How to hire a drama director

How to hire a drama director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drama director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a drama director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new drama director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a drama director job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The drama director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect drama director also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents drama director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Drama Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Drama Director	Producers and directors create motion pictures, television shows, live theater, commercials, and other performing arts productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.	$12-51
   Director	Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life... Show more	$31-92

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Musical Theatre
   • Technical Theatre
   • Literature
   • Costumes
   • Easter
   • Drama Program
   • Character Development
   • Ticket Sales
   • Student Learning
   • Theatre Arts
   • Fall Play
   • Memorization

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve staff competence with 4 staff members, encouraging the growth and development of one staff member into a leadership position.
   • Direct high school musicals and chorus.
   • Make props, sets and costumes, audition and choose children for speaking/singing/dancing roles.
   • Develop scripts, direct cast, organize set design, choreograph dance numbers and create costumes.
   • Develop and implement leadership training and discipleship program for student leaders.
   • Help develop, implement, and maintain the goals and objectives of the student IEP.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drama director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A drama director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, drama directors' average salary in wyoming is 38% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drama directors 75% less than senior-level drama directors.
   • Certifications. A drama director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a drama director's salary.

   Average drama director salary

   $54,078yearly

   $26.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drama director salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a drama director job description

   A job description for a drama director role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a drama director job description:

   Drama director job description example

   The School of Drama is searching for a Director of Recruitment and Enrollment. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with academic recruitment and admissions experience and a passion for the performing arts! This position will be responsible for recruiting and enrolling undergraduate and graduate level students to the School of Drama's BFA and MFA programs.
   Core responsibilities include:
   Managing the coordination of admissions publicity, recruitment materials, and advertising in collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communications Coordination and administration of pre-screening (~2000 applicants) and virtual and in-person audition scheduling (~1000 auditions) Planning and supervising audition and interview day activities at the School, nationally and virtually Coordinating and supervising the annual audition tour in Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York and LA. Planning national recruitment efforts with the Office of Admission Representing the School of Drama at various virtual and in-person recruitment fairs and conferences throughout the year. Managing campus and virtual visits for prospective students and their parents Interviewing and speaking to groups of prospective students Developing strategic recruitment strategies and maintaining admission data Working closely with the Office of Undergraduate Admission on the processing and admitting undergraduate students Managing admission communications and records, including transcripts, standardized tests, and language test scores Working with the Office of International Education on the processing of international students' documentation Participating in admission and scholarship decisions Training and supervising School of Drama ambassadors (student tour guides)
   
   You must demonstrate:
   Cultural Sensitivity and responsibility by modeling and supporting the schools values Ability to analyze and understand issues pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ability to maintain composure when dealing with difficult situations and/or individuals. Ability to meet deadlines; work under pressure and with frequent interruptions. Ability to pay close attention to detail; keep and maintain accurate and detailed reports and records. Strong communication skills. Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
   Flexibility, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within the School of Drama. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.
   
   Qualifications:
   Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred 3-5 years of admissions experience; 5+ years' experience is preferred Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
   
   Requirements:
   Successful Background Check Domestic Travel will be required (15-20%) Act 153 child protection clearances
   
   Salary range: $60,000-$70,000
   
   Interested in this opportunity? Apply today!
   
   CMU's COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements: As a condition of employment, Carnegie Mellon University requires all staff and faculty working in the United States to be fully vaccinated, including a booster when eligible, against COVID-19. Prior to commencement of employment, new hires in the United States must provide proof of vaccination or obtain an approved exemption. (Exemptions may be requested for medical reasons or for religious or strong moral or ethical conviction.) Those granted an exemption must comply with all applicable COVID-19 mitigation requirements. The most up-to-date information on CMU's COVID-19 mitigation requirements can be found here: Minimum Requirements to Return to Campus.
   
   Location
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Job Function
   Admissions and Financial Aid
   Position Type
   Staff - Regular
   Full Time/Part time
   Full time
   Pay Basis
   Salary
   More Information:
   
   Please visit "Why Carnegie Mellon" to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. Click here to view a listing of employee benefits Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran . Statement of Assurance

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find drama directors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drama director job on Zippia to find and recruit drama director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit drama directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new drama director

   Once you've decided on a perfect drama director candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new drama director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a drama director?