and practicing kindness in all communications

• Deep welcome – we seek to invite participation of every person in a way that opens doors and conversations, particularly for those hesitant to speak up

• A valuing of process over product – we embrace the journey as more important than the destination, and seek to work in ways that create an environment of exploration, discovery, and joy

• Appreciation and gratitude – we are grateful to do this work, and we seek to ensure that each person knows they are appreciated and valued, at every point

• An expansive and people-focused understanding of time – we seek to consider each individual’s circumstances and needs as we work to complete projects and meet deadlines

• Collaborative decision-making – we seek to involve many voices in decisions, recognizing that the best outcome is found when power is shared generously

• An openness to face and process conflict - when discord arises, we seek to work towards peace, even when it causes discomfort

• A culture of abundance, rather than scarcity – we seek to always acknowledge how much we have, and to ensure projects and people receive the resources they need

• A continual willingness to learn and grow - we seek to foster an environment of humility, where critique is given and received in a spirit of building community, increasing integrity, and creating better art

How We Work

We believe that stories are a means of connection.

Empathy is the thread we use for connection in our day-to-day work at Dark Glass Theatre. We have come to these commitments not only as a statement of ideals, but also from humbling and deeply impactful experiences where we have caused harm. As with all people and organizations, we are a work in progress. Our commitment is clear. We see value in all human beings and in all stories that we tell or facilitate through our work.

Here is how we strive to live out that commitment:

• We seek understanding. This is the form that our empathy takes--seeking to find what is meaningful when working to realize productions.

• We train ourselves to be free from judgement. We recognize that we live in a world where judgement of others is the default. And our effort is to practice ways of working and being that help to free ourselves from the limited beliefs that foster disconnection.

• We work to deepen our empathy practice through nonviolent communication, empathic listening, and including time for learning and centring the experiences of others. This includes doing our best to give space to attend to the needs of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, and others who are not part of dominant culture and who are often at the receiving end of dehumanizing and diminishing behaviour and systems.

• We provide opportunities for our team members to create listening circles, to give space to decentre the experience of those of the dominant culture, and welcome those from traditionally marginalized communities.

• We provide actors and production team members empathic listening when working with material and in circumstances that may be challenging or emotive.

• We engage cultural consultants to support the development of our care system for productions where we work across cultures.

• We create spaces for connection and community-building while working on productions, so that we can recognize and provide the support needed to reduce the risk and impact of harm.

• We address harm in a timely and people-centred way. This includes addressing racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and other dehumanizing acts of oppression. We are committed to attending to forms of harm that we are aware of, and to providing spaces for people to be heard.

• We are committed to calling-in, when appropriate. We want to address harm in a way that has the best chance of building up the community around a production. We realize that this is not always the best strategy, and state it here as a preferred but not fixed expectation for how we want to foster reconnection when there has been harm.

• We are committed to being ardent in welcoming the sharing of needs of all team members.

• We work to be intentional in creating space for naming accessibility needs and assessing our resources and readiness to meet the needs identified.

Website:

https://www.darkglasstheatre.com/

Job Description:

Working closely with the Artistic Director, the Communications and Operations Coordinator performs a variety of tasks that enable the company to flourish. These include managing communications and social media; administration of venue rentals, ticketing, and calendars; and assisting with vision-casting, planning, and event management. This is a part-time position, requiring 5 - 10 hours per week on average, with 15 or more hours per week in busy times like production weeks or gearing up for a launch. Most work is performed remotely, on a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities:

Operations
• Venue research and communication
• Google Drive organization
• Taking notes during meetings
• Calendar Management
• Virtual ticket set-up and management for events
• Day-of event coordination
• Communicating with the Board (scheduling board meetings + sending emails)
• Meeting and planning with Artistic Director (assist with vision casting, season planning, general verbal processing, and support)

Communications
• Newsletter design and writing
• Website updates
• Social media
• Designing simple posters and social media graphics

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate:

• is inspired by the mandate of Dark Glass Theatre and eager to help make things happen.
• is an excellent writer and editor
• is a self-starter who is motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented
• loves keeping things in order and anticipating the next best step
• can be equally comfortable working alone, on a team, or at a public event.
• is experienced and knowledgeable about various social media platforms
• has basic graphics skills and a good eye for design
• has a positive can-do attitude and a great sense of humour
• loves creative collaboration and problem-solving
• enjoys meeting new people and working events
• is familiar with MailChimp, Google Workspace, Squarespace, design software such as Canva, and Ticket Tailor (or another ticketing platform)

This is a part-time position with a wide-ranging skill set, so it might seem like we’re looking for a unicorn! If you don’t have every skill on the list but are intrigued by the possibility and wondering if you should apply, consider this…

This position could be right for you if:
• You’re a freelancer in communications, marketing, or operations and you’re looking to add some work, especially on a more consistent basis.
• You’ve got a background in the arts and a day job that pays the bills, but you’d love a side hustle you really care about.
• You’re a parent with great work experience who wants a part-time job that is intellectually and creatively stimulating.
• You’re a student who would love a flexible position where you can use all those skills you’ve gathered.

How to Apply:

To apply, email angela@darkglasstheatre.com with resume and cover letter. Please ensure cover letter highlights the interests, abilities, and experiences that make you a good fit for the position, as well as why you would be interested in working with Dark Glass Theatre. We encourage you to let your personality shine through in your letter, and if you have additional skills or experience that seem relevant, let us know! Please also submit a short writing sample in any genre (social media post, essay, rant, short story, speech, newsletter, etc.) that showcases your ability.

Remuneration:

Starting rate is $23/hour, with an increase to $25/hour after probationary period, and annual increases after that.

Contact Name: Angela Konrad
Contact Email: angela@darkglasstheatre.com