Managing Director

Company Overview

About Tarragon Theatre

Founded in 1970, Tarragon Theatre is Canada’s home for groundbreaking contemporary plays. Our mission is to create, develop and produce new plays to provide the conditions for new work to thrive. We champion Canadian theatre that reflects and illuminates the diversity and complexity of the contemporary human experience. We seek to create theatre that investigates artistic form, which may incorporate non-traditional practices and methods of storytelling, and may integrate other disciplines such as movement, music or non-text based performance – all toward creating enriching and provocative theatre experiences for the artist and audience. Our philosophy is to create an environment that fosters artistic discourse within the ecology of Canadian theatre, new play development and dramaturgy practice. We open our doors to celebrate and learn from the scope of voices that make up our country and the various artistic practices that resonate within them. To that end, Tarragon is equally a hub for creation and development as it is a production company, with the ultimate goal of creating a meaningful experience for our artists to thrive and bridge their ideas from concept to realization.

With a budget of over $2.5 million, we produce a ten-month season of seven to eight plays in our Mainspace (205-seat theatre) and Extraspace (108-seat theatre).  We occasionally tour.  Tarragon has an active education and community engagement program, and our three studios are used extensively by the arts and greater community towards the creation of new plays and event hosting.

Job Description

About the Position

We are seeking a Managing Director to work collaboratively with the Artistic Director in providing strategic leadership of the organization and supervising the day-to-day operations of the theatre.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director of Tarragon Theatre is responsible for the financial and administrative oversight of the organization. This includes strategic planning, board relations, financial stability, staff management, venue management, revenue development, audience development and community engagement. 

•  We are looking for a Managing Director who will be:
• A creative and collaborative leader who can foster the Tarragon team and oversee work across multiple departments 
• Capable of playing an important role in fundraising and relationship management with major benefactors
• A strategic thinker with demonstrated leadership skills
• Eager to work collaboratively with a 20+person staff as well as the Board of Directors
• Committed to the development of works by Canadian playwrights and the production of new and presented works
• A skilful communicator, in person and in writing, who is willing and able to represent the theatre to its audience and the wider public
• Excited by the impact of theatre in community and the vision of the company
• Knowledgeable about theatre both nationally and internationally

Key responsibilities:

• Overall financial management of the company including the preparation of budgets, financial reporting and stewardship
• Development of recommendations and action plans to ensure the long-term health and viability of the organization
• Working closely with the Board of Directors on governance matters and to implement fundraising strategies (in collaboration with the Director of Development)
• Effective direction of the theatre’s administrative functions and non-production programs
• Negotiation of employment contracts with artists and staff members
• Preparation of applications and reports to government and foundation funders
• Management and maintenance of the facility (in collaboration with the Director of Production)
• Active participation in the arts community

About you 

The successful candidate will combine the highest level of professional knowledge of arts management with strong leadership and communication skills. You have the ability and leadership to play a significant role in revenue generation, enhancement of the audience experience as well as the cultivation and high-level solicitations in both the corporate and individual philanthropic community.

You are able to lead a large team across several departments in a calm, compassionate, confident way that values collaboration, openness and a healthy work culture.

Qualifications:

•  A minimum of 5 years in arts leadership. This experience should demonstrate a passion for the role of theatre and the performing arts within the community.
• Shows a commitment to emboldening community engagement and empowering the bridge between education and the arts.  
• Demonstrated leadership in annual fundraising campaigns. 
• A comprehensive knowledge of the performing arts as well as all aspects of arts venue management.
• Excellent analytical, financial and organizational skills as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, and to enhance the community’s understanding of the role and vision of Tarragon Theatre.

Assets:

• Theatre or performing arts professional with strong networks within the cultural sector
• Labour negotiations and staff salary negotiations experience
• Audience development or community engagement experience
• Knowledge of capital campaigns