Executive Director - Short North Stage

Short North Stage is currently seeking an Executive Director



POSITION OVERVIEW



The Executive Director (ED) serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Short North Stage (SNS) and will be based in Columbus, Ohio. S/he is the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the other paid staff members who s/he oversees. The Executive Director will work most closely with the Board President, Vice President and Treasurer, but also with other Board Members and the Board Committees as well as attending monthly Board meetings as a nonvoting participant. The ED will serve as a strong and strategic partner to the Artistic Director, working in tandem to implement the artistic vision and programmatic decisions aligned with the institutions goals, values and priorities, and within the constraints of financial and other resources.



DUTIES



Development - the ED will maintain ongoing development initiatives and create/seek out new opportunities for SNS. S/he will be assisted by the Finance and Development Committees of the Board and staff members as appropriate.



Finance - the ED will work with the Board President, Board Treasurer and Artistic Director to develop the annual budget to present to the Board of Directors for approval. S/he will be the primary contact with the Artistic Director to gather information on budgetary needs for planning purposes. The ED will monitor day-to-day finances, and report any needs and concerns to the Board Treasurer and Board President as appropriate. The ED, after proper consultation, may make indicated (e.g. expediency) financial decisions up to a designated amount.



Staff Oversight and Evaluation - the ED will manage all administrative employees of SNS either directly or by overseeing the management functions of the House Manager and Company Manager (presently, the ED will oversee an administrative staff of up to four individuals). S/he will analyze the needs of SNS and create staff positions and job descriptions subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. S/he will be responsible for hiring and oversight of employees even those directly supervised by others, e.g. the House Manager and the Bar Staff. The ED will work with Board members to establish clear criteria for successful performance for staff in his/her departments.



Represent Short North Stage - the ED is one of the primary representatives of SNS with regards to public relations matters, meetings with secondary groups, and interactions with the public in general. S/he oversees other employees' interactions with the same groups as necessary.



Representative of Record — the ED, when authorized by the Board of Directors, will be the primary signatory of many financial and legal documents required by SNS memberships, licenses and financial arrangements (e.g. Short North Alliance and Experience Columbus memberships, liquor license, charitable solicitation license, and SNS banking with PNC).



Marketing - the ED will be primarily responsible for developing the annual Marketing Plan and Calendar, and creating innovative strategies. S/he will be assisted by the Marketing Committee of the Board and by staff members as appropriate.



EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES



The ED will be enthusiastically committed to SNS's mission and ideally have the following experience and qualifications: Comparable senior-level management and leadership responsibility in a theater company or other complex performing arts institution known for quality and excellence; a track record of successfully partnering with an artistic leader in support of a shared institutional mission; Demonstrated financial and business acumen, combined with an understanding of both producing and presenting; a track record of success in managing people, facilities, operations, and budgets for an institution of significant size, scope, and complexity; A record of success collaborating with a Board of Directors to build consensus and generate support of all kinds; An outgoing persona with demonstrated success as a proactive and creative fundraiser, comfortable cultivating and soliciting major individual, foundation, and corporate donors; A sophisticated understanding of marketing, audience development, and customer service, with demonstrated success in generating earned income; digitally savvy with an understanding of how to employ social media and online platforms in support of institutional goals; An understanding of the challenges confronting theater today and aware of, or willing to learn, the particular challenges unique to Columbus including its politics, dynamic demographics, increasing traffic congestion, and heightened culturally competitive environment; Diplomatic and politically savvy with the ability to forge mutually respectful and effective relationships with a diverse group of personalities in a collegial and cooperative manner, including staff, Board members, volunteers, patrons, and supporters; A compelling and open communicator, internally and externally, with the presence and credibility to serve as an effective spokesperson for SNS; A demonstrated love of the arts in the broadest sense, and theater specifically; A diplomat who is able to negotiate skillfully with an open-minded, patient, and consultative manner; a leader who listens well, bends when appropriate and yet is firm and decisive when necessary; Someone able to delegate, handle, and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities; A confident, intelligent, and articulate self-starter and finisher, who is creative and entrepreneurial, yet collaborative and team oriented; An energetic, hands-on leader who demonstrates hard work by example, including a visible presence at SNS, to its audiences, and at patron events; An emotionally mature person, with a sense of humor and the sensitivity to work with diverse personalities.



WHO WE ARE



Short North Stage is a professional, non-profit theater company that employs talented and diverse artists, community organizers, business owners, students, technicians, writers, musicians and designers from all walks of life. We bring first-class live performance to central Ohio and Columbus’s Short North Arts District, including Broadway classics, edgy off-Broadway musicals, progressive plays, and unexpected interpretations of well-known, lesser-known and new works. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of artists and audiences because we love our community and the power of live theater.



OUR VALUES



Our team members are guided by four core principles. We take care of our patrons. They are our number one priority. Everything we do begins and ends with them as we work together to create, produce and showcase quality live theater. We care about every aspect of their experience. This means we stop what we are doing - regardless of our role - to make sure they are well-taken care of. We win as a team. While each team member has their own individual priorities, we work together toward a greater good. We celebrate our successes and discuss our opportunities as a collective team. We talk live to develop plans and make purposeful, results-driven decisions. We align on when it's okay to make decisions on our own and when we need to take partners. We offer and seek support from all team members in our work, while respecting one another’s expertise and autonomy over the creative process. We ask for and give appreciative and demanding feedback in equal measure regardless of our role. We learn, develop, grow and get better together. We operate with integrity and pace. We do what is right even when no one is watching. Our values are at the heart of everything we do. We determine clear processes, owners and timelines in advance - and in a timely manner - to enable growth. We hold ourselves and each other accountable to our commitments and deadlines. We make decisions swiftly and act quickly; otherwise, we align on when to move at a deliberately slower pace. We communicate with purpose and pace, and empower our team members to make decisions. We are dynamic and open to change. We are resilient and agile. We cherish diversity and inclusion. We actively employ talented and diverse people from all walks of life. We value different perspectives and embrace others' thoughts. All ideas are welcome, and we listen to understand them. We foster a culture of collaboration, trust and fun.