The Executive Director, in co-partnership with the Artistic Director, will jointly lead TFANA as it builds on its artistic vision and mission. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organization while guiding all operational and administrative functions, including fundraising, marketing, human resources, and community engagement efforts. The Executive Director and the Artistic Director will collaborate on season planning and the development of budgets and educational initiatives. The Executive Director and the Artistic Director will jointly partner with the Board in the formulation of long-term strategic goals to enhance TFANA’s visibility and impact while fostering a positive and inclusive organizational culture. The Executive Director will be responsible for the management and operation of the Polonsky Center while seeking to maximize its potential as a resource for TFANA and the theatre industry. The Executive Director will cultivate strong relationships with artists, staff, donors, and key community stakeholders, as well as deepen its role within the cultural landscape while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization’s work.

Role and Responsibilities

Co-leadership, Strategic Vision, and Financial and Operational Oversight

• Provide visionary leadership, building on TFANA’s legacy, including through the creation of new programs, partnerships, and revenue opportunities, in collaboration with the Artistic Director.
• Support the Artistic Director in implementing the organization’s strategic vision, collaborating on season planning, and developing budgets, ensuring that all artistic and financial decisions are mission-aligned to advance institutional goals.
• Devise and implement a five-year strategic organizational plan in collaboration with the Board, Artistic Director, and outside consultants.
• Demonstrate solid fiscal acumen, monitoring performance against budgets, controlling expenditures, creating forecasting models, and developing financial analysis, in conjunction with the Finance Committee.
• Issue regular updates, reports, and strategic guidance to the board, while developing and implementing consistent controls and accounting policies, to ensure financial accountability and compliance with applicable legal and governance requirements.
• Monitor legislative trends, legal issues, and field performance data that might impact the organization.
• Embrace other co-leadership, strategic vision, and financial and operational oversight responsibilities, as needed.

External Relations and Fundraising

• Act as a visible community leader and spokesperson in Brooklyn, New York, and beyond, developing relationships with a wide variety of constituents in order to enhance TFANA’s brand and reputation.
• Seek out new and renewed sources of contributed income, with a particular focus on individual donors, foundations, and production-specific funding, while motivating board members to leverage their networks and skills.
• Develop a fundraising plan and calendar, including TFANA’s annual Gala and other fundraising streams, while developing accurate and timely analyses of fundraising results, variances, and performance trends.
• Support new audience engagement opportunities, expanding TFANA’s reach in order to deepen audience members’ experiences.
• Oversee marketing and communication strategies to expand and diversify audiences, subscribers, and donors, and manage marketing for development operations.
• Participate in industry conferences, representing the organization and staying informed of current trends and best practices.
• Embrace other external relations and fundraising responsibilities, as needed.

Organizational and Administrative Leadership

• Lead all business functions, policies, and organizational structure of TFANA to ensure that earned revenue, fundraising, finance, marketing, and overall operations are guided by best practices and adhere to guidelines.
• Supervise and manage direct reports likely to include the General Manager, Marketing Manager, Development Director, and others.
• Oversee the hiring, supervision, and mentoring of all administrative staff, providing opportunities for professional development and growth to support employee engagement, satisfaction, and a high level of performance.
• Direct the operations and stewardship of the Polonsky Center, including ensuring its financial viability and operational success, and leading efforts to maximize its potential for the benefit of TFANA.
• Manage board relations through regular and effective communication, ensuring that board members are fully engaged while identifying and recruiting new board members as part of the Nominating Committee.
• Foster a positive company culture where all staff and artists feel safe, supported, valued, and respected while establishing accountability measures of success for employees.
• Champion and implement organizational EDIA and anti-racism initiatives in all aspects of artistic and administrative decisions.
• Embrace other organizational and administrative leadership responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The Executive Director will be a decisive and strategic visionary who leads with creativity and pragmatism. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to problem-solving, they will be an effective and transparent communicator, and able to resolve conflict and handle difficult situations compassionately and calmly. Embracing a public-facing role, they will be a natural collaborator who forms strong working relationships internally and throughout the community. The Executive Director will be committed to the values of TFANA, ensuring a culture of trust, openness, and respect.

Other key competencies include:

• Leadership and Teamwork – The ability to organize and influence people to believe in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction.
• Personal Accountability and Interpersonal Skills – The capacity to be answerable for personal actions while effectively communicating, building rapport, and relating well to all kinds of people.
• Diplomacy and Negotiation – The dexterity to effectively and tactfully handle difficult or sensitive issues while listening to many points of view and facilitating agreements between two or more parties.
• Goal Orientation – The acumen to set, pursue, and attain goals, regardless of obstacles or circumstances.

Qualifications

The Executive Director will bring demonstrated leadership experience, ideally in theatre or the arts. A proven track record of success in fundraising, fiscal understanding and accountability, facilities management, and strategic partnership-building is essential. They should exhibit exceptional communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including artists, staff, board members, donors, and community partners. The Executive Director will possess a deep commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. No specific number of years of experience or specific educational credentials are required.

Compensation and Benefits

TFANA offers a competitive and equitable compensation package in the range of $220,000 to $250,000. Benefits include paid time off and holidays, health insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, and a voluntary 403(b) retirement plan.

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/theatre-for-a-new-audience-seeks-executive-director/.

TFANA honors the Lenape and Canarsie People on whose ancestral homeland PSC is built.

TFANA is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining employees who reflect the cultural diversity of our community. We believe that every employee has the right to work in a respectful environment that is free from discrimination, consistent with our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect. This commitment extends to all aspects of the employment relationship.