Associate Director, Communications

Reports to: Executive Director
Organization: Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) is seeking an exceptional writer, strategic communicator, and media relations professional to serve as Associate Director, Communications. This role is ideal for a thoughtful, fast-moving communications leader who can shape public messaging, support executive visibility, and help advance the Union’s mission on behalf of professional directors and choreographers.

About SDC

SDC is the national labor union representing more than 3,000 professional directors and choreographers working across the United States and around the world. Through collective bargaining, contract enforcement, advocacy, education, and community-building, SDC protects the economic and creative rights of its Members and supports the leaders who shape live theatrical arts.

Position Overview

The Associate Director, Communications will drive SDC’s external communications, executive messaging, media relations, and thought leadership across earned, shared, and paid channels. Working closely with the Executive Director, Board leadership, senior staff, and the Director of Artistic Affairs and Member Relations, this position will help ensure that SDC’s public voice is clear, timely, aligned, and grounded in the Union’s mission.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Executive visibility and thought leadership: Draft talking points, speeches, op-eds, statements, correspondence, and other executive communications for the Executive Director, senior staff, and Board leadership.
• Media relations: Manage day-to-day earned media relationships, respond to incoming press inquiries, and draft external press materials including releases, advisories, backgrounders, and related materials.
• Message development: Translate leadership priorities into clear, compelling communications that advance SDC’s public narrative and support the Union’s mission.
• Issues management: Help leadership assess and respond to breaking news, emerging political developments, and industry issues affecting Members and the field.
• Rapid-response communications: Draft reactive materials quickly, accurately, and with sound judgment under pressure.
• Advocacy support: Support communications related to government relations, legislative actions, and political issues that impact SDC Members and the broader theatrical field.
• Channel strategy: Help plan and execute shared and paid communications channels for awareness, amplification, and campaign support.
• Monitoring and analysis: Track arts, culture, labor, policy, and industry press coverage; flag relevant developments and opportunities for leadership.
• Cross-team collaboration: Partner with the Director of Artistic Affairs and Member Relations, senior staff, internal communications colleagues, and the SDC Foundation to ensure consistent messaging across programs, events, Member communications, and public touchpoints.
• Preparedness: Maintain issues-preparedness materials so SDC can respond effectively when Members’ economic livelihoods or civil preconditions are threatened.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of communications experience, ideally in advocacy, labor, policy, performing arts, media relations, or another mission-driven environment.
• Exceptional writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, polished, and persuasive materials for varied audiences and formats.
• Experience managing media relationships and working with reporters, editors, or external communications partners.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and reliability when working on sensitive matters with senior leadership.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under deadlines, including in fast-moving or high-pressure situations.
• Highly organized, proactive, and able to identify potential issues, opportunities, and communications needs before they escalate.
• Collaborative working style and ability to coordinate across departments, leadership groups, and external stakeholders.
• Genuine commitment to SDC’s mission and the creative and economic rights of directors and choreographers; familiarity with union, performing arts, advocacy, or nonprofit environments is a strong plus.

Why Work at SDC?

Working at SDC offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the future of live theatre while supporting the artists whose work shapes the stories told on stage. Employees help protect and advance the livelihoods, creative freedoms, and professional community of directors and choreographers nationwide.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $85,000–$95,000, commensurate with experience.

Equal Opportunity

SDC is committed to building an inclusive workplace and encourages applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter describing their relevant experience and interest in SDC’s mission. Applications should be sent to jobs@sdcweb.org.