Mission
“The Theatre of Western Springs’ mission is to entertain, to educate, to explore, and to inspire a community of all ages through the performing arts.”

Vision
“The Theatre of Western Springs will create the highest quality performing arts and educational opportunities in an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment while staying current with artistic and procedural norms and celebrating works of the past, present, and future.”

Core Values of The Theatre of Western Springs

“Artistic Excellence - We seek to create a community of committed artists both onstage and off who all use their talents (individually and collectively) to achieve our best work.”

“Relevance & Growth - We strive to explore and produce entertaining and thought-provoking work that inspires and challenges our audiences and artistic community. In both creative choices and functional operations, we work to create art that relates to the world as it exists today and moves toward the future.”

“Inclusion - We work to create a welcoming environment that embraces differences, gives a sense of belonging, connection and community, and offers acceptance for anybody and everybody through our words and actions, allowing people to share their entire, authentic selves.”

“Respect - We believe respect extends throughout the organization - respect for the people, for the art form, for ideas and for the facility. We accept someone as they are and for who they are. Being respectful means caring enough to think about how we impact others.”

Position Summary

Reporting to the Board of Governors, the Executive Director will advance the overall success and sustainability of the Theatre of Western Springs by performing the following key responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• In cooperation with the Board of Governors, develop and implement the theatre's strategic plan, ensuring it aligns with the organization's mission, goals and advancement.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with policies, regulations and by-laws.
• Ability to work effectively with volunteers.

Artistic Oversight:

• In coordination with the Artistic Director, maintain the artistic vision in a clear cohesive manner, ensuring a balance between artistic vision and financial viability.

Fundraising and Development:

• Support the work of securing individual giving and corporate sponsorship initiatives.
• Support the development of all fundraising activities and manage the involvement of all volunteers and/or outside professionals as needed.
• Assist in securing grant opportunities for which the theatre is a suitable candidate.

Financial Management:

• Serve as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, which oversees financial planning and ensures responsible financial practices for the Theatre.
• Participate in the annual budgeting process for the Theatre.
• Approve all expenditures not requiring approval for others.

Staff Management:

• Manage and supervise full and part-time staff, including hiring, day-to-day operations, performance reviews, and other actions or activities.
• Foster a positive work environment.

Marketing and Public Relations:

• In cooperation with the Board of Governors and Volunteers, promote all productions and events, and oversee marketing and public relations efforts.
• Oversee communication with active members, patrons, and the public.

Community Engagement:

• Act as the primary ambassador by actively engaging with local organizations, attending community events, and cultivating strategic partnerships to enhance visibility and community support.
• Pursue opportunities to maintain and grow the subscriber base.

Facility Management:

• Oversee upkeep of the physical space.
• Manage the schedule for space in the building.
• Manage the schedule for performances.

Board Relations:

• Work closely with the Board of Governors, providing regular reports and updates on the theatre's activities and progress.
• Attend monthly Board meeting and other meetings as requested.

Children’s Theatre Oversight:

• In coordination with the Children’s Theatre Director and Children’s Theatre Advisory Committee, explore ways to work effectively and promote its offerings.

Previous Experience

7+ years of experience to include:

• Senior leadership/management demonstrating a proven track record of leading and managing teams and operations, ideally within community theatre, performing arts or cultural organizations.
• Non-profit management, such as board governance, strategic planning, fundraising, grant writing, and community engagement.
• Financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, analysis, and reporting.
• Success in securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and implementing fundraising campaigns.
• Marketing and development strategies to increase and promote an organization’s programs.
• The ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including staff, board members, volunteers, and donors.
• Developing and implementing strategic plans and setting organizational goals.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel
• Comfortable with financial and payroll systems and CRM a plus

Compensation: $63,000 - $85,000 as supported by experience and accomplishments

TO APPLY: Submit a resume and cover letter to board@theatrewesternsprings.com.