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The Dance Hall, Kittery
Executive Director Job Description

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE DANCE HALL, KITTERY MAINE

Anticipated Start Date: June 1, 2024

Compensation: This is a full-time exempt position.  The anticipated starting salary is $65,000 commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: Three weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO), Health care stipend, and a tax advantaged retirement savings account
Position: Full-Time Executive Director of a performing arts venue with responsibility for all aspects of operation and management of facility and staff.

ABOUT THE DANCE HALL

The Dance Hall is a 501:C-3 Performing arts venue located in downtown Kittery Foreside, Maine. The Dance Hall was founded in 2011 and operates in a restored and updated 1928 Grange Hall. Programming is a diverse mix of music, danceable music, dance, community educational programs and workshops. The Dance Hall currently employs a full-time Operations Manager and a part-time Artistic Director. Currently, the organization employs outside consultants for bookkeeping, fundraising, and grant-writing. The five-member Board is experienced in the oversight of the organization and deeply committed to the organization’s success and sustainability.

The Dance Hall’s mission is to build community by promoting, advancing and sponsoring artistic endeavors, creative work and education in dance and music. The Dance Hall is committed to providing the community with affordable, accessible, participatory and inter-generational performing arts opportunities.


The Dance Hall’s core values: 

  • The Dance Hall believes passionately that sharing the artistic experience opens minds and hearts and builds community.  

  • The Dance Hall is committed to presenting diverse, eclectic, world-class music and dance in a unique, financially accessible, intimate, and inspiring setting. 

  • We believe both in supporting local artists, and in introducing the community to the best of national and international talent.  

We seek a fully engaged, hands-on leader, to serve as the face of the organization and to chart the course for the organization’s next chapter. The ideal candidate will be a proven and respected leader with demonstrated expertise in fundraising, day-to-day operations, team-building, long-range strategic planning, goal-setting and timely execution. S/he/they will be committed to leading The Dance Hall in achieving the vision, programming and development goals and activities core to its mission and long-term sustainability.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to and collaborating with the Board of Directors, the Dance Hall’s Executive Director will have overall operational and strategic responsibility for The Dance Hall’s mission, programs, staff,and facilities. The ED will be a charismatic, hands-on, strategic thinker, with proven not-for-profit arts leadership experience, familiar with fiscal strategy, organizational development, and governance in the nonprofit performing arts sector with a focus on revenue generation and impact. The Executive Director will be committed to attending performances, hosting, and speaking on the organization’s behalf as the face of the Dance Hall.

The Executive Director will ensure The Dance Hall is fiscally, operationally and administratively sound, accountable for achieving fundraising and financial goals that are well conceived, attainable and balanced. The ED will possess knowledge of what is involved in building a sustainable nonprofit, and have proven skills in operations, fundraising and development, team-building, programming, arts management systems, and expanding community outreach. The Executive Director will build relationships with key constituents to ensure successful mission delivery. They will be a hands-on self-starter, a collaborative, strategic, dynamic leader eager to serve as the Dance Hall’s external presence and spokesperson.  The individual will expand funding from individual donors, foundations and corporations and develop diverse new partnerships and sources of revenue. The ED will serve as an enthusiastic, collaborative mentor to the staff. The ED will be an innovative thinker, comfortable with a hands-on team approach to the day-to-day operations of a performing arts venue with a small professional staff. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the day-to-day management of The Dance Hall, including: 

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes 

  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills; demonstrated ability to interact well with and respect a diverse range of people, experiences, and constituencies. 

  • Ability to understand, communicate with and effectively engage people across cultures. 

  • Ability to organize multiple tasks/projects, as well as prioritizing tasks within projects and delegating when appropriate 

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including active listening and public speaking. 

  • Understanding of and experience with the nonprofit sector 

  • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and judgment. 

  • Ability to be self-directed, as well as succeed and thrive in a collaborative team environment. 

  • Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment. 

Organizational Life 

  • Positively demonstrates the values and contributes to the culture of The Dance Hall

  • Interacts professionally with other employees and external stakeholders 

  • Works effectively as a team contributor on all assignments 

  • Follows all company policies and procedures, as well as all local, state and federal laws concerning employment.

  • Contributes to a safe and productive environment 


Leadership and Strategy

  • Development and execution of strategies to grow a sustainable organization 

  • Oversight of all program development and implementation 

  • Expansion of a positive public presence 

  • Recruitment, training, and supervision of a motivated and effective staff 

  • Recruitment, training, and supervision of a dedicated group of volunteers

Development 

  • Design, implementation, and oversight of the annual fundraising plan and activities. 

  • Cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, prospects, and grantors 

  • Application of grants and other outside funding sources sources and appropriate reporting and stewardship of those funders in collaboration with other staff and consultants 

  • Oversight of the maintenance and security of donor records 

Finance, Budgeting and Accounting 

  • Development and oversight of an annual budget in excess of $375,000, including:

  • Oversight of bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, and expenditures.

  • Regular communication with the Board and Committees including ensuring the preparation of reports and materials as required for each Board meeting 

  • Oversight of operations consistent with organizational policies and standard operating procedures and adherence to relevant employment and tax laws and practices 

  • Planning and allocation of staff resources to meet organizational and transactional deadlines 

  • Oversight of the management and maintenance of all infrastructure, including building and equipment.

  • Review of and recommendations to the Board concerning organizational structure and policies.

Community Outreach

  • Proactive development of relationships with key stakeholders and prospective collaborators and community outreach

  • Promotion and marketing of our organization’s programs and events and promotion of the use of our facilities by the community and collaborative organizations 

Job Characteristics 

Within a 40 hour, full-time work week, night and/or weekend work and active presence at The Dance Hall performances and events is required. 

The 40+ hours/week are spread over mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends to accomplish the combination of office work and logistics of shows and events.  The schedule may fluctuate on a weekly basis.  The Dance Hall is a flexible work environment, respectful of work/life balance.

Essential Qualifications 

  • A combination of education and experience equivalent to the needs of the role. 

  • Nonprofit arts sector experience required, such as nonprofit program, significant volunteer or board experience with relevant and successful management, development, and leadership experience, familiarity with non-profit budgeting, accounting, and legal requirements for 501 [c] [3] organizations.

  • Familiarity with arts management back office systems for ticketing and development.

  • Valid driver’s license.

Physical and Mental Requirements

  • Must be able to move about the facility and/or remain in a stationary position for 50% of the time operating a computer and other office equipment.

  • Requires regular and effective verbal and written communication with sponsors, vendors, contractors, staff, board, donors, and other community members.

  • Ability to lift 50 lbs.

  • Must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

We strive to create an environment where every Dance Hall employee feels welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background and life experiences, Or for any other reason.

Please note that this position is subject to a credit and background check. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results from these checks.

To apply, please use this link and direct any questions to thedancehalledsearch@gmail.com