Managing Director

American Stage Theatre Company in St. Petersburg, Florida is seeking a Managing Director with demonstrated executive leadership skills to work under the leadership of the Producing Artistic Director and Board of Trustees.

The Managing Director is a pivotal part of fulfilling the company's mission to reinforce the power of live theatre with high quality productions of compelling plays that excite and challenge a diverse audience.

We are passionate about the telling of meaningful stories that inspire audiences to lean forward and engage.

POSITION SUMMARY

The new Managing Director will be a vital leader and thought partner to the Producing Artistic Director (PAD) as American Stage continues its journey post pandemic and looks to reach its future goals.

With responsibility for overseeing the organization’s administrative and business functions, the Managing Director will support the PAD’s vision of developing, producing, and presenting theatrical work that expands and diversifies audiences and sets new standards of artistic innovation and production excellence.

They guide the strategy and vision, with the PAD and Director of Development, in finding financial resources to create and support American Stage’s mission, fiscal stability, audience cultivation, and long term goals.

The MD serves as the chief financial officer of American Stage and must exercise responsible stewardship of all resources within the organization for the optimum balance of artistic quality, financial strength, and institutional integrity.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide decisive leadership for all administrative functions, policies, and procedures.
• Review and evaluate staff on a regular basis, offer mentorship and support to AS’s administrative team, and set an open door tone by being an accessible and present leader.
• Create an open, transparent, and supportive relationship with the Board of Trustees.
• Provide clear, timely, and ongoing communication with AS staff and Board of Trustees.
• Ensure that AS’s workplace is equitable, inclusive, and accessible and is attractive for long-term commitments by talented administrative staff.
• Ensure that AS maintains strong relations with affiliated organizations, industry unions and agencies, leading negotiations in applicable contracts and ensuring compliance.
• Bring an entrepreneurial approach to new opportunities.
• Lead all staff members in working collaboratively and in support of each other to achieve the best for AS and the community it serves.
• Serve as a key representative of American Stage in the community, including cultivation of donors, funding institutions and government agencies.
• Ensure that American Stage’s employment policies and reporting are consistent with all rules and regulations governing working in the State of Florida.
• Ensure that American Stage’s employment policies and employee handbook are current and complete and support the organization’s staffing goals and needs.
• Provide additional support for and attend meetings, fundraisers, events, celebrations, opening nights, etc.
• Maintain oversight of various liability insurance policies and relationships with insurance brokers.
• Oversee and collaborate with the Marketing Director to define marketing strategy, tactics and programs, with input from the Producing Artistic Director.
• Determine and measure earned revenue goals in partnership with the Marketing Director.
• Ensure that program’s marketing tactics and graphic design support American Stage brand and strategic objectives.

Financial Oversight and Planning

All potential applicants are encouraged to scroll through and read the complete job description before applying.

As the chief financial officer, the MD continually evaluates the impact of programming decisions against financial and institutional priorities.

Responsibilities include the annual budget (in collaboration with the PAD), presentation of the monthly financial reports (prepared by the Finance Manager) to the Finance / Personnel Committee and full Board, oversight of all ongoing financial matters from payroll to the annual financial statement audit. They will :

• Oversee the Finance Manager and ensure financial reporting is timely, useful, and functional for AS’s stakeholders, including its Board, staff, and key supporters.
• In collaboration with the PAD engage in the timely development of realistic operational and capital budgeting plans to ensure the theatre’s operations are sustainable, and implement timely changes as needed.
• In collaboration with the Finance Manager, maintain financial reporting systems to ensure that all directors and managers have the information they need to manage their individual budgets.
• In collaboration with Finance Manager, work with outside auditors to assure that all financial systems and internal controls are adequate to appropriately serve the organization and guard against fraud and waste.
• Serve as the key point of contact for budget management for all staff while working closely with AS’s Finance Committee.

Resource Development and Fundraising

The MD works with the Development Director and Development Committee of the Board to create, implement, and support fundraising campaigns, special events, and grant opportunities. They will :

• Provide leadership to the essential effort to expand and diversify AS’s audience.
• Work across the organization to set realistic but challenging revenue goals.
• Seek out new opportunities to utilize AS’s assets including but not limited to its education program and its relationship to St. Petersburg College.
• The MD serves as a staff liaison to the Board and works with the Board’s finance committee regarding the financials of the American Stage.

As appropriate, The MD also assists with Board recruitment and works with vital committees to harness the resources and talent of the Board in the service of American Stage.

• Work with the Producing Artistic Director to support the development and effective operations of the Board of Trustees.
• Work with the Board Chair to prioritize work of the Board.
• Provide monthly reports to Board.

Characteristics

• A collaborative spirit. Someone who gains energy working with groups and breaking down silos.
• Able to make hard decisions in a practical but kind way, with awareness of their impact on individuals and the organization as a whole.
• Encourages and embraces different points of view.
• A calm and measured approach to leadership.
• A generous spirit, someone who is warm and welcoming in their demeanor.
• Has demonstrated business acumen with strong management skills.
• Understanding of arts marketing and branding.
• Financial management and planning, including P&L and budget responsibility.
• Experience negotiating across multiple stakeholders with different perspectives.
• Experience working with board committees and a board of Trustees.
• Have the vision to design and execute AS’s resource development in the short, intermediate, and long-term to help AS achieve sustainable growth into the future.
• Be a charismatic communicator with the ability to establish long-lasting, productive relationships with the Board, staff and community of patrons and funders.
• Have demonstrated ability to generate earned income and philanthropic support and a passion for organizational development.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor degree in business, non-profit administration, or related field.
• Minimum of either 3 years executive experience in a non-profit arts organization of similar size or 5 years experience as a department head or senior staff of an organization of greater size.
• Significant experience interacting with Boards, Volunteers and Funders.
• Experience building revenue and philanthropic support, including grant writing.
• Knowledge of fundraising and donor landscape in the St. Pete and Tampa Bay area is a plus.

COMPENSATION

$80,000 - $90,000

The information presented indicates a general nature and level or work expected of this position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

American Stage is an Equal Opportunity Employer. American Stage does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

About American Stage :

Founded in 1977, American Stage is Tampa Bay’s longest-running, critically acclaimed professional theatre, committed to its role as a vital arts leader, contributing to the cultural landscape of the region by pursuing innovative programming and deeper connections with our community through our high-quality mainstage productions, our annual American Stage at Demens Landing, and our robust education and outreach programs.

With powerful stories, boldly told, American Stage aspires to make the experience of dynamic, relevant, world-class theatre accessible for all.

At American Stage, we see the empty space as an opportunity for social change & civilized discourse to occur one of the few sacred places left in a far too noisy, often divided, world where human beings can still sit in the quiet dark together, think a while, & be awakened.

To gain a richer connection to the fragility of beauty & pain that exists in all art & life.

Theater of, by, and for all people. Artist-driven, radically inclusive, and fundamentally democratic. Through artistic excellence and the craft of storytelling, American Stage is committed to creating a safe space for multicultural artists to share their full humanity, as we come back to the theatre at this exciting but challenging time.

We choose to create a new American Stage that enriches and embodies the rich diversity and cultural tapestry of America and truly reflects the American experience.

How to Apply :

This position is open until a diverse candidate pool has been achieved. To apply, please send a current resume and cover letter stating how your qualifications, experience, and goals are a match for this position.

Please apply through the company website. Please no phone calls, drop ins or physical mailings.

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