Managing Director - Artists Repertory Theatre

Artists Rep (ART) in Portland, Oregon seeks an innovative and resourceful leader that values IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) and transparency as central to their work to join a team of talented and dedicated staff, Resident Artists, and board members in the role of Managing Director. 

About ART

“To produce intimate, provocative theatre and provide a home for a diverse community of artists and audiences to take creative risks.” 

• Artists Rep Theatre’s Mission Statement

Artists Repertory Theatre, or Artists Rep (ART), was established in 1982 and is Portland’s oldest professional theatre company. The organization has become a significant presence in US regional theatre with a legacy of world, national, and regional premieres of provocative new work with the highest standards of stagecraft. For example, in 2018, The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse made its world premiere at ART, and later that same year, made its off-Broadway debut at Playwrights Horizons. It will begin its Broadway run at Second Stage this Spring 2023, with ART’s Artistic Director, Jeanette Harrison, as associate director. Artists Rep is committed to uplifting the voices of exciting new American playwrights, programming provocative new plays of national acclaim to Portland audiences, and nurturing local artists who are the driving force behind Artists Rep’s creative work and identity.

“ART recognizes that we are a predominately white organization and operate within systemic racism and oppression, and that silence and neutrality are actions of complicity. We recognize the critical role the arts play in our culture and national conversation and accept our responsibility to make positive change through our work, our practices, and our policies. We commit ourselves to the work of becoming an anti-racism and anti-oppression organization, and will work with urgency to end racial inequities in our industry and our culture. We invite artists, audiences, and colleagues to hold us accountable.” - ART’s anti-racist statement

Who is in Leadership? 

Jeanette Harrison (she/her) is a director, actor, writer, producer and ART’s current Artistic Director. In 2004, she co-founded the award-winning AlterTheater in the San Francisco Bay Area. At AlterTheater, she architected the ground-breaking AlterLab playwright residency program and has shepherded more than 25 new plays to world premiere productions. She directed AlterTheater’s world premiere of AlterLab commission Landless by Larissa FastHorse, and the multi-Theatre Bay Area award-winning production The Amen Corner by James Baldwin. She also co-directed (with Ann Brebner) AlterLab-developed The River Bride by Marisela Treviño Orta, which went on to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 mainstage season. She has worked with Native Voices at the Autry, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Cutting Ball Theatre (and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi by Marcus Gardley, winner of Best Production and Best Ensemble from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Magic Theatre, Theatre Rhino, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Sonoma County, Sonoma County Rep, Golden Thread Productions, Woman’s Will, Playhouse West, and Combined Art Form Entertainment (C.A.F.E.), among others. She has taught at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts, Santa Clara University, and College of Marin. She has written two television pilots, “Little Drummer Girl,” developed in Native American Media Alliance’s inaugural Animation Lab, and “Feathers And Dots, Dots And Feathers” (with Sharmila Devar), which received development support from LA SkinsFest’s Native Writers Group in partnership with CBS. She directed the upcoming feature film “Snag” by Tara Moses and will be associate directing the Broadway production ofThe Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse and directed by Rachel Chavkin Spring 2023.

Pancho Savery (he/him), is Board Chair, a Resident Artist, Dramaturg and member of DNA: Oxygen Cohort, a devising group of Black artists within ART. He is Professor of English, Humanities, and American Studies at Reed College, where he teaches courses on modern and contemporary drama, African-American literature, American literature and culture, and American Indian fiction. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Boom Arts (chair), Coho Repertory Theatre, Corrib Theatre, Original Practice Shakespeare, P.E.T.E. (chair), Phame (chair), Portland Playhouse, The Red Door Project, Shaking the Tree Theatre, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, and Our Children Oregon. He has worked as dramaturg at ART, Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Corrib Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Profile Theatre, Shaking the Tree Theatre, and Third Rail Repertory Theatre. Additionally, he is Literary Dramaturg at Artists Repertory Theatre, Literary Manager at both Corrib and Third Rail, and Artistic Associate at Shaking the Tree. He is a member of The Modern Language Association, LMDA, and the Jazz Journalists Association.

What Will You Do?

In partnership with the Artistic Director, the Managing Director (MD) will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the organization and supervising day-to-day operations of the theatre with transparency and accountability. The MD will be responsive to the opportunities and challenges that face ART as it completes its capital campaign for the renovation and return to its 20,000 square foot artistic home. The MD will collaborate closely with the Artistic Director to imagine and implement a business model for ART’s $2.4M operating budget that strengthens Artists Rep’s resilience in response to the challenges the American theatre landscape currently faces emerging from the pandemic. 

The Managing Director will be responsible for creating and managing the structures and policies that best support the business model, while creating a strong organizational culture that centers community, accountability, anti-racism, and IDEA in all aspects of its work. The MD will be an excellent communicator who is able to cultivate long lasting relationships with the diverse stakeholders that make up the ART community. The MD will facilitate collaboration between staff, board, and community stakeholders in order to build an innovative strategic plan that will position ART for the next chapter in its artistic legacy.

The MD will be a key public facing representative of ART as a leader in the Portland theatre ecosystem. They will directly supervise the Director of Marketing & Communications, Development Manager, Data Services Manager, and Capital Campaign Director. As such, they will be responsible for all aspects of finance for the organization, including earned and contributed revenue. The MD will report to the Board through its Chair, working in partnership with the Artistic Director. 

