Working at Zach

At Zach Theater, we believe in the power of light — to illuminate new ideas, spark imagination, and connect our community. As Austin’s premier professional producing non-profit theater, we create bold, intimate performances that challenge, delight, and inspire audiences. Our work extends beyond the stage, serving more than 100,000 Central Texans each year through performances, education programs, and community engagement initiatives. 

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Zach Theater is seeking an Associate Director of Development - Individual Giving to serve as a key leader on the Development team and a strategic partner to the Director of Development.

This is a newly created role designed to build upon a strong foundation and scale Zach’s individual giving program, while strengthening the pipeline for mid-level, major, and planned gifts. As the second-in-command within the department, this position will oversee individual giving strategy and execution, manage a growing team, and directly contribute to revenue generation through their own portfolio of donors and prospects.

Zach’s individual giving program currently generates approximately $1.38M annually, with significant opportunity for continued growth in the coming years. 

This role comes at a pivotal moment as Zach expands its fundraising capacity through recent investments in systems, strategy, and team growth. The Associate Director of Development - Individual Giving will play a critical role in growing individual giving at all levels, while strengthening the donor pipeline in support of Zach’s upcoming comprehensive campaign.

This role is ideal for a results-driven fundraiser and leader who is both strategic and hands-on and can build on existing momentum, close gifts, develop people, and drive continued growth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Strategy, Performance & Organizational Leadership 

• Translate organizational priorities into actionable fundraising strategies, team objectives, and workflows that support departmental revenue goals
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Director of Development and engage with the Senior Leadership team, contributing to long-range planning, policy setting, and organizational decision-making
• Partner with and help activate Board members and volunteers in meaningful fundraising roles to support Zach’s current and long-term funding needs

Annual Giving Strategy & Donor Experience

• Lead the continued evolution of an annual giving program that inspires increased support across all giving levels, including targeted initiatives such as production underwriting, educational programming, and financial aid
• Strengthen a cohesive donor experience that clearly distinguishes annual fund support from leadership-level and project-based investments, while maintaining a strong focus on unrestricted giving
• Partner with the Marketing team to develop a comprehensive, segmented communications strategy that engages donors across channels and clearly articulates Zach’s impact
• Leverage performances, events, and engagement opportunities as strategic tools to deepen relationships, increase donor participation, and inspire giving across all levels

Portfolio Management & Gift Closure

• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, with a focus on securing, renewing, and increasing annual gifts at the mid-level and leadership levels
• Personally solicit and close gifts, demonstrating a high level of comfort and success in direct asks and donor conversations, serving as a model for best practices across the team
• Support senior leadership and board members in donor cultivation and solicitation efforts for key donors and prospects
• Partner with the Director of Development on strategies to align annual giving and comprehensive campaign efforts, supporting donor conversations that may include both annual and campaign investments

Planned Giving Development

• Collaborate with the Director of Development to build and grow Zach’s planned giving program
• Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects within the existing donor base
• Integrate planned giving strategies into donor conversations and long-term engagement plans

Individual Giving Growth, Engagement & Pipeline Strategy

• Oversee strategies that drive growth across all levels of individual giving, from broad-based participation to leadership and principal gifts, ensuring a strong and sustainable revenue pipeline
• Lead an organization-wide approach to relationship management that ensures consistent engagement with new, renewing, and lapsed donors
• Design targeted engagement and cultivation strategies that increase donor retention, upgrade rates, and long-term value
• Lead the strategy and execution of broad-based fundraising campaigns, including end-of-year, fiscal year-end, and citywide initiatives such as Amplify Austin
• Build on successful donor acquisition efforts and refine annual campaign strategies to increase participation, retention, and upgrade rates
• Identify and implement innovative approaches to donor acquisition and conversion, including integrated giving opportunities tied to ticketing and membership experiences
• Engage senior leadership and Board members in strategic prospect identification, cultivation, and relationship-building efforts to support donor growth and advancement
• Identify and accelerate high-capacity prospects, strengthening the pipeline into major and transformational giving
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to develop segmented donor engagement strategies that emphasize philanthropy, strengthen emotional connection, and integrate communications across channels
• Collaborate across departments to align strategies, leverage audience engagement opportunities, and ensure a seamless donor experience
• Ensure consistent tracking and documentation of donor interactions, preferences, and insights within the Tessitura CRM system to inform strategy and strengthen engagement
• Implement and leverage prospect research and screening tools, including iWave, to identify and qualify new donor prospects

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of development professionals by providing clear direction, coaching, accountability, and alignment of team priorities, workflows, and performance expectations with departmental and organizational goals
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and results-driven team culture grounded in accountability, goal-setting, and continuous growth

