Managing Director

Managing Director

• Position Profile

About the Opportunity

People’s Light (PL) in Malvern, Pennsylvania seeks its next Managing Director (MD) to partner with Producing Artistic Director Zak Berkman (Producing Artistic Director) in leading an exciting regional treasure with a unique campus, year-round productions, a long-standing Company of artists, and a meaningful role in both its community and the national theatre field. People’s Light serves as one of Pennsylvania’s largest professional non-profit theatres, known for its eclectic mix of productions and innovative work with young people. The next MD will be a key partner to Berkman, with both leaders reporting to the Board of Trustees, to guide the organization during a dynamic model shift from acclaimed regional theatre to prominent cultural and civic center. At the dawn of its 50th Anniversary Season (24/25), People’s Light is excited to better leverage its distinctive seven-acre campus at the crossroads of growing suburban, rural, and exurban communities to become a more visible destination for live arts and a gravitational hub of activity that serves both longstanding stakeholders as well as attracts a generation of new patrons.

The ideal candidate for Managing Director will bring expertise in the non-profit theatre field, from revenue generating and financial acumen to creative strategic thinking to a human centric leadership ethos and a commitment to civic connection. As a collaborative but decisive leader, the Managing Director will be open to listening to diverse and new perspectives, opportunities, and innovation while effectively leveraging organizational, human, financial, and technological resources. This individual will have the capacity to discern competing priorities, provide clarity in support of the company’s mission, and be a pro-active and inclusive communicator.

About People’s Light

People’s Light currently resides on Lenapehoking, land of Lenape. The Lenape are among the Indigenous Nations of First Contact with Europeans, and one of the oldest continuous democracies on Earth.
According to Lenape, this land belongs to the Creator, yet it was given to Lenape to inhabit and steward. It was and continues to be their homeland to look after, as many nations of Lenapehoking are still here. And while Lenape have welcomed people from all over the world to their shores, that invitation comes with the responsibility to treat everyone and everything on this land with respect.

Founded in 1974, People’s Light is a cultural and civic center with theatre at its core. People’s Light produces a season of productions with stories drawn from ancient times through tomorrow that have direct relevance to its communities and concerns. In support of this range, they produce classics, contemporary plays and musicals, and commission and produce new work: of our 452 productions, over a third (171) have been world or regional premieres. Our Company of Artists includes directors, designers, dramaturgs, teaching artists, stage managers, and actors.
People’s Light also offers a robust array of education and other programming to steward relationships with community partners and audiences. Among these are the New Voices Ensemble, a multi-decade program serving young people from the City of Chester; and New Play Frontiers, a long-term initiative to develop and produce new plays that explore American identity through stories of deep meaning to a diversity of populations in the distinctive region that PL calls home. (Learn more about education (https://tinyurl.com/2s5reye3) and new play programs (https://tinyurl.com/bdedurrz) at PL)

People’s Light has always called Chester County home. In 1979 the theatre moved to its current location in Malvern, which includes two black box theatres with 330 and 140 seats respectively; offices; scenic and costume shops; rehearsal halls; classrooms; a restored 18th-century farmhouse that includes housing for guest artists; the Fern & Fable restaurant; and The Farmhouse banquet and catering facility that can be rented for special events. Many patrons of People’s Light credit their first experience with the company to attending various events on the parklike seven-acre campus, at the Farmhouse or in the gardens, deepening the appreciation of PL as a civic asset and gathering place for Chester County. The Theatre annually employs 40 full time staff, with up to an additional 60 part time artists and staff members, many of whom live within 15 miles of the campus, and almost 200 guest artists each season from Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and beyond. People’s Light operates with an annual budget of $6.8 million which includes net income from the for-profit subsidiary, which when grossed up increases the budget to $8.2 million. People’s Light serves 60,000 patrons, guests, students, and community members each year.

