Job Title: Managing Director

Date Posted: Oct 20, 2023

Application Deadline: Nov 12, 2023

Start Date: Jan 02, 2024

Salary From: 29K

Province: Ontario

City: St. Catharines

Employee Benefits: Health

Organization's Field/Discipline: The Arts

Job's focus: Administrative

Job Type: Part-time

Career Level: Upper management

Download the PDF of the Managing Director Job Posting

Founded in 2001, Suitcase in Point (SIP) is a courageous ensemble of artists and producers who engage and excite the Niagara community with original multi-arts performances and events, including In the Soil Arts Festival and Suitcase in Point’s Comedy Cabarets. Through original work and collaborative community projects, they provide audiences with unique perspectives on contemporary life and culture. Suitcase in Point’s approach and their work aim to challenge perspectives and encourage change, tolerance, and self-awareness with an aim to promote a healthier, more connected community. Suitcase in Point nurtures new generation artists through arts mentorship and residency programs, provides studio space for development and rehearsal, and creates meaningful connections between emerging and established artists from Niagara and across Turtle Island.

The Opportunity 

SIP is seeking to hire a strategic, organized and arts-forward Managing Director (MD) to lead the operations and management of the company. Working alongside the Artistic Director, the MD carries the overall responsibility for the smooth and efficient operations of the company, its marketing and revenue generation, and leads selection of all marketing and operations staff members. In conjunction with the Artistic Director, the Managing Director is responsible to the Board of Directors for the execution of all activities of the company and the financial and operational success of the company.

The Managing Director (MD) works in partnership with the Artistic Director (AD) and reports to the Board of Directors. The MD shares the role of Executive Director with the AD.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Managing Director is responsible for supporting the mission of the company as they manage staff, volunteers, finances, space and equipment to support the artistic activity of the company. Their administrative leadership of the company will inspire others to work collaboratively as projects and events are executed and plans are developed for both long- and short-term initiatives. The MD will be the primary person responsible for the business and strategic planning of the company and its operational and financial well-being.

The MD is responsible for the following

• Identify resources for, and lead strategic and business planning for the company.
• Oversight and management of all human resource policy and legal standards adherence.
• Provide financial leadership for the company including but not limited to annual budget development and monitoring, oversight of all financial management and record keeping requirements, and reporting as per the financial policy of the company and all relevant legal requirements.
• Research, develop, and coordinate operating and project grant submissions, with support from the AD.

• Lead marketing team in planning and execution of all marketing and communication strategies, setting goals and measuring success. 
• Manage systems and staff responsible for festival and original programming box office and other sales, including but not limited to vendor, bar and merchandise.
• Ensure a healthy work environment for staff and volunteers, addressing training and professional development and effective communication systems.
• Oversee all contract administration for artists, sponsors, partners, service providers and fee for service contracts as required.
• Ensure timely administration and execution of staff payroll and artist fee payments.
• Ensure the company adheres to industry standards per any or all relevant unions or professional associations.
• Maintain internal record keeping as required by all bodies having jurisdiction and to support future operational success.
• Lead the development of strategies to grow contributed income for the company, including but not limited to sponsorships and donations.
• Undertake annual evaluation of the company’s success with the Artistic Director, considering annual goals, mission and measurable outcomes.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Support event planning and management alongside the Artistic Director, including but not limited to oversight of:
  • Volunteer recruitment and management,
  • Venue agreements,
  • Event box office and front of house provision,
  • Additional audience services as required,
  • Program evaluation.
• Oversee facilities, including maintenance, landlord relations, and management requirements of equipment and set/costume assets
• Oversee venue rentals, service contracts and providers, and fee for service contracts.
• With the Artistic Director, steward existing and build new community relations that serve the company’s mission, profile, credibility and financial health.

• With the Artistic Director, identify key opportunities to engage with existing or potential funders, sponsors and collaborators and identify strategies to cultivate relations and opportunities.
• Attend all board meetings and board committee meetings as determined suitable with the board and AD.
• Provide timely and relevant reports to the board of directors.
• Support healthy board and committee membership, function and evolution.

