Leader of Management & Operations

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) in San Francisco seeks a Leader of Management & Operations. Our indispensable home for theater-makers prioritizes a human-centered approach. We nurture, develop, and produce revolutionary artistic voices, centering courageous and inventive BIPOC narratives that push the boundaries of what a play is. We do this by resourcing a variety of different programs each season including, and not limited to:

• Productions (one-to-three per year)
• Matchbox development program (three-to-seven pieces at a time) consisting of commissions, workshops, and readings.
• our Audition Intensive
• and The Ignite Grant for designers and technicians

Crowded Fire staff hold a multiplicity of identities, with a plurality of experiences! Are you a theater-maker who cares about other people and the intersection of art, antiracism, equity, and making the world a better place? Then keep reading!

Job Title: Leader of Management & Operations

Summary of Position:

Crowded Fire Theater is seeking a Leader of Management & Operations. This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate interested in a career in non-profit arts management, with growth opportunities and a chance to learn the ins-and-outs of leading a small theater. Crowded Fire embraces a culture of collective stewardship, and centers Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in action; leadership opportunities are co-created with staff members, specific to their strengths and learning path.

PURPOSE – Under the initial supervision and mentorship of the current Leader of Management & Operations (who will be transitioning to a Leader of Finance and Fundraising), this position will work with the year-round shared leadership staff of 5, along with a staff position shared with Golden Thread Productions, and the Mellon Playwright-in-Residence shared with Campo Santo. The position will join the shared leadership staff following an introductory assessment period of at least 90 days. This year-round, full-time position will provide strategic planning and leadership for the organization in the areas of operations, patron services, and HR.

SHARED LEADERSHIP – Crowded Fire has been in a multi-year process of deeply considering models of shared leadership and non-hierarchical organizational structures, as part of our efforts to embody a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy workplace that mirrors our creative processes. The ideal candidate for this position is excited to work with our staff on our ongoing journey of shared leadership, where core decisions are made and informed by all of our year-round leadership staff who receive equal hourly pay. This revolutionary model, if successful, can be an example to replicate for other organizations seeking to mindfully build a healthy theater community that is equitable, inclusive, and visionary.

Responsibilities include a combination of the following. Please note that this role includes significant scope for cross-training and opportunities for adjustment and growth, in response to the evolution of the shared leadership model:

Operations/Systems Support (20%)

• managing our rehearsal/office space co-held with our partner organization Golden Thread, including stocking space with necessary supplies.
• Managing and maintaining subscriptions, memberships, software, and systems; developing and implementing new systems where appropriate to increase productivity and organization.
• update SF business license (annually).
• Ensure general liability and worker’s comp insurance is up-to-date; secure certificates when necessary.

HR (25%)

• Ensure compliance with state, county/city, and federal guidelines.
• File bi-annual payroll reports with state compensation insurance fund.
• Organize and schedule regular sexual harassment and anti-oppression trainings for staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement safety plans and trainings for permanent and temporary staff, including COVID-safety, disaster-preparedness, etc.
• Where necessary, working with outside consultants to ensure compliance and implement best practices.
• Run payroll and onboard new employees (eventual cross-training).
• Update employee handbook when necessary and distribute updated policies (eventual cross-training).
• Support Hiring & Performance Management Committee made up of Board, Resident Artists, and staff (eventual cross-training)

Patron Services/Box Office Support (20%; varies throughout the year):

Provide guidance for, and work alongside, our Development & Patron Services Associate to maintain patron and donor relationships:

• Ensure excellent ticket processing for patrons, VIPs, pass-holders, donors, sponsors, and groups.
• Ensure patron phone and email ticketing questions are answered with care.
• Review and improve pre- and post-show patron communications and touchpoints.
• Review and improve Group sales processes.

• Provide excellent onsite patron support, as needed (generally 2 nights a week during production).
• Work with Leader of Finance & Fundraising and Development & Patron Services Associate to accurately maintain patron, donor and other contact information in CRM.

Supervision of Front of House (FOH) support (10%; varies throughout the year):

• Implement COVID-19 safety protocols.
• Coordinate FOH volunteers and staff, including conducting outreach and managing shift coverage and sign ups.
• Ensure all FOH members receive safety training and thorough orientation to FOH duties and responsibilities.
• Ensure concession supplies and merchandise are maintained.
• Assist with setting up the lobby, including preparing supplies and moving equipment.
• Lead audience survey process.
• Design and Coordinate lobby displays, signage, and show program with the artistic & creative team.