Learn more about People’s Light here. https://www.peopleslight.org/

About Malvern, PA

Malvern is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, at the terminus of the historic Main Line, a series of Philadelphia suburbs located along the railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is 20 miles west of Philadelphia, which means it enjoys all the benefits of being close to a major American city while boasting the unique identity and charm of a small community. The area’s history is evident in the rolling hills of the area, from charming stone barns (including the one that forms the lobby spaces of the larger theater at PL), to historic inns and farms. There is rail and road access to Philadelphia, but the team at PL lives mostly within a short distance from the theatre’s park-like campus, taking advantage of the city when desired but enjoying the ease of life in the Malvern area. Chester County’s Brandywine Valley is called “America’s Garden Capital,” with incredible restaurants, cultural attractions, historic sites, and limitless outdoor recreation opportunities. Among the many lovely communities within a few minutes’ drive of People’s Light, the towns of West Chester and Phoenixville are vibrant, growing and inclusive centers in the County, providing multiple options for residents to build connections and put down roots.

Read more about the Brandywine Valley here (https://www.brandywinevalley.com/)
Learn more about Chester County history here (https://tinyurl.com/5yhjzz9c)
Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry (https://www.chescochamber.com/)
Learn more about West Chester (https://www.downtownwestchester.com/)
Learn more about Phoenixville (https://www.phoenixville.org/)

Job Description

The Managing Director is responsible for the overall business, administrative, and operational management of the organization. This includes leadership and oversight in the areas of fundraising, marketing, budgeting, financial management, operations/facilities, HR, board relations, and civic connection. The Managing Director is the driver of long-range planning and strategic goals for the organization, in collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director, General Manager and the Board.

People’s Light Managing Director will be an inspirational and experienced theatre leader, who has demonstrable achievements connected to their arts nonprofit leadership. The MD will be a strong collaborative partner of Producing Artistic Director Zak Berkman, who has served People’s Light since 2011 in artistic leadership, first as Associate AD, then becoming Producing Director in 2013 and Producing Artistic Director in 2022. He is ready to welcome a partner in leadership to continue to build on the strong foundation of the history of People’s Light. The person in this role has a sense of adventure and curiosity, excels at working through challenges, and thrives in building both collegial and collaborative internal relationships while also serving as one of PL’s primary external ambassadors. An innovative and collaborative leader with a passion for theatre in all its forms, the Managing Director understands the importance of financial stability and transparency while ensuring that the artistic product and the People’s Light team are supported and nurtured. The Managing Director must be a values-driven human being whose experience is grounded in equity, access, and inclusion and who embodies the values of the company.

The person stepping into the Managing Director’s role will have had demonstrable successes in fundraising and financial management, as well as in long term strategic planning, hands on experience in guiding marketing and fundraising teams, and possess a significant working knowledge of facilities management.

Key Opportunities for the Next Managing Director

⮚ Benefit from a treasured history, Artistic Company, and strong community connection as a foundation for fundraising, strategy development and financial planning
With the 50th Anniversary celebration, PL is well-positioned to create excitement and renew long-term connections in a celebration of its impact on Chester County and surrounding areas. It is a legacy moment that is forward-looking

⮚ Build and deploy strong financial management and budgeting tools to empower the leadership team and staff to deepen collaboration
A newly organized and focused leadership team is ready to engage in strategic budget creation and management practices to make better informed decisions and maximize company resources around the art and the mission of the company

⮚ Reimagine and invigorate fundraising programs
As a new position in the organization, the MD will take a significant leadership role in building strategic fundraising initiatives to maximize the efforts of the fundraising team to achieve new levels of support for People’s Light

⮚ Inspire audience development in a changing theatrical market
In response to shifts in audience behavior post-COVID, the PL team is looking for an MD to be a key thought partner and leader to the Marketing team in designing, developing and implementing new approaches to revenue generation and audience development

⮚ Bring a clear philosophy around and readiness for change
Leading and managing change is an essential aspect of arts leadership in an evolving field, and the ideal Managing Director will understand this as a central responsibility in collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director and Board of Trustees, and possess a clear vision for how to evaluate and approach potential changes in an established company environment

⮚ Innovative systems for building cohesive communication and company culture
In co-leading a workforce, it will be critical for a new Managing Director to carry a commitment to inclusively implementing systems that take into consideration the needs and lived realities of diverse staff members’ experiences and ensure that there are intentional protocols in place to facilitate information flow and a healthy work culture.