STAFF SUPERVISORY/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

The MD is responsible for the hiring, management, evaluation and oversight of:

• 4 part-time staff – Marketing and Development Director, Marketing Specialist, ITS Technical Director, Bookkeeper
• 1 to 2 temporary interns hired for the ITS Festival, or for other projects, as available.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

The MD shares responsibility with the Artistic Director for the financial health of the organization and shall undertake the following work related to this:

• Work with the AD to prepare annual budgets and monitor monthly progress. Address shortfalls in a timely fashion through strategic adjustments of creative and operational plans as needed.
• Present financial reports to the Board along with the AD. These will include an annual budget for approval as well as ongoing financial actuals. If required, identify financial weaknesses or concerns to the board in a timely fashion.
• Undertake operating and project grant writing with the AD, including but not limited to descriptive contributions and financial research for budget preparation.
• Facilitate systems and operations to execute efficient and secure box office operations at all events as well as other points of sale such as bar and merchandise.
• Identify key opportunities to engage with existing or potential funders, sponsors and collaborators that can serve the company’s plans and priorities.
• Support all fundraising activities and participate in identifying and seeking out other contributed income development as required.

WORK AREAS SUMMARY

The MD’s areas of responsibility have been estimated to be broken into the following percentages of time spent per area:

Primary Responsibilities

• Income Development (30%)
• Finances (25%)
• Administration (20%)

Additional Responsibilities

• Original Programming (15%)
• Facility (5%)
• Board Relations (5%)

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT 

Suitcase in Point operates an office and studio space in downtown St. Catharines that is used for office, meeting, rehearsal and performance purposes. We support a hybrid work environment, with partial work-from home arrangements to be negotiated with the Artistic Director. Staff presence in the SIP space is required to support various operational and artistic activities and the MD is jointly responsible with the AD for ensuring these times will be suitably covered. Our current office and studio are on the third floor of a building with no elevator.

The work of the Managing Director requires flexible hours, and work on evenings and weekends. It is a part-time position with the exception of the month surrounding the In the Soil Festival, which will require full-time hours. 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED 

Skills 

• Grant writing and reporting
• Financial management skills
• Marketing and development skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Staff and volunteer leadership and training 
• Administrative and organizational skills
• Event planning and management

Aptitude & Attitude

• A collaborative, supportive nature
• Self-motivated, strategic thinker
• Commitment to the arts and community engagement
• Dedicated to the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access to the arts
• Knowledge of multiple artistic disciplines (i.e. theatre, music, film, and the visual arts and the arts festival scene). 

Extras

• Familiarity and knowledge of local, regional and/or national artists
• Experience working within a small arts organization
• Fundraising experience.
• Experience working in a not-for-profit setting, and with a board of directors.

HOW TO APPLY

We encourage interested individuals to apply by midnight on Sunday November 12, 2023 for consideration. Please submit applications to board@suitcaseinpoint.com. Include your name in the subject line.

Applications must be submitted as a single pdf attachment including a letter of interest and CV. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please, no phone calls.

Letters of interest should include the following:

• why you want to work with Suitcase in Point;
• why you think the development of artists is necessary in this moment;
• how do you envision yourself supporting artistic development for our stakeholders (arts enthusiasts, aspiring artists, professional artists)

Suitcase in Point Multi-Arts Company advocates equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and is committed to diversity in the workplace. We are actively seeking submissions from candidates of all backgrounds, abilities, and ethnicities as we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion within this selection process.  

Suitcase in Point Multi-Arts Company sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in this position, however only those invited for an interview will be contacted.

Suitcase in Point recognizes a richly diverse society in Ontario and beyond; as well as a duty to act in a manner that promotes equity across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic position, creed, age, national origin, physical and mental abilities.  You can read our Policy to Promote a Culture of Anti-Racism, Anti-Harassment, and Equity here.

Suitcase in Point is a St. Catharines-based arts organization that lives and works on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, Wyandot peoples and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many nations and we offer our sincere gratitude to the original and continued stewards of this land, and to all nations, recorded and unrecorded, who take care of this land and have since time immemorial.