Education Assistant

Company Overview

Thank you for your interest in the Shaw Festival!

Discover more about working at the Shaw Festival by visiting our Welcome Website at welcome.shawfest.com

As one of the world’s leading theatre companies and Niagara’s 20 largest employers, The Shaw is dedicated to an ongoing process of increasing diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs, and in all of our hiring for staff, artists, and in the recruiting of board members. The Shaw is committed to a future when our theatres joyously draw on and include all peoples, fully reflective of the world around us. As such, the Shaw Festival is an equal opportunity employer committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We encourage and invite applications from applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black or as persons of colour (IBPOC), the LGBTQ2+ communities and those identifying as gender fluid. In accordance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and in keeping with our wish to ensure a fully inclusive environment, please advise Human Resources if you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process. We will be happy to assist.

We acknowledge and honour the land upon which we gather as the historic and traditional territory of First Nations peoples. In particular we recognize and thank the Neutral Nation, the Mississauga and the Haudenosaunee for their stewardship of these lands over millennia.

Job Description

Position: Education Assistant
Department: Education Department
Salary: $40,000 – $43,000

Job Purpose

Facilitate and assist with the daily operations and development of the Shaw Festival’s Education programs. These programs aim to provide accessible information and activities that engage and enlighten participants about The Shaw, our plays and the world of theatre and the arts. 

Key Duties/Responsibilities

• Assist with the planning, execution and evaluation of educational tours and programs designed for schools, teachers, youth, and adult education groups, and the general public.
• Facilitate workshops, events, pre-show talks, post-show chats and tours at the Festival and surrounding theatres.
• Liaise with Docent Chair and provide administrative and program support for the Shaw’s Docent program, and assist with Docent recruitment and training.
• Provide administrative and program support for the CTC (Continue the Conversation) program, and assist with CTC training.
• Provide administrative and program support for donor-specific projects, and liaise with donor contacts and Development staff.
• Assist in booking, preparing and implementing in-house, community and in-school presentations.
• Assist with the administration of current Shaw university courses.
• Conduct research and co-create online educational resources and study guides.
• Assist with developing educational content for the Shaw website and marketing materials that are related to enrichment and educational outreach.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of relevant schedules, and liaise with other departments to facilitate activities.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of statistics and financial tracking.
• Assist with the development of Education Department policies
• Assist with the training of, and communication with, Shaw Volunteers
• Maintain and help develop contacts within the educational sector.
• Help develop and maintain contacts and liaise with professional associations and organizations relevant to the Shaw’s activities.
• Disseminate information about education events to all applicable departments within the Shaw Festival, and to program participants.
• Create and maintain program listings, in print and online.
• Ensure that all activities are archived.
• Assist with other duties as required.

Organization Structure

This position reports directly to the Director of Community Engagement & Outreach

Required Skills/Knowledge/Experience

1. Post-secondary education or relevant experience in education and/or the arts.
2.  Excellent written and oral communication skills.
3. Knowledge of current provincial curriculum and school board policy an asset.
4. Experience interacting/serving the public.
5. Excellent communication and organizational skills and attention to detail.
6. Working knowledge of computer programs, (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Publisher, Canva and Internet).
7. Ability and willingness to work flexible hours as needed.  Hours will include frequent evenings and weekends.
8. Ability to work well in a collaborative group environment.
9. Ability to work in an environment where circumstances can change quickly.
10. Knowledge of film, tv, radio/podcast production considered an asset.

Please Note: All new hires must provide full proof of COVID-2019 vaccination status (2 doses) plus booster or Covid-19 vaccination (after October 2023) shot prior to their start date.