Responsibilities

Organizational Management

• Responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Artists Repertory Theatre, and for communications to ART constituents with actionable and measurable goals.
• Steward inclusive, anti-racist, disability-inclusive organizational culture, systems, and practices that facilitate successful operations for all ART constituencies.
• Develop the yearly organizational budget through a transparent and accountable process with the Artistic Director, board, and Breakaway Advising (an outsourced bookkeeping firm).
• Supervise day-to-day fiscal management such as monitoring cash flow, payroll, and vendor payments. 
• Create ART’s next Strategic Plan in co-leadership with the Artistic Director and in collaboration with the Board and other ART constituents. 

Revenue Generation

• In partnership with the Artistic Director and in collaboration with staff, drive all fundraising initiatives to increase contributed revenue on behalf of the organization. 
• Solicit new diverse avenues of fiscal support and giving (individual, corporation, institution, government, etc.). 
• Work collaboratively with the Capital Campaign Director to finish raising the funds needed to construct ART’s new artistic home, via the “Rise Capital Campaign.”
• Lead the creation of the grant planning schedule, oversee and contribute to writing grants, update and track the grants calendar. 

Relationship Cultivation

• Increase loyal audience base and new audience communities that participate in and engage with ART’s programming.
• As the institution’s leader in patron development and in collaboration with the Development Manager, deepen relationships with loyal supporters and nurture new relationships with individual donors, foundations, sponsors, audience members, media, elected officials, and arts leaders.
• Work closely with the board and Artistic Director, staff and Resident Artists to identify and cultivate new board members and maintain agreed expectations for board membership. 
• Assess current human resource policies and practices in order to lead organizational improvements that are aligned with ART’s IDEA, anti-racism, and accessibility values.
• Work closely with the Capital Campaign Director, Construction Manager, and the Artistic Director to realize the vision for the new building, ensuring it is inclusive and accessible, from construction to initial programming.
• Strengthen the ArtsHub network of local artists supported by ART, as well as supporting the new PATHWAYS mentorship program for gender diverse or BIPOC-identifying theatre practitioners.

Who Are We Looking For? 

This role is ideal for an industry leader in theatre and the performing arts who thrives in an artistically rigorous and community-centered environment. The new Managing Director is someone who has experience in building community among diverse stakeholders, and can create operational systems with actionable goals. This role requires a high level of financial acumen to meet ART’s pressing challenges in the current economic environment. This leader will be highly proficient in interpersonal and accessible communication amongst ART’s diverse stakeholders in all aspects of their responsibilities. This person will be an advocate and champion for ART’s IDEA initiatives. A passion for live theatre and its value in creating empathy and community is desired. Knowledge of systems such as Tessitura and Asana, as well as a connection to or knowledge of Portland, is a plus but not necessary.

Areas of Expertise

• Senior management experience in a nonprofit organization, with a preference for those with experience in the American not-for-profit theatre.
• A demonstrated commitment to the values of anti-racism, equity, access, and inclusion.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
• Demonstrated organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, and process facilitation.
• A highly developed set of communication skills to connect with a diverse community  of stakeholders, both individually and in groups.
• Fundraising experience, with a preference for those accustomed to interacting with major donors, institutional giving, and innovative streams of financial support.
• Successful track record in building authentic relationships with local communities, partners, and community leaders. 

Salary and Benefits

Salary

$120,000 -135,000/year

Benefits Package 

• Comprehensive benefits package including full medical, vision, and dental coverage 
• Relocation stipend for a final candidate living outside of Portland
• PTO plan starting at five weeks per year

The New ART Building

Under the Managing Director’s leadership, Artists Rep will reopen its newly renovated building in the Goose Hollow neighborhood near downtown Portland. The next phase of construction, beginning on April 17, will see completion of the building’s spectacular new lobby, which will serve as the initial performance space with seating for 150. Two additional theatres, the Mainstage with 178 seats and the Studio with 99 seats, plus rehearsal, backstage and collaborative spaces will be completed during subsequent phases. All these areas will offer flexible configurations, allowing the entire building to be activated for a full night of entertainment. It's warm and welcoming entrance, two floors of parking below, commissioned mural on outside walls, and pedestrian traffic will add energy and beauty to the neighborhood and beyond.

Living in Portland

ART acknowledges our theatre rests on the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River.

“Best coffee. Most food carts. Top craft breweries. Portland is a city of indie-spirited superlatives and humble, off-beat charms. Portland has a long-held reputation as one of the country's top culinary destinations. The city's location north of the agriculturally fertile Willamette Valley and its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean yields a bounty of fresh ingredients, and a roster of top chefs makes for quality execution of innovative concepts. Portland has an almost unfair abundance of natural beauty – perfect parks, leafy trees, vibrantly flowering shrubs lining pretty residential streets, the Willamette River meandering through town, and Mt Hood on the horizon. Portland is a leader in environmentally conscious public policy and progressive urban planning, and with some 30% of the city blanketed in tree canopy and a metro area that boasts 37,000 acres of green space – Portland truly feels like a breath of fresh air. .

Scattered across five quadrants Portland's neighborhoods are unique microcosms of hyperlocal culture. It's almost as if the city is made up of tons of small towns that got stapled together – each has a distinct sense of community and special character, and with just about everything you may need in each, you'll find locals hard pressed to venture far from home.  'Keep Portland Weird' – the slogan is plastered around town on bumper stickers, murals and signs. In a city this open minded, self expression that can border on eccentricity is met with a live-and-let-live attitude, and oddballs are free to take up space.”  - Selected text from Lonely Planet

How to Apply 

Visit aljpconsulting.com/apply-for-open-positions to submit your application. Deadline to submit is April 10, 2023.

Artists Repertory Theatre  is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, ART complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.