Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director will lead one of Michigan’s most vibrant cultural institutions ensuring programmatic and operational integrity, sustainability, and excellence. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the administration and management of all business operations, finance, fundraising, education, marketing, IT, facilities, and community engagement. The Executive Director will create an organizational culture of teamwork, accountability, safety, and trust characterized by proactive decision-making, open communication, and strategic fiscal management. They will guide programs and services, facilitate organizational excellence, and ensure that GRCT is a pillar of inclusion, access, artistic expression, and education for the region. This dynamic leader will enthusiastically represent the organization as an ambassador to multiple constituencies, advancing partnerships and deepening the engagement with Grand Rapid’s diverse communities. The Executive Director will value the organization’s past and bring new initiatives that build on the theatre’s success, leading the organization to success in new and bold ways.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Leadership
• Serve as a committed, visionary, and accessible leader for GRCT with a true connection to the organization’s community of artists, audiences, and donors and ensure that all artistic and financial decisions are mission-aligned.
• Champion the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and access to support an artistic and organizational culture that respects different perspectives and nurtures an environment of empowerment at all levels.
• Identify potential risks and opportunities within the organization and the community to protect business interests and promote the mission.
• Actively lead efforts supporting the School of Theatre Arts and work with staff leadership to broaden programming, grow resources, and serve and welcome a diverse student community.
• Function as the key liaison for the Executive, Finance and Facilities Committees.
• Embrace and support additional strategic vision and leadership responsibilities as needed.

Financial Oversight and Operations
• Serve as primary fiscal management representative to the Board and communicate consistently in full transparency with staff and Board members to inspire organizational growth across all business areas.
• Demonstrate solid fiscal acumen, including managing the annual operating budget process, overseeing organizational budgets, controlling expenditures, creating forecasting models, and developing financial analysis.
• Assume primary responsibility for all non-program-related contracts, legal and financial matters, and vendor relations.
• Lead and guide operations to ensure employees and business practices comply with regulatory and legal requirements, ensuring the facility is maintained in the safest, most creatively conducive environment possible.
• Oversee human resources functions including the hiring of key roles, and implementing new policies, systems, and procedures that are in alignment with the organization’s mission and values.
• Embrace and support additional financial oversight and operations responsibilities as needed.

Fundraising and Earned Revenue Enhancement
• Secure new and renewed sources of contributed income in partnership with the development team by cultivating and deepening relationships with key individual donors, foundations, and corporate funders.
• Leverage Board members’ skills and networks to strengthen Board-driven fundraising in support of the organization.
• Oversee marketing and communication strategies to expand and diversify audiences, subscribers, and donors.
• Embrace and support additional fundraising and earned revenue enhancement responsibilities as needed.

Administrative and Organizational Leadership
• Maintain and expand an efficient and effective organizational structure for fundraising, programming, organizational management, fiduciary excellence, and project leadership.
• Act as a spokesperson throughout the region, develop relationships, and engage with a wide variety of constituents, including business owners; schools and colleges; elected city, county, and state officials; and the media to enhance the organization’s brand and reputation.
• Diversify, and manage the Board of Directors by ensuring that current Board members are best engaged according to their skills, interests, and the needs of the organization.
• Embrace and support additional administrative and organizational leadership responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics
The Executive Director will be a strategic and visionary leader who values frequent interaction and collaboration with others and has the ability to provide both levity and practical perspectives. This results-oriented individual will be emotionally intelligent and approachable with advanced cultural competencies that lead to a harmonious professional environment. Decisive and business-minded with a sense of adventure and passion for the arts, the Executive Director will be an intense champion of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access. A tactician and coalition-builder, this individual will have the ability to work in an intense environment, prioritizing tasks and responding to the needs of others with critical thinking, tenacity, and resiliency. The Executive Director will be receptive to new ideas, opportunities, and innovation while effectively leveraging organizational, human, financial, and technological resources. The Executive Director will have the ability to organize and motivate other people to accomplish goals, create a sense of order and direction, and gain active participation among a variety of stakeholders fostering a culture of trust and accountability.

Other key competencies include:
• Leadership and Diplomacy – The capacity to organize, inspire, and influence people to believe in a vision, creating a sense of common purpose while effectively and tactfully handling difficult or sensitive issues.
• Futuristic Thinking – The foresight to envision expanded artistic possibilities, championing cutting-edge ideas and concepts and creating an environment where creative thinking is the norm, not the exception.
• Interpersonal Skills – The ability to effectively communicate and build rapport with all kinds of people.
• Decision Making and Personal Accountability – The dexterity to analyze and diagnose all aspects of a situation, make consistently sound and timely decisions, and be held accountable for personal actions.

Qualifications
Proven success in the areas of financial management, fundraising, operations, and leadership of complex and dynamic organizations is essential. Comprehensive earned revenue building skills, as well as experience navigating change and inspiring a high-achieving team of creative professionals, is needed. A deep dedication to community building and connections to both people and place is expected. A profound and demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and access is required. Exceptional writing abilities and verbal presentation skills are deeply valued. Experience in the education field focused on curriculum planning and creative thinking for expanding capacity is highly desired. A passion for the arts and knowledge of the industry are preferred. A broad range of life experience is welcome.

Compensation and Benefits
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre offers a competitive compensation package with a salary range expected between $85,000 and $90,000. Benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, short and long-term disability; optional Flexible Spending benefit, 401(k) retirement plan; generous paid leave policies (vacation, personal, sick, and holiday); and professional development support.

Applications and Inquiries
To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/grand-rapids-civic-theatre-seeks-executive-director/ .

For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, please contact:

Jenna Deja, Vice President
201 West Lake Street, Suite 133
Chicago, IL 60606-1803
Tel (888) 234.4236 Ext. 227
Email GrandRapidsCivicTheatre@artsconsulting.com

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the GRCT not to discriminate against any person because of race, religion, color, sex, age, military status or application, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, transgender status, height, weight, marital status, or any other basis protected by state, federal or otherwise applicable law. GRCT ‘s policy of nondiscrimination covers all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, selection, placement, training, compensation, promotion, discipline transfer, layoff, recall, termination, wages, and fringe benefits.