Temporary Artistic Program Assistant

Description

Position Summary

Join a fast paced, high performing artistic team operating at the top of its game. This is a unique opportunity to step into the center of a dynamic creative environment where multiple productions, programs, and priorities are moving forward at once, and where your work directly supports the art on stage.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater seeks a highly organized and collaborative professional to support the Artistic Department during a period of transition. This temporary role focuses on strengthening the administrative systems that support artistic casting, the Emerging Professional Residency (EPR) Program, one of the nation’s longest-running early-career theater training programs, and new play development (NPD).

The Temporary Artistic Program Assistant will play a key operational role in keeping casting processes, recruitment efforts, and program systems organized, updated, and moving forward. This individual will work closely with the Artistic team to support scheduling, maintain program infrastructure, and ensure EPR recruitment and selection processes run smoothly.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys supporting multiple complex creative processes, thrives on keeping systems running efficiently, and enjoys collaborating with multiple stakeholders across an organization.

Work Schedule: 28-35 hours per week

What We Are Looking For

Proactive Project Supporter: You’re the calm at the center of the storm, juggling shifting priorities with ease, spotting what’s needed before anyone asks, and helping complex artistic processes move forward smoothly in a fast-paced environment.

Systems & Process Optimizer: You love clean systems and organized workflows. Whether it’s updating databases, maintaining schedules, or refining processes, you take pride in making things run more smoothly and efficiently.

Collaborative Problem Solver: You work well across teams with different priorities and perspectives. You communicate clearly, build strong working relationships, and approach challenges with creativity, initiative, and follow-through.

Theatrical Fluency & Artistic Insight: You bring a strong understanding of the professional theater landscape, including casting practices, new play development processes, and how productions move from concept to stage. You navigate artistic conversations with confidence and contribute meaningfully within a creative environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Artistic Casting & Recruitment Support

• Aid the Artistic team with administrative support related to casting and artist recruitment.
• Maintain casting databases, schedules, and internal documentation related to artist engagement.
• Support audition logistics, scheduling, and communication with artists and artistic staff.
• Assist with tracking casting decisions and maintaining organized records for current and future seasons.

EPR Recruitment & Selection Support

• Support administrative aspects of the Emerging Professional Residency recruitment cycle.
• Maintain applicant tracking systems, candidate materials, and internal evaluation processes.
• Schedule interviews, callbacks, and selection meetings with Artistic staff.
• Ensure recruitment materials, timelines, and communications remain accurate and up to date.

Systems & Process Support

• Maintain and update internal tracking systems related to casting, EPR recruitment, and artistic planning.
• Organize documentation, calendars, and workflows to improve efficiency across artistic processes.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and help implement improvements.
• Support cross-departmental coordination where projects have shared ownership between Artistic, Production, and other departments.

Team Collaboration

• Partner with Company Management, Production, and Artistic staff to ensure information flows clearly across departments.
• Assist with scheduling coordination related to EPR recruitment, auditions, and artistic meetings.
• Contribute to maintaining a collaborative, solutions-oriented working environment within the Artistic Department.

Requirements

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Any combination of experience, education, and training that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform job duties required of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Willing to commit to the mission, vision, and values of the theater
• Ability to navigate interdepartmental priorities and diverse personalities in a high-functioning and fast-paced environment
• Ability to act in a professional mentor capacity, enabling young professionals to grow and succeed through feedback, instruction, and encouragement, all while leading with sound judgement, empathy, and grace.
• Strong strategic, problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret information quickly and accurately and to implement directives
• Ability to effectively communicate and work respectfully within a diverse group of colleagues and artists, all while exhibiting grace and good humor under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion
• Ability to work evenings and weekends

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Specific vision abilities required by the job include: Close vision, far vision, and the ability to discern fine detail.
• Ability to maneuver around theatrical stages, platforms, and production sets.
• This position is frequently required to communicate in person and on the telephone.
• Ability to work in an in-person office environment during scheduled work hours.