About the Position:
The new Executive Director (ED) will benefit from an engaged Board of Directors, a small but mighty staff and a committed core of volunteers, artists, and a string of recent accomplishments.
This position is all about leadership, community engagement, and pride in all that we do. You’ll have the opportunity to build networks and partnerships in the community that enhance the Astor’s profile, support revenue growth, and, citizen and visitors engagement with the arts.
The ED provides a leadership role in the development of the overall strategic direction of the Astor Theatre Society (ATS) and assumes responsibility for the implementation of strategic and operational plans. The ED successfully manages staff, supports the Board, and ensures ATS’s financial and organizational sustainability. The ED reports to the ATS Board of Directors through the Chair and ensures that board members are kept fully informed and current on all matters pertaining to the well-being of the theatre.
This is a full-time position located in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Community Engagement and Profile:
• Develops and implements a Marketing and Communication Strategy aimed at raising the profile of the Astor;
• Develops and implements an Advocacy Strategy;
• Acts as an advocate for the organization and its programs in the community, building strong working relationships with external stakeholders such as community partners,
funders, and the Municipality;
• Assesses potential threats to the organization’s image;
• Seeks public speaking opportunities, serves on related boards and committees, and maintains media and advertiser relationships.
Organizational Sustainability
Fund Development:
• Works with the Board to develop and implement a Fundraising Strategy;
• Cultivates and stewards new and current donors and members;
• Continuously researches grant opportunities;
• Writes grants, maintains grant database, completes reporting requirements, and sustains relationships with grant-giving organizations;
• Manages annual membership program, including appeals, information, and acknowledgement; and
• Develops a corporate sponsorship program, including prospects, meetings, materials, stewardship, and renewals.
Budgetary/Financial:
• Works with the Board to develop an annual budget and multi-year projections, monitors cash flow, and forecasts programming income and expenses;
• Implements the board’s policies for the allocation and distribution of resources;
• Ensures sound bookkeeping procedures;
• Provides the board with regular statements of revenues and expenditures;
• Administers the funds of the organization, according to the budget approved by the board; and
• Ensures that negotiations with performers, agents, potential partners, tenants, suppliers, banks, and others meet the operational and financial objectives established by the Board.
Capacity to Deliver:
• Works with staff, volunteers and board members to ensure that current and future equipment and technology (hardware and software), are up-to-date and adequate to deliver current and future programs and services; and
• Continuously evaluates the skills and qualifications needed by staff, volunteers, and Board members to support the viability of the Astor.
Human Resources:
• Develops and implements operational human resources policies;
• Ensures awareness of, and implementation of the Respectful Workplace Policy;
• Ensures awareness of, and implementation of the Health and Safety Policy;
• Identifies staffing needs and recruits and hires accordingly within budgetary parameters;
• Adheres to EDI principles in hiring practices;
• Establishes performance management processes;
• Ensures ongoing internal and external training is conducted where appropriate;
• Reports to Board on any evolving matters of staff discipline and any remediation undertaken;
• Ensures compliance to all legal requirements for employment and working conditions; and
• Develops and implements systems for record keeping of personnel files and routine records.
Board Governance and Strategic Direction:
• Serves as ex-officio member of the Board;
• Participates in strategic planning and policy development;
• Prepares procedure statements for board policies;
• Regularly presents progress reports on the strategic plan to the Board;
• Provides administrative leadership and support to the Board, providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to make informed decisions;
• Supports the Board and Committees in understanding the implications and consequences of decisions on the organization as a whole;
• Provides strategic guidance and oversight on community engagement to the Board or to the appropriate committee;
• Engages and motivates Board members, leverages their skills and networks, and collaborates with Board leadership on strengthening governance within the organization;
• Supports board committees as needed, while refraining from doing the work of the committees;
• Ensure the timely and complete filing of all organization legal requirements, including annual and relevant Joint Stocks and CRA documentation; grant use reports; leases, etc.
• Working in collaboration with the Chair of the Board, the Executive Director:
a. Annually recommends potential candidates for Board membership to the Board’s Nominating Committee;
b. As needed, recommends Board members for various Board Committees and identifies selected Board Members as potential Committee chairs;
c. Develops an annual calendar of key Board activities;
d. Supports the Board by developing meeting agendas that enable the Board to fulfill its
duties effectively;
e. Together with the Board Chair, functions as the spokesperson in a manner that
articulates vision and values;
f. Prepares and distributes official correspondence as appropriate;
g. Serves as recording Secretary for the board; and
h. In the completion of these tasks, neither the Executive Director nor the Board Chair will act without consultation with the other.
Program Management:
• Facilitates the research, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services;
• Regularly evaluates trends, community needs and interests and recommends changes to or additions to programming;
• Ensures that programs and services meet the board’s policy guidelines, reflect the board’s priorities, and align with the strategic direction of the organization;
• In consultation with appropriate staff, evaluates, in broad-based terms, the potential assets and liabilities of a proposed program, event, or project;
• Supervises the implementation of the organization’s programs and services;
• Provides regular audience participation reports to the Board.
Qualifications:
Minimum Education: Post-secondary education
Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree in theatre studies, arts administration, or related field
Minimum Experience:
• 5 years of experience in arts or non-profit administration including facility management
• 5 years of experience in non-profit fund development, including demonstrated success in securing major gifts and grants
• 5 years of experience in board management in a non-profit setting
• 5 years of experience managing employees
Preferred Experience:
Senior leadership experience in a theatre organization or other related arts setting
Skills/Knowledge:
• Proven leadership capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to effectively promote programming with limited budget and resources
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong presentation and persuasive skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills, including efficient multitasking and time management
• Willingness to work flexible hours
• Strong computer skills, including relevant software
Preferred Skills/Knowledge:
• Familiarity with aspects of theatre production, including basic design and technical operations
• Knowledge of software systems that include integrated marketing, donor management and financials
Salary: The range for this position is 50K – 60K.
Benefits: A cost sharing package is available.
Application: Please provide a cover letter and resume to the Chair of the Hiring Committee … email: …..
Review of applications begins April __, 2023