Theatre on the Square Seeks Executive Director

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the theater and reports to the board of directors. This position has executive responsibility for all production and administrative operations of the theater and will report directly to the Board of Directors. The Executive Director also serves as the primary spokesperson for the theater to the public. The Executive Director is responsible for building and maintaining community awareness about the theater and its mission, and to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. The Executive Director also serves as the primary liaison to donors, including the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, and the Central Indiana Community Foundation, and will be responsible for seeking out and obtaining funding sources for the theater.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Strategy and Planning
   1. Provide leadership with regard to the long-term strategic vision of the theater
   2. With the oversight of the board, create and maintain a long-term plan for the theater in terms of marketing, fundraising, audience expansion, and other topics as needed.
   3. Regularly assess the theater’s progress toward achieving the goals of the plan, and revising of the plan as necessary.
   4. Liaise with major donors, artistic contributors, the board and other stakeholders to ensure that plan, as well as the theater’s mission, remain relevant.
   5. Cultivate partnerships with community organizations and arts groups to increase the standing of the theater in the community and strengthen its artistic viewpoint.

2. Operations/Administration
   1. Oversee the staff of the theater, including the artistic director, box office and concessions personnel (staff and/or volunteer) and provide regular feedback to the staff and to the board about their performance.
   2. Initiate hiring and termination proceedings, although the ultimate decisions shall be made by the board.
   3. Oversee the day to day management of the theater, including the finances (see below), and the scheduling of events and rentals that are not part of the regular artistic season.
   4. Review all theater policies annually and suggest any revisions thereto to the board.
   5. Ensure high quality customer service to patrons and show casts by promptly following up with all concerns and proactively managing issues as they arise.
   6. Ensure that all insurance policies are kept up to date and reviewed on at least an annual basis.
   7. Oversee the maintenance of the building and notify the board of any issues that affect theater operations (either artistic or structural).
   8. Oversee and grow the volunteer base of the theater, ensuring staffing of shows as needed.
   9. Maintain the records of the organization and adhere to the record retention policy of the theater.
   10. Perform other duties as directed by and with the assistance of the board.

3. Finances
   1. Manage programs, policies and actions which ensure the long-term financial health of the organization.
   2. Develop and oversee the organization’s annual budget in conjunction with the board
   3. Maintain a system to report key financial information, including actual expenses as compared to budget, on a monthly basis.
   4. Maintain a system for reporting the financial results of all in-house productions.
   5. Maintain relationships with the board, the theater’s accountant and the theater’s banking institution to ensure that all obligations are met in a timely manner.
   6. Generate reports as needed for donors or other parties as directed by the board.
   7. Schedule and, if necessary, participate in, the theater’s yearly audit.
   8. Coordinate the completion of all necessary tax documents, including all forms and donor acknowledgements, and payments of taxes in a timely fashion.

4. Marketing
   1. Serve as the spokesperson for the theater to the media and the public.
   2. Create and adhere to a marketing plan to ensure that the theater has a distinctive image and voice in the community and evaluate the efficacy of said plan on a regular basis.
   3. Maintain all social media accounts connected with the theater and update them on a regular basis with original content.
   4. Work with the artistic director and show directors and casts to coordinate interview opportunities, and to create and distribute promotional materials for each show, including, but not limited to, press releases, social media posts and giveaways, promotional photos, and videos.
   5. Participate in meetings with local community groups, such as the Massachusetts Avenue Merchants Association.

5. Development
   1. Nurture existing donor relationships with large-scale donors and serve as a liaison to them from the theater.
   2. Develop fundraising programs that build long-term relationships with the community.
   3. Identify additional sources of income, including grants, donors, individual sponsorships and corporate sponsorships.
   4. Maintain a database of all donor activity as well as funds actively being sought out.
   5. Promptly acknowledge all gifts to the theater, whether in-kind or monetary, with a thank you.
   6. Carry out, at minimum, a yearly fundraising event for the theater.

Skill Set Required

1. High level of comfort with technology including: social media accounts, word processing, photo editing, video production, ticketing software, and updating the theater’s website via Wordpress.
2. The ability to research, write and prepare grant requests.
3. The ability to manage people and multiple projects at the same time.
4. Comfortable preparing and maintaining basic financial documents, such as budgets.
5. Comfortable with public speaking and able to articulate the theater’s mission and point of view to various audiences.
6. The ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders to promote and advance the theater.
7. The ability to be proactive, rather than reactive, to challenges presented.
8. The ability to lift up to 30 lbs, on occasion, and able to occasionally stand for prolonged periods.
9. Open to working in a non-traditional environment.

Education/experience required:

1. Bachelor’s degree and minimum three years related experience; or
2. Master’s in Arts Administration or equivalent program with a minimum one year related experience.

Interested parties should send a resume and cover letter to TOTS Board Member Bethany Nine-Lawson at bethanynine@gmail.com. Submissions must be received no later than April 14, 2017.