Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) is the national labor union representing over 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers working in the professional theatre. The goal of AEA is to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Founded in 1913, AEA is a member of AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.
There are three regional AEA offices in addition to the national office:
• Eastern Region, covering 20 states and the District of Columbia, with offices in NYC and a satellite office in Orlando FL;
• Central Region, covering 16 states, with offices in Chicago;
• Western Region, covering 14 states, with offices in Los Angeles (North Hollywood) CA.
Communications for AEA – including the regional offices – are centrally managed through the national office.
AEA is governed by a Council consisting of eight Officers and 75 Councilors – all members of AEA – representing all three geographic regions. Members of the Council are elected for five-year terms with approximately 20% elected each year; officers are elected for three-year terms. All Council members serve as volunteers and receive no compensation for their many hours of service.
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR:
AEA is seeking a talented Communications Director to work directly with and for the Executive Director in the national New York Office. This position requires the successful candidate to have demonstrated success in developing communications strategy, lead union campaigns and initiatives set by the Council, continue to advance the overall narrative of the union and maintain the regular flow and communication of the department internally to its members and externally to the press, negotiating partners, potential members, fellow unions and the general public.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Develop strategic communications plans and calendars in a proactive fashion, while naturally reacting in appropriate ways to fast moving events that impact its members.
• Along with the regular communications of the Union, develop a plan and timeline to drive the larger narrative of the Union while including plans to highlight key Union initiatives and campaigns.
• Develop message frames and messaging guidelines.
• Conceptualize how to present information to AEA members and the public.
• Present a specific tone and language.
• Develop a process for reacting to negative stories/social media.
• Draft communication materials including press releases, talking points, speeches, Q & As, and member communications.
• Create standard language for emails, statements, and website content.
• Build relationships with media.
• Produce press materials and build relationships with reporters.
• Pitch and place stories relevant to the Union’s narrative and campaigns.
• Have a rapid and measured response when dealing with crisis management.
• Oversee communication department staff.
• Work with and manage consultants and vendors.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS NEEDED:
• Ten plus years of increasing experience in labor, advocacy or political work related to communications.
• Take pleasure in ongoing interaction with the members who are actors and stage managers and for whom this Union exists.
• Experience in strategic communications planning and capacity building in large, multi-faceted organizations.
• Demonstrated experience as a project manager in a fast-paced, campaign-oriented work environment.
• Proven track record in proactive media pitching, story placement and rapid response.
• Proficiency in social media platforms and metrics.
• Strong Excel, Word, and Outlook skills.
• Experience with Microsoft CRM preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and able to handle multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment.
• BA or equivalent degree.
COMPENSATION, APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND START DATE:
• Salary comparable to equivalent positions at other similarly sized labor unions
• Excellent family health benefits (medical, dental, optical)
• Employer funded defined benefit pension plan
• 401k
• Opportunity for career development
All submissions must contain a résumé, cover letter, professional references, salary requirements and writing samples. For writing samples, please provide three or four examples, ideally no more than one page each. Samples should be representative of the candidate’s voice, clarity and/or strategic thinking (e.g., story pitch, press release, speech excerpt, summary of a communications plan or initiative, etc.).
AEA hopes to make its decision by mid-summer with the successful candidate onsite as soon as possible thereafter. Interested candidates and recommenders of qualified individuals are invited to contact the consulting firm retained to facilitate this important search:
Management Consultants for the Arts, Inc.
Attn: David Mallette or Greg Kandel
By email: MgtConArts@gmail.com
Subject line: AEA National Director of Communications
Actors’ Equity Association is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