Operations, Systems & Data Strategy

• Build upon established KPIs and performance metrics by strengthening reporting, dashboards, and analytics to more effectively track progress and inform strategic decision-making
• Utilize data insights to identify trends, refine strategies, and drive continuous improvement across annual giving efforts
• Lead continued refinement of development operations, including SOP development and process improvements that support consistency and scalability
• Partner with internal teams on organization-wide technology initiatives, including Tessitura optimization, Asana adoption, reporting workflows, and data integrity practices that support effective collaboration, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience (preferred)
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience managing fundraising staff or teams, with a track record of growing contributed revenue
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in individual giving, including personally soliciting and closing gifts and managing donor portfolios (preferred)
• Proficiency in digital tools and systems, including Google Workspace, Tessitura CRM (or comparable CRM platform), Asana, Slack, and other collaboration and project management tools, with a willingness to learn new platforms as needed
• Comfort working with donor databases and fundraising technology; Tessitura experience is a plus
• Experience in a theater, performing arts organization, or related nonprofit setting (highly preferred)
• Knowledge of the Austin community and giving landscape (preferred)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Experience using data, reporting, and analytics to inform fundraising strategy and decision-making
• Understanding of donor pipeline development, moves management, and prospect qualification strategies
• Experience with integrated fundraising campaigns and multi-channel donor engagement strategies is a plus
• Experience or exposure to planned giving strategies (preferred)
• Proven ability to build, manage, and motivate high-performing teams
• Strong experience working collaboratively with boards, volunteers, and senior leadership
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to inspire, persuade, and build meaningful relationships
• Strong organizational, strategic thinking, and project management skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing tasks and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to troubleshooting and process improvement
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain professionalism under pressure
• A proactive, goal-oriented mindset with the ability to balance long-term strategy and day-to-day execution
• Personal warmth, emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a sense of humor
• Commitment to upholding and reflecting the mission, vision, and core values of Zach Theater in all interactions and responsibilities

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

This is a campus-based, on-site role with the ability to work remotely 1-2 days a week per company and department guidelines as approved by the supervisor. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions upon discussion with HR.

• Ability to lift, push, pull or otherwise maneuver up to 30 lbs repeatedly, either alone or with assistance
• Work in close proximity with other coworkers
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to work with a flexible schedule, including frequent nights and weekends as scheduled for performances and events
• The noise level in this work environment is typically moderate and can be high.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to: Director of Development

Supervises (if any): Individual Giving Officer, Annual Fund Associate

Supports: Development Department, Donors, Patrons, and Board

Peer collaboration/communicates with: All Departments including Marketing, Front of House, Production, Education, and Finance—as well as senior leadership and board members, to ensure a cohesive and compelling donor experience across all touchpoints

PAY:

Beginning pay starting between $65k-80k annually commensurate with experience and qualifications. New hires are typically brought into the organization between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range posted depending upon qualifications, years of experience in a similar role, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. 

All offers of employment are conditional pending the successful completion of background and reference checks.

We’re excited to review your application. To ensure a smooth and fair hiring process, please apply online only. We’re not able to accommodate phone calls or in-person visits about this position. 

Some of the great benefits available to Zach Employees:

• Affordable Healthcare Coverage for Full-Time Employees and their dependents
• Employer Paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Employer Paid Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401K Matching Program
• Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Paid Holidays
• Free Parking
• Tickets to Mainstage and Family Series shows and enrollment in Camps/Classes

Zach Theater is committed to ensuring an equitable and inclusive workforce and we strive for a team that reflects Austin’s diverse culture. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex or age. 

At Zach, we believe in the power of light—to illuminate new ideas, spark imagination, and bring people together. As Austin’s leading professional producing theater, we create vibrant, intimate theater experiences that engage, inspire, and connect our community.

Our Education team is seeking passionate and skilled Teaching Artists for our Pre-Professional Company (PPC) and Academy students specializing in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre Dance to join our Performing Arts School at our Downtown location (1510 Toomey Road, Austin, TX 78704). Teaching Artists inspire young performers through high-quality, engaging instruction in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Academy classes are held Monday through Friday from 9:00–4:00pm. Our Pre-Professional Company (PPC) meets on Sundays from 1:00-6:00pm and Mondays from 5:30-8:30pm. Class sizes typically range from 8–25 students.

Teaching Artists are engaged as independent contractors (1099) and are compensated at a competitive hourly rate by semester/class.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Under the guidance of Zach Education staff, our teaching artists work independently to:

• Teach students proper dance techniques, positions, and movements
• Choreograph pieces to be rehearsed in class and performed at end-of-year demonstration/showcase
• Effectively communicate with families, students, teachers, and Zach staff and provide weekly feedback for students and families
• Design, develop, and implement lesson plans that cater to various skill levels  
• Create an inclusive and supportive structured classroom environment to achieve desired learning outcomes while prioritizing the social and emotional well being of students
• Evaluate student progress and adjusting teaching methods accordingly
• Keep up to date with current dance trends, techniques and the musical theater canon 
• Adhere to student and parent handbooks, protocols, and safety guidelines
• Uphold the mission, vision, and values of Zach theater in alignment with organizational objectives

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Dance, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Certified Educators with demonstrated classroom experience (preferred)
• At least one year of experience in teaching students ages 5-18

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of injury prevention and safe dance practices
• Demonstrated skill in lesson plan design and development
• Demonstrated skills in training students, including but not limited to classroom pedagogy, classroom management, and supervision for a variety of ages
• Demonstrated skills in written and oral communication 
• Ability to work individually and as a team member  
• Ability to meet choreography deadlines in a fast-paced, production-driven environment, ensuring material is fully developed, rehearsed, and performance-ready on schedule
• Ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations such as resolving conflicts with parents or managing large groups of students

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

This is a campus-based, on-site role. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions upon discussion with HR. 

