Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring an Operations Apprentice who will become part of the CPT team and contribute to life at CPT and its success while gaining hands-on experience in arts administration and producing.

Reviews of candidates will begin immediately. To apply for the position, send an email to Marguerite Hannah, general manager, at careers@cptonline.org by Tuesday, December 23 with the subject line: YOUR LAST NAME, Operations Apprentice. Your email should include two attachments: a resume and a two-page cover letter highlighting relevant experience and explaining your interest in the apprenticeship. No phone calls or emails please.

Operations Apprentice Job Description — Six-Month Full-Time Paid Apprenticeship

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is seeking an Operations Apprentice, an early-career arts administrator or producer eager to explore multiple facets of a high-impact, socially engaged arts organization. This is a cross-departmental position offering hands-on experience in artistic management, education, event production, and front-of-house operations.

Areas of Focus

• Front of House
• Community Ensembles
• Special Event Management
• Education & Artist Support

Key Responsibilities

Executive & Administrative Support

• Assist the Executive in calendar management and meeting preparation.

• Take notes and track action items during key meetings.
• Conduct special research projects.
• Help organize and host internal and external meetings.

Artistic & Event Production

• Collaborate with the Artistic Team on applications and requests for proposals.
• Support line producers for productions and special events.
• Assist with logistics and coordination for community and artistic initiatives.

Education

• Support the Education Department in planning and executing culminating events.
• Provide administrative assistance to teaching artists and program managers.

Front of House / Audience Services

• Help manage the transition to a new Customer Relationship Management System (CRM)
• Support guest experience and audience engagement initiatives.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is:

• Highly organized, initiative-taking, and adaptable
• Interested in both the creative and administrative sides of theatre production.
• Positive, collaborative, and able to work in a fast-moving environment.
• Experienced (through work, study, or internship) in office operations and/or theatrical production
• Excited to be part of a diverse team and a cross-departmental culture grounded in social justice.

Hiring & Employment Details

• Compensation: $22,000 for six months ($3,667/month), funded by a grant
• No signing bonus or relocation funds available
• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
• Interviews anticipated in December–January
• Employment starts February 1, 2026

ABOUT THE CPT STAFF

CPT employs a full-time staff of 20 people and nearly 100 temporary positions. Staff care passionately about reflecting our community and pursuing diversity at all levels of the organization. We value hard work and strive to center courage, humanity, integrity, representation, respect, and joy while challenging each other to do and be our collective best. CPT has undertaken work to accelerate and formalize its growth to becoming a fully anti-racist organization, engaging all staff, board, and artists in that work.

ABOUT CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

CPT is a nationally recognized center for contemporary performance. The theatre’s mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT implements this mission through its annual theatrical season, featuring 6–12 adventurous professional productions and a robust series of new play development programs that support writers and devisers at multiple points in the creative process. Historically, many plays produced at CPT are by BIPOC artists and women. CPT’s acclaimed education programs engage communities in devising new works that speak to contemporary issues and empower participants to work for positive change in our community. CPT is home to resident community ensembles Teatro Público de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi. CPT’s annual budget is around $2.5 million a year.