Other Duties and Responsibilities (10%):

• Undertake special projects and provide administrative support under the direction of the leadership team and in collaboration with other team members, as needed.
• Collaborate with Leader of Finance & Fundraising to develop and maintain budget for administrative costs
• Work collaboratively with the team to help uphold an organizational culture of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Shared Leadership duties (15%)

• Participate in representing the organization in public and partnership engagements.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the Strategic Plan for the organization.
• Participate in implementing and evolving CFT’s anti-racism action plan, and Code of Conduct.
• Participate and co-lead Resident Artist meetings.
• Participate in Board Meetings on a rotation with other staff members.
• Participate in leadership governance and other collective decision-making processes

What qualities might you bring?

• Deep care for other people and community (long-term relationship building).
• Strong communication skills with intuitive awareness.
• A strong balance of respect, humbleness, and badassery.
• Strong consensus building with the ability to motivate people and assemble strong teams.
• Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative or collective-based environment.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to look ahead. A radical futurist who pushes the organization and field forward.
• Deep appreciation for the arts as a pathway for social change.
• Self-reflection and leadership through learning.
• Sense of humor and a love of theater.

Requirements:

• Project management skills, with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Ability to analyze priorities, manage workflow, and communicate work progress to the team.
• Ability to work both independently and on projects with others.
• Strong troubleshooting capabilities, with a flexible and innovative approach to problem solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an ability to work with varied communication styles.
• Strong time management skills.
• Experience in developing or supporting development and patron engagement processes, a plus.
• Experience working with Front of House systems and/or management, a plus.
• Experience in fundraising, a plus.
• Experience in event management, a plus.
• Proficiency in basic computer applications, including Word, Excel, Email, and Google.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Cultural fluency, with the ability to work with diverse groups of artists and audiences.
• Able to work for long periods on a computer as well as participate in team-based load-in processes with staff for productions and events. While this role will be directly involved in set-up and prep for events and productions, which typically requires pushing or pulling objects weighing up to 30 pounds and/or transporting objects weighing up to 15 pounds, Crowded Fire will be able to offer reasonable accommodations for these physical tasks as needed.

We believe that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications above. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, non-exempt, 40-hour per week job, initially reporting to the Leader of Finance & Fundraising before transitioning fully to a member of the Shared Leadership team. Hourly rate is $27/hour, equal to the existing staff. Within our shared leadership model, there is flexibility and room for growth and cross training. We have collective decision-making processes, with the responsibilities outlined above showing current departments and accountability. Our offices are located in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood. This position will be both virtual and in-person under COVID protocols. When in production, on-site evening and weekend hours will be required (we produce 1-3 shows per year). Crowded Fire is unable to provide travel or moving expenses. While we do not currently provide PTO to employees in addition to sick and holiday time, we are currently in an active process of reevaluating this as a shared leadership team, with the intent to update our PTO policy later this year.

Crowded Fire Theater Company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or gender. Crowded Fire is a former member of Theater Communications Group’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Institute. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We encourage you to review our Code of Conduct for a better idea of how we work together: www.crowdedfire.org/about/code_of_conduct/

Information about the organization:

Founded in 1997, Crowded Fire’s annual budget is approximately $750K, though we anticipate meaningful growth as we continue to right-size the organization and resume in-person producing. The company currently shares rehearsal & administrative offices with Golden Thread Productions and produces plays/pieces out of different theaters, including Magic Theatre.

Crowded Fire is developing a shared leadership model wherein our permanent staff of five share leadership decisions that impact the organization and are responsible for the organization’s long-term artistic and strategic vision. Each staff member holds specific functions within the organization that work toward these goals. In addition to staff, CFT has a dedicated ensemble of Resident Artists — actors, designers, technicians, and dramaturgs  — who are involved in the artistic and therefore organizational life of the company by serving on committees and projects that interface with the staff and/or board.

Application Instructions:

Please email a resume and a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the position and our organizations, along with the names and contact information for three or more references, to opportunities@crowdedfire.org, subject line: Leader of Management & Operations Search. Please make sure that references are from current and/or former supervisors and that information includes names, phone numbers, and the name of the organization where you worked with each person.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled. Initial interviews will begin in mid-late April; second round group interviews will be scheduled in May. Early submissions are encouraged. No phone calls or packets by regular mail, please. Further information is available at www.crowdedfire.org/opportunities/.