The Michigan and State Theaters are historic cultural landmarks in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, bringing people together through film, live performance, and shared experiences. Through exceptional programming, community partnerships, accessibility, and historic preservation, we are building welcoming third spaces where everyone can gather, connect, and belong. We remain committed to preserving these beloved venues while ensuring they stay vibrant, relevant, and accessible for generations to come.

The Michigan Theater Foundation seeks a creative, entrepreneurial, and community-minded Community & Educational Programs Manager to develop and lead educational experiences, community-centered events, and strategic partnerships that expand the cultural impact of the historic Michigan Theater and State Theatre.

As the Michigan Theater approaches its 100th anniversary, we are reimagining how our theaters serve the community in their second century. Beyond presenting exceptional films and live performances, we envision vibrant gathering places where people of all ages learn, connect, celebrate, and participate in the arts.

This new position combines educational programming, community outreach, and mission-driven event development. The manager will design, coordinate, and execute programs that complement film and live events, strengthen school and community relationships, introduce new audiences, and activate facilities during underutilized periods.

The ideal candidate is both a visionary and a doer: someone who can develop an exciting concept, build partnerships, manage details, and bring the experience to life. These are the community’s theaters, and the community should feel empowered to use them.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Educational Programming & Creative Development

• Conceive, develop, and execute innovative educational programs that connect film, live performance, arts, and culture.
• Produce signature experiences, including filmmaker discussions, artist conversations, panels, workshops, and interactive events.
• Develop educational screenings, school partnerships, student experiences, and creative workforce development opportunities.
• Collaborate with Programming and Events to enrich existing offerings and expand educational engagement.

Community Programming & Theater Activation

• Create original community events, cultural celebrations, and collaborative experiences that engage diverse audiences.
• Activate underutilized theater spaces and hours through innovative, mission-driven programming.
• Develop recurring programs with the potential for long-term growth and sustainability.
• Lead the Foundation's Pitch Fest, supporting local creatives through an endowed theater-access grant program.

Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Build meaningful partnerships with schools, universities, artists, nonprofits, cultural organizations, and local businesses.
• Cultivate relationships with University of Michigan faculty, departments, and student organizations.
• Develop collaborative programming that expands community participation and access to theater resources.
• Represent the theaters as a community ambassador and advocate for arts engagement.

Audience Development & Financial Sustainability

• Create programs that attract new audiences, particularly students, young adults, families, and underserved communities.
• Identify earned revenue, sponsorship, and grant opportunities that support sustainable programming.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Membership, and Development to increase participation and strengthen community relationships.
• Evaluate attendance, audience engagement, program impact, and financial performance.

Program Management & Execution

• Lead programs from creative concept through production, implementation, and evaluation.
• Manage program budgets, calendars, timelines, partnerships, and logistical requirements.
• Coordinate with Programming, Events, Marketing, and Venue Operations to ensure successful execution.
• Track results, report progress, and recommend opportunities for program growth and improvement.

Measures of Success

• Educational impact: student participation, school partnerships, and learning experiences connected to films and live events.
• Community engagement: nonprofit and civic partnerships, utilization of underused spaces, and recurring events.
• Audience development: participation by younger, first-time, and emerging audiences.
• Financial sustainability: earned revenue, sponsorship/grant support, and responsible program budgets.
• Organizational impact: coordinated execution, positive partner experiences, and signature programs. Annual targets will be set with the CEO.

Position Type & Expected Hours of Work: Full-Time, which will include evening, weekend, and holiday hours on a regular basis. Two-Year Pilot Initiative, with potential for continuation.

Work Environment The work is primarily indoors within a theater building(s) and may have some exposure to fumes, odor, dust, variant temperatures, etc. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This role requires walking and standing for extended periods of time. This role requires working at a desk for extended periods of time. Extended computer use is required. This role also regularly requires reaching, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing stairs. Lifting and/or moving items that weigh up to 50 pounds may be required.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience developing, implementing, and managing innovative, multifaceted programming within the film, performing arts, live entertainment, arts education, cultural, or nonprofit sectors.
• Demonstrated track record of conceptualizing and bringing original, engaging programs to life, from initial creative vision and strategic planning through execution, evaluation, and continued growth.
• Proven ability to develop dynamic educational and community engagement initiatives that connect diverse audiences with film, live performance, artists, and cultural experiences.
• Experience building meaningful partnerships with artists, filmmakers, educators, schools, universities, cultural institutions, and community organizations to expand programming opportunities and audience participation.
• Strong creative instincts and an entrepreneurial approach to programming, with the ability to identify emerging opportunities, develop compelling concepts, and translate ambitious ideas into successful, sustainable initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in program budgeting, project management, event production, marketing collaboration, and the coordination of complex, multi-partner initiatives.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and collaborate effectively across departments while maintaining a high standard of artistic quality and operational excellence.
• A demonstrated commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, arts education, and the role of cultural institutions in strengthening community connections.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and launching new educational or cultural programming initiatives, rather than solely administering established programs.
• A portfolio of successful programs, events, or creative initiatives demonstrating originality, audience engagement, and measurable impact.
• Established relationships within the film, performing arts, education, or broader cultural community.
• Experience developing programming that integrates multiple artistic disciplines, educational components, and interactive audience experiences.

Compensation & Benefits:

• The salary range is $65,000 - $72,000 annually.
• Benefits Include: Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Company Paid Life/AD&D and Long-Term Disability Insurance, 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match, Paid Time-Off Package, Employee Assistance Program, Parking Reimbursement Program, Free Movie Admission and Concessions Discount.