Duties & Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership
● Partner with the Producing Artistic Director to build trust, and provide inspirational leadership and direction to People’s Light staff and Company
● Represent People’s Light as a leader in the larger local and national theater and performing arts industry, including interfacing with key government and funding bodies
● In conjunction with the Board, Producing Artistic Director, Leadership Team and staff, develop and ensure the implementation of the theater’s strategic plan in alignment with the organization’s resources, mission, and values
● Lead ongoing evaluation of strategic initiatives and goals against established success metrics
● Along with the Producing Artistic Director and General Manager, play an active role in strengthening a work culture that is committed to excellence, inclusion, professional development, and joy, as well as continuous individual and collective growth
● Oversee the General Manager’s development of policies that strengthen internal work culture (e.g. hybrid work policies, internal communication systems, staff professional development, etc.)
● Work with the Leadership Team to develop programs across the institution (both staff and Board) that reflect the organization’s commitments to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion within the organization and externally

Budget and Finance
● Evolve, introduce and refine effective budget development and management tools and processes to be used consistently across the organization, to ensure financial transparency, timeliness, and collaboration on financial planning and decision making
● Lead the organization’s annual budget process and work with department heads to create budgets with clear revenue goals and realistic expense budgets
● In collaboration with the Leadership Team, monitor progress to earned and contributed revenue goals and expense projections for individual shows and overall season production budgets
● Prepare and present financial results and forecasts for the organization on an ongoing basis to the Finance Committee and the Full Board
● Work with the Controller to supervise and oversee all financial reporting and recordkeeping, and ensure strong internal controls and compliance with all laws and regulations guiding non-profit accounting
● Work in tandem with the Leadership Team and others to create long-term financial plans and forecasts
● Review and modify operations and budgets to reflect changes in financial circumstances and social factors
● Lead the General Manager and Director of Production in anticipating and planning for ongoing building maintenance and capital improvements

Development and Marketing
● Along with the Producing Artistic Director, engage the entire revenue generating team – Development and Marketing – in strategic discussions on the opportunities in a growing and diversifying region, to build long term engagement and investment in People’s Light from the steadily increasing number of residents in the area
● Partner with the Director of Development to create effective strategy and financial goals for annual fundraising and building cash reserves
● Be a primary thought leader in the evolution of People’s Light’s fundraising efforts, including annual fund, legacy and special campaign fundraising.
● Actively participate in donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitations in partnership with the Director of Development, Producing Artistic Director, and Board, including frequent interfacing with institutional funders and grant makers
● Provide leadership with Board and Director of Development on capital needs including feasibility studies, campaign strategy, and case statement development as needed
● Work in tandem with the Nominating Committee on the ongoing identification and cultivation of Board prospects
● Working with the Producing Artistic Director, provide articulation to the Marketing team of the PL brand that is compelling, clear, and engaging
● Work closely with the Director of Marketing to support the marketing team in creating a strategy and executing a plan for audience engagement, growth, and excitement to engage the broadest audience available to PL

Board Relations and Coordination
● Serve, in conjunction with the Producing Artistic Director, as primary liaisons to the Board, accountable for timely, accurate, and transparent communication, including keeping Board leadership apprised of all pressing organizational matters
● Plan Board meeting agendas with Board Chair and Producing Artistic Director
● Review and finalize Board meeting minutes
● Work with Committee Chairs and staff to plan Board committee meetings, participate on all Board committees

