Director - Theater Programming

About The Kennedy Center

"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." - President John

F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation's cultural center and living memorial to President John

F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment  are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Mission Statement:
As America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John

F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

We offer a total rewards package to all full‑time employees to include:

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre‑tax options for discounted parking and Smart Benefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $95,000 - $105,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

The Director, Theater Programming works with SVP of Artistic Programming to manage the operations of the department's presentations and self‑produced shows. In addition to managing budgets and contracts, they will serve as the primary point of contact for production logistics and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

The Director must be able to make decisions and exercise discretion in order to prioritize assignments and work under pressure, as many projects are time sensitive and involve concurrent deadlines.

• Manages contracting, budgets, and logistics, for 50% of all Theater Programming presentations and productions, working with external agencies, communicating with artists and agents, and working with internal staff to coordinate education, special events and legal issues. Serves as General Director for assigned produced theatrical productions including contracting creative teams, stage management, and artists.
  • Contracting and maintaining of weekly financials and budgets
  • Management of internal booking calendar and Arts Vision for current and upcoming season of shows
  • Liaising with company management, creative teams, Kennedy Center Booking, and Kennedy Center Production, to coordinate logistics for space management (onsite and offsite), production schedules and calendars, and production requirements for rehearsals and performances
  • Management of payroll for all show employees
  • Oversight of all payments as outlined…