Publicist

Who We Are:

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year-round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of events designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers.

The Stratford Festival is committed to ongoing work to support equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all areas of our work. These areas include play selection, casting, marketing and public relations efforts, education programs, production, design, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and the composition of the Board of Directors.

Why You Should Apply:

• Creative work environment
• Paid operational shutdown in December, with flexibility of days being used at alternative times during the year
• Group Insurance Benefits
• Employer matched RRSP
• Employee Assistance Program to encourage work-life balance and strong mental health
• Complimentary & discounted ticket offers and events
• Employee discounts on merchandise and event space
• Being a part of the magic of live theatre!

Reporting to the Publicity Director or designate, the Publicist assists in various department activities, such as asset collection, writing, media ticket allocation and interview coordination to ensure accurate and timely information is published regarding the Festival.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor media, conducting in-depth research through various means, and send daily scans to Publicity Director
• Track all media coverage and maintain tracking database
• Create and distribute clippings books on regular basis; create special subject clippings books as required; provide bibliographical reference for archival purposes
• Gather all headshots and post to the website; communicate with individual artists; liaise with directors office/marketing/graphics/web team to ensure all timelines are met for project
• Gather biographies of all artists and key staff; edit according to Festival style and ensure a uniform standard of excellence
• Maintain and update Media Image Gallery with headshots, production images and other publicity photography
• Create, maintain and update databases of media contacts
• Assist with the processing of media ticket requests
• Set up and facilitate media interviews
• Assist with photo and video shoots
• Provide journalists with background information (cast/artist bios/play descriptions/dates, etc.) regarding Festival productions and activities
• Develop story ideas and pitch to media
• Write or contribute to media releases as assigned
• Adhere to the Stratford Festival Health & Safety Commitment and Procedures and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced within reporting structure.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• University undergraduate degree (four year program) or equivalent (i.e. BA, BSc, BComm, etc) in Public Relations, Communications, or Journalism
• 2 to 4 years of related experience
• Passionate interest in and knowledge of theatre
• Interest in and knowledge of entertainment media
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong research skills
• Demonstrated proofreading skills
• Proficiency with programs such as Ektron, Dropbox, Microsoft Office

Behavioural Competencies:

• Communication: actively listen and effectively transmit and receive information
• Critical thinking: effectively and efficiently contextualize situations, explore alternatives and select optimal solutions
• Adaptability / Agility: seamlessly adjust to changes in environment or situation; readily learn alternative approaches and methods
• Attention to Detail: meticulously review work and ensure accuracy and precision in all tasks.

Shared Values:

• Inclusion: contribute to an environment where everyone is welcome, valued and respected; consistently demonstrate an open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity that promote and celebrate the diversity of perspectives.
• Innovation: put experience and knowledge into creative problem-solving and the continuous improvement of the organization.
• Rigor: show integrity in behaviour, attention to detail in work and commitment to excellence and professional evolution
• Caring: be empathetic, understanding and attentive to others
• Connection: establish and maintain trusting relationships that are respectful and constructive

Who Should Apply:

We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternative format documents, ASL Interpreter or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our recruitment team know.

No candidate will meet every desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you!

If you would like to contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you.