• Ability to lift, push, pull or otherwise maneuver up to 30 lbs repeatedly, either alone or with assistance
• Must have reliable transportation
• Able to teach in-person classes 
• The noise level in this work environment is typically moderate and can be high.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Zach Theater is committed to ensuring an equitable and inclusive workforce and we strive for a team that reflects Austin’s diverse culture. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex or age. 

Apply Now

At Zach, we believe in the power of light—to illuminate new ideas, spark imagination, and bring people together. As Austin’s leading professional producing theater, we create vibrant, intimate theater experiences that engage, inspire, and connect our community. The Scenic Charge brings extensive theatrical experience in scenic painting and props, coordination of artistic design, and the management skills necessary to oversee our talented Paint Department. This position will work closely with the Producing Artistic Director, Director of Production, Scenic Designer, and Technical Director to ensure the overall visual artistic integrity of all Zach Theater stages. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works cross-functionally to ensure a cohesive artistic vision throughout all productions
• Coordinates artistic design elements in paints and scenic dressing in collaboration with external designers
• Communicates effectively between the production stakeholders and the build team throughout the creative process with guidance from the Technical Director
• Responsible for quality control and artistic consistency between the Paint and Props Departments throughout production
• Responsible for the painting of all scenery and props with extensive experience painting floors and scenic drops
• Leads the Scenic Artist and overhire staff, delegating tasks as needed, ensuring efficient workflow, and maintaining quality standards across paint and scenic dressing work
• Produces workable scaled drawings based on provided renders from the Scenic Designers for the scenic artisans to paint
• Works with the Assistant Technical Director to help track and maintain our First In, First Out Inventory system concerning the Paint Shop, creating reports for the Technical Director’s approval
• Attends all Daily Standup Meetings, Sprint Planning, and Project Retrospective Meetings
• Attends all Production Meetings leading up to and including Tech and Preview Weeks of production, as directed by the Technical Director
• Collaborates with other staff on ongoing maintenance and shop upkeep in between show builds including daily, weekly, and regular shop maintenance calendars and task lists
• Identifies, Develops, and Leads annual Paint Shop Maintenance, Inventory, and Artisan Skill Development projects
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of production and organizational needs

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Technical Theatre and 3+ years working in the theatre industry, or any combination of education and work experience that yields the required skills and abilities
• Valid Driver’s License and the ability to operate a forklift, drive a cargo van, and 24’ box truck
• An extensive portfolio that exhibits a deep understanding of Color Theory, style variations, design, and competency in theatrical construction

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Excels at working with a variety of scenic painting techniques, color mixing, texture, layout, and paint application skills
• Strong working knowledge of different styles of art and architecture, traditional drawing, sculpting, as well as wood graining and marbling
• Excels in Google Suite and Microsoft Office with the ability to work in multiple spreadsheets
• Willing to learn and adapt various Agile methodologies to the production process
• Thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced working environment
• Clear Communicator and Creative Problem Solver
• Must be able to function in periods of strict deadlines and multi-department collaboration
• Knowledge of safety regulations and best practice
• Deals with Change Effectively
• Ability to perform all work with a direct reflection of the vision, mission, and values of Zach Theater

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

This is a campus-based, on-site role. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions upon discussion with HR. 

• Ability to lift, push, pull, or maneuver up to 70 lbs repeatedly, alone or with assistance
• Comfortable working on ladders, mechanical lifts, or other high places
• Comfortable working in confined spaces
• Comfortable working in temperatures sometimes exceeding 95 degrees
• The noise level in this work environment is typically moderate and can be high.
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to work nights and weekends as communicated through our schedule planning

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to: Technical Director

Supervises (if any): None

Supports: Production, Development, Education, Rentals

Peer collaboration/communicates with: Producing Artistic Director, Director of Production, Scenic Designer, Technical Director, Scenic Artist, Overhire and other production staff on cross departmental elements

PAY:

Beginning salary starting at $52,000-59,000k annually commensurate with experience and qualifications. New hires are typically brought into the organization between the minimum and midpoint of the range posted depending upon qualifications, years of experience in a similar role, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. 

All offers of employment are conditional pending the successful completion of background and reference checks.

We’re excited to review your application. To ensure a smooth and fair hiring process, please apply online only. We’re not able to accommodate phone calls or in-person visits about this position. 

Some of the great benefits available to Zach Employees:

• Affordable Healthcare Coverage for Full-Time Employees and their Dependents
• Employer Paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Employer Paid Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401K Matching Program
• Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Paid Holidays
• Free Parking
• Tickets to Mainstage and Family Series shows and enrollment in Camps/Classes

Zach Theater is committed to ensuring an equitable and inclusive workforce and we strive for a team that reflects Austin’s diverse culture. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex or age.