Programming and Engagement Specialist
Hancher Auditorium and the Office of Performing Arts & Engagement are seeking a Programming & Engagement Specialist to serve as a key connector between Hancher's visiting artists and the University of Iowa's creative campus.
This role is central to the planning, coordination, and on-the-ground execution of artist residency engagements, fostering meaningful relationships between visiting artists, faculty, students, and community partners across the university.
As Programming & Engagement Specialist, you will bridge Hancher's annual visiting artist program with the rich academic and creative life of the University of Iowa. You will work in close collaboration with colleagues (faculty, staff, students) within Hancher and the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement, UI performing arts academic departments (Dance, Music, Theatre Arts), other UI departments and offices, and visiting artist teams to design and deliver engagement experiences that deepen the impact of each residency. This role requires strategic relationship-building skills, aptitude for hands-on coordination, and a genuine enthusiasm for connecting artists and communities.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to support:
- Residency Planning & Advance
- Advance residencies in coordination with artist teams, departmental leadership, faculty, community partners, and Hancher staff; building detailed plans that align artist interests with campus and community opportunities
- Facilitate residency engagement with faculty across campus, with an emphasis on partners in the UI School of Music, Department of Dance, and Department of Theatre Arts, radiating out to the university's broader creative campus
- Serve as a primary point of contact and coordinator for visiting artist residency logistics, ensuring smooth communication and follow-through across all stakeholders
- Event Production & Onground Execution
- Produce and manage residency events and special projects for visiting artists, serving as an on-the-ground presence to ensure events run smoothly for artists, faculty, students, and other constiuencies
- Coordinate and schedule artist residency engagement activities including classroom visits, masterclasses, workshops, lectures, and other gatherings
- Support the production and staffing of auxiliary public programming that grows out of visiting artist engagements, helping bring residency activity into broader community view
- Complimentary Ticket Program
- Manage Hancher's complimentary ticket program for internal and external constituents - roughly 4,000-5,000 tickets annually - overseeing scheduling, sign-up processes, and outreach to target constituencies to help drive access to the arts
- Coordinate internally across Hancher teams and with the Box Office to facilitate complimentary ticket offers for academic partners and classes, identifying appropriate presentations and aligning offers with course curricula
*For a full job description, including all duties and competencies assigned, please e-mail the contact listed below or visit: Job Opportunities (Org 02 & 35). Click here to learn more about the Office of the Provost at the University of Iowa.
About the Department: Hancher is a 50+ year-old university arts presenter housed in a facility (opened in 2016). Presenting 80+ events annually across dance, music, theater, comedy & multidisciplinary projects, Hancher brings artists to the University of Iowa campus and the wider Eastern Iowa community. Central to Hancher's identity is a robust visiting artist program that places artists in meaningful residency with the university, creating opportunities for connection, collaboration, and creative exchange that extend well beyond the stage. Recent artist residencies have included dance pioneers Trisha Brown Dance Company, visual theater company Manual Cinema, classical pianist and writer Jeremy Denk, contemporary bassist & songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, and classical ensemble Minnesota Orchestra among many others. Hancher reports to the Office of Performing Arts and Engagement within the Office of the Provost. The Office of Performing Arts and Engagement oversees Hancher, stewards collaboration across the UI performing arts campus, and assists with overall development of the UI’s creative campus.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, music, theater, dance, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience (experience equivalency equals an AA degree and 2 years additional experience or 4 additional years of experience)
Minimum 1 year of experience in arts programming, residency coordination, community engagement, or a related role
Competencies Required:
Demonstrates an EXTENSIVE proficiency level in:
Organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
Written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with various stakeholders including artists, faculty, administrators, and community partners
Desired Qualifications:
A minimum of 2-4 years of experience in arts programming, residency coordination, community engagement, or a related role
Experience working in a university or higher education environment
Familiarity with performing operations including box office, front of house, production, and marketing
Experience coordinating artist residencies or touring engagements
Existing relationships within the University of Iowa’s academic or creative community
To Apply:
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must complete BOTH of the following documents and mark them as a “relevant file” to the submission:
a current resume
a cover letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the process.
Additional Details:
Work Modality: This position is onsite at Hancher Auditorium
Compensation: Anticipated salary will be $50,000 – $55,000 with Competitive Benefits
Reach out to Tracey Pritchard to learn more about benefits, compensation practices, and career development opportunities.
Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution. Click here to learn more about why you should join UI!
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
