Managing Director Position

Application Deadline : April 9, 2010

Start Date: June 1, 2010

Full time 12 month contract

Training/Transition period with Executive Director: June 1 – June 30

Salary: negotiable

Stagebridge, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious theatre company of older adults, seeks a Managing Director (MD). This person will take over the position from the Stagebridge Founder/Executive Director and will work closely with the Artistic Director (AD). The MD and AD will share many responsibilities. Overall, the MD will be responsible for all aspects of finance, marketing, development, planning, general administration and human resources. Specifically, the MD will work closely with the Board, oversee the fiscal integrity of Stagebridge, create an annual budget, develop and oversee fundraising programs, actively cultivate relationships with corporate and community organizations, hire and manage staff, oversee the company’s public image, supervise the Performing Arts Training Institute (with AD) and outreach programs, oversee program budgets, computer/DB system, represent Stagebridge at public functions, and report directly to the Board.

Stagebridge celebrates its 31 st season as a nationally acclaimed “pioneer of creative aging.” Since 1978, Stagebridge has provided an opportunity for older adults to explore the performing arts and has developed theater arts programs that bridge generations throughout the community. The company has 150 students, actors, storytellers and volunteers who range in age from 60 – 99. Stagebridge programs include: 1. Healthy Aging Program includes a) Performing Arts Training Institute that offers a wide range of professionally directed classes for older adults and certification programs; b) Performing Arts Summer Camp, a weeklong camp for 50+; c) Seniors Reaching Out that brings performances and workshops throughout the older adult community; d)See Me Training for Healthcare workers that helps sensitize nurses and caregivers towards the needs of older adults; 2. Storybridge Program that runs a) federally funded program of bringing older storytellers into low income elementary schools; b) assembly programs; c) “Grandparent Tales” plays that annually perform for thousands of school children; 3. New Plays for Public Audiences that commissions and produces 1-2 new plays a year for public audiences. Last year the company gave 495 workshops and performances for 80 organizations, 20 schools, and over 27,000 people.

The company is based in downtown Oakland (near Lake Merritt) and rents office, classroom and rehearsal space from Arts First Oakland (First Congregational Church). Stagebridge full time staff includes: Artistic Director, Marketing Director, Office Manager, Schools Coordinator, and half time staff: Development Director, Storytelling Director, Storybridge Director, TimeSlips Director, Business Manager, and Office Assistant. The company works with approximately 25 professional artists as contract employees.

Stagebridge is nationally recognized as a leader in creative, healthful aging. It is the 2009 winner of the American Society on Aging/MetLife MindAlert Award and recently designated “an essential public good” by Theatre Bay Area. The company performs and presents at many national conferences and has appeared on NPR, ABC TV and in many national publications.

QUALIFICATIONS:

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Send letter, resume detailing non-profit, theatre, management experience and 3 or more references. Provide samples of fundraising grants, reports, organizational/administrative documents, and newspaper or magazine articles. View website: www.stagebridge.org Mail to: Stuart Kandell, Ph.D., Executive Director, Stagebridge, 2501 Harrison, Oakland, CA 94612 director@stagebridge.org.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Joint Responsibilities with Artistic Director

• The Managing Director (MD) and Artistic Director (AD) are charged with working in close cooperation to build, nurture and sustain the theatre company to achieve its Mission.
• They will work together to achieve optimal annual budget performance and to ensure the financial integrity and stability of the institution.
• They will both act as representatives of Stagebridge in local, state, national or international arenas.

• They will oversee all strategies and policy decisions that would impact internal and public perception of Stagebridge.

• The Directors will maintain close ties to the theatre industry and aging network in order to assess current trends, harness timely opportunities, and stay abreast of issues that directly impact Stagebridge.

• The Directors will lead and oversee the Performing Arts Training Institute to ensure the development and management of programs.

• They both report directly to the Board of Trustees, and both provide guidance to the Board.

General Responsibilities of Managing Director

• The Managing Director has responsibility for all aspects of finance, marketing, development, planning, general administration and human resources and should continuously find the best means to prioritize and resolve a multiplicity of issues.

• The MD will be a strong leader and manager with excellent communication skills and the ability to harness available resources with precision and skill.

• The MD will create a healthy, dynamic organization in which the exchange of ideas is honored, the issues that face the theatre are handled knowledgeably and intelligently, and all members of the company, including the Board of Trustees, are appropriately well informed.

• The MD will ensure that reasonable risk strategies are used in assessing and executing programs within the company.

Specific Duties of Managing Director (not in order of importance)

• Make policy recommendations to the Board of Trustees; provide detailed information to the Board so that they are sufficiently well informed to make policy decisions; and work closely with the Board to harness the individual talents and capabilities of each Trustee.

• Oversee the fiscal integrity of the organization including the preparation of the annual budget (with the cooperation of the AD, staff and Finance Committee), the creation of reporting and auditing infrastructure, and financial accountability to monitor and report budget activity.

• Develop and oversee resourceful, creative and thoughtful approaches for development and fundraising programs that achieve contributed income goals.  Actively engage in fundraising on behalf of the theatre by:
• Creating Programs/Plans (with input from the Artistic Director);
• Writing Boilerplate grants (with Development Director);
• Locating Grant sources (with Development Director);
• Serving as Spokesperson with foundations/corporations/government;
• Pursuing relationships with corporate, government and community organizations
• Developing/managing individual giving through "Friends of Stagebridge";
• Manage required reporting processes for grants and programs so that they are completed accurately and in a timely manner;

• Use all possible means to keep up to date on theatre and aging industry issues that have a direct impact on the theatre.

• Administer all hiring decisions and oversee the implementation of human resources policies to ensure that staff has adequate resources and clarity of purpose to perform their jobs.
• Create or ensure that systems are in place to carry out yearly personnel evaluations;

• Oversee the theatre's public image in all markets by ensuring that marketing and PR materials and plans offer a reasonable and thoughtful approach to achieving earned income goals.
• Oversee and contribute to regular enews and communications with company and public;
• Oversee all public materials, press releases, website with Marketing Director and Web Director;

• Develop and implement strategic actions to support long-term goals, which have been clearly defined for staff and approved by the Board.

• Ensure that Stagebridge's current and future ancillary space needs are planned for and secured by negotiating leases with current landlord or seeking out other spaces for lease.

• Supervise and oversee (with the AD) the development and management of the Performing Arts Training Institute (PATI) to reach older adults, which includes ongoing and short term classes, certification programs, showcases, and annual summer camp. Specifically:
• Organize and write program overview;
• Develop partnerships with other theatre education institutions;
• Develop student and faculty evaluation forms and with AD conduct a program evaluation in the Spring of each year;
• Teach one-two classes as needed;

• Supervise and oversee all outreach programs (with the AD) to ensure an appropriate balance between income and grant related activities.
• Create or ensure that all programs are evaluated;

• Create, maintain and monitor all program budgets.

• Oversee and maintain (with Office Manager) integrity of company’s computer system, database and backup systems.

• With AD plan and run annual staff retreat and planning meetings.

• Serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.