Administrative Leadership
● With the Producing Artistic Director, lead the Leadership Team on annual and longer-term staff compensation strategy
● Steer and support the General Manager’s oversight and implementation of human resources policies, decisions and practices in collaboration with appropriate staff leaders and board committees
● Evaluate staffing structure within departments and work with department heads for improvements and efficiencies across all departments in collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director
● Participate in the interview and hiring process for key organizational roles
● Provide shared oversight of ongoing building management and maintenance with Leadership Team and responsible staff

Restaurant and Event Space
● Oversee the management of the for-profit operations at PL to strengthen operations to achieve the company’s mission and budget aims
● Ensure best practices and compliance in the for-profit management of these spaces, and lead the sourcing as needed for all necessary legal and business operations guidance
● Engage/lead analysis and discussion of mission supportive uses of the restaurant and event space, from revenue opportunities in support of artistic initiatives to community engagement impact
● Ensure that all necessary and best business practices are in place and maintained in these spaces

Qualifications:

● Significant experience in performing arts or non-profit leadership, especially in theatre
● Demonstrated fundraising abilities and successful participation in direct individual and institutional strategies and asks, among diverse kinds of communities
● Experience with all facets of modern fundraising, including major gifts, individual, legacy, foundation, and corporate giving
● Fluency in analyzing data and trends to inform guiding strategies in audience development, marketing initiatives, and community engagement
● The ability to establish a collaborative relationship with the Producing Artistic Director and Board to develop and achieve mutually agreed objectives
● Significant knowledge and experience in non-profit financial management and best practices, with high literacy in reading and interpreting financial statements and direct oversight of finance teams
● A generous and collaborative spirit, and an ability to work as part of a resourceful team who are passionate about PL
● Demonstrated leadership capacity and ability to inspire, motivate, and guide staff as needed
● Demonstrated marketing/audience development acuity and understanding to provide leadership and support in this area
● High degree of comfort with legal documents, contracts and labor relations practices
● Strong written and oral communication skills
● Strong organizational, multi-tasking, prioritization, and time management skills
● Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to handle difficult or sensitive issues, build relationships, and relate well to people across the organization
● Strong IDEA critical consciousness and ability to articulate and apply it to decision making

Other key qualities of the successful candidate will include:

Personal Accountability
– The willingness to self-evaluate, the ability to learn from mistakes, take responsibility for personal actions and decisions, accept setbacks, course correct, and model continuous learning.

Diplomacy and Leadership
– The capacity to effectively co-lead an organization; to listen to and understand different perspectives, handle difficult issues with sensitivity and respect, and communicate effectively with people across hierarchical and functional borders.

Optimism
– A deep belief in the power and value of the theatre, and a joyful optimism in the possibility brought to the world by a dedicated group of artists and administrators sharing a common goal.

Flexibility
– The ability to respond promptly to shifts in priorities and tasks, as well as agility in accepting new ideas and approaches.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds in the performing arts or non-profit space. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Compensation

People’s Light offers competitive compensation for this position, with a salary range expected between $145k and 160k, and a generous benefits package that includes medical/dental/life/disability insurance plans (employee coverage 100% funded); a Defined Contribution Plan through TIAA-CREF with employer contributions after 1 year; and paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.

Application Instructions

The search for the Managing Director is being conducted on behalf of People’s Light by Tom O’Connor Consulting Group, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. Cynthia Fuhrman, Vice President/Executive Search, is leading the search process, reporting to a search committee made up of a mix of members of the People’s Light Board of Trustees and Staff.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role, and how your background and experience responds to the desired skills and qualities.

To apply, visit the online application https://tinyurl.com/mj37f2s2 and submit your materials.
Your cover letter should include relevant experience, including any direct experience you’ve had with similar roles and institutions.
For best consideration, please apply by September 6, 2024.
No phone calls, please.