New Spire Arts Executive Director

New Spire Arts (NSA) is looking for a dynamic leader with applicable arts and business development experience to lead an emerging performing arts center. The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of NSA including supervision of personnel, oversight of general operations and supporting the pursuit of the mission and goals of NSA set forth by the Board of Directors.

About New Spire Arts

New Spire Arts is a new performing arts education and presentation non-profit organization located in Frederick, MD. The downtown property that has been acquired has been renovated, named New Spire Stages (the city’s former Cultural Arts Center at 15 W Patrick) and will be an arts performance and information focal point for the community. The building houses a 250-seat black box theatre, box office and small amphitheater with gathering space. New Spire Arts has had a successful grand opening and introduction into the community and is awaiting a leader to guide it into the arts scene in beautiful downtown Frederick.

New Spire Arts recently completed a Strategic Plan to guide its evolution and prioritize program initiatives, and adopted the following:

Vision: New Spire Arts contributes to the vitality and brand of the City of Frederick through unique experiences focused on the Performing Arts.

Mission: New Spire Arts inspires creative engagement from all facets of the community by providing programming and education in, about, and through the performing arts.

The goals underpinning this vision and mission are:

• Cultivate a vibrant arts community
• Provide a diverse array of experiences
• Activate the building and downtown
• Develop a sustainable operating model
• Engage and entangle all residents of Frederick County in the arts

Core objectives serve multiple, overlapping goals. Underlying all of the objectives is a belief in partnerships as a source of strength and a desire to foster a welcoming, accessible environment for creative engagement. New Spire Arts will:

• Expose Frederick to a wide range of high quality performing arts content
• Host an environment that is accessible and engaging to widely diverse artists, art forms and audiences
• Partner with local, regional, national, and international entities to deliver content
• Curate an environment and brand identity that invites the community to engage in unexpected but welcoming experiences
• Fill the venue with content that attracts people of all preferences in Frederick
• Ensure that the facilities are warm, welcoming, and flexible for a range of uses
• Maximize revenue-positive results and operating efficiencies
• Entangle individual and organizational stakeholders in multiple ways
• Actively seek and facilitate partnerships that are both formal and informal
• Enable program delivery inside the buildings, throughout the Frederick community, and through the activity of collaborators and

New Spire Arts Executive Director

A forward-thinking, energetic and visionary professional, the New Spire Arts Executive Director has overall accountability and responsibility for the management of New Spire Arts. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, this individual will be instrumental in guiding the formation of New Spire Arts. The Executive Director will lead a small staff, cultivating additional personnel and volunteers as the organization grows. The Executive Director acts in accordance with the recently adopted strategic plan and ensures that NSA’s activities, including financial, operational, fundraising, marketing, human resource, technology, and programs are effectively implemented across all components of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

1. Setting policy and procedures for the new organization
2. Developing, monitoring, and implementing assigned areas of the strategic plan
3. Leading departmental and institutional budgeting, mid-year re-forecasting, and planning processes
4. Effectively hiring, training, developing, appraising and maintaining thorough oversight of direct reports, taking corrective action when necessary in accordance with company policies
5. Representing NSA as the public face of the organization to patrons, donors, arts organizations, governments, and the general public
6. Maintaining standards of professionalism for the organization in the areas of confidentiality, teamwork, timely and effective communications, enforcement of company policies, and standards of customer service

Specific Job Functions

1. Business Development. The Executive Director will work closely with NSA Board of Directors leadership to advance the mission, vision and policies of NSA.
   • Provide leadership in strategic and organizational planning
   • Provide leadership in policy development and administration including building use,human resources, employee and other standard policies and procedures
   • Provides counsel and guidance on management and administrative issues and process to department heads and other staff

2. Staff Development. The Executive Director is responsible for the following staff development functions:
   • Assures the effectiveness of hiring, supervising, training, and appraising all staff
   • Assures that human resource policies and practices are in compliance with local, state,and federal statutes
   • Builds the morale of staff by participating in the development of the organization through the strategic plan and staff development activities
   • Assures the competitiveness NSA as benchmarked against industry standards of comparable arts presentations and arts venues
   • Assures the highest standards of professionalism in artistic, organizational, and customer service practices of NSA

3. Board of Directors. The Executive Director will work with the Board of Directors to evolve the organization:
   • Works with the Trustees to assure their knowledge of the organization’s operations,finances, and programs
   • Provides regular updates to the Board on relevant strategic and operational issues for their consideration
   • Provides needed reports, research, and evaluation of specific issues as requested by the Board
   • Assists the Board in a self-evaluation
   • Provides comprehensive strategic and operational plans for review and evaluation by the Board
   • Assists the Board in the evaluation of the effectiveness of NSA against its mission and stated objectives

4. Program Development. The Executive Director is responsible for the following program development functions:
   • Develops future position of Program Director and other program staff
   • Maintains knowledge and understanding of the breadth and quality of its core programs
   • Works to promote cooperation among arts organizations for collaborative programs in the community
   • Maintains a visible presence in the arts industry, both regionally and nationally,attending relevant conferences and events
   • Approves season program and marketing plan, facility use policies, and annual program budget for recommendation to the Board of Directors

5. Financial Management. The Executive Director is responsible for the following financial management functions:
   • Works with Board Finance Members to create and evaluate performance on the annual budget and monthly and annual financial reports of NSA assuring the quality and timeliness of financial information
   • Assures fiscally sound management practices for the overall health of NSA
   • Provides guidance and insight into all NSA finances, including earned income,investments, endowment, facility costs, as well as programming and operating costs
   • Approves fiscal policies, pricing and fees, financial contracts, rental agreements, and other cooperative agreements with licensees and arts organizations as developed by the senior staff for recommendation to the Board of Directors

6. Fundraising and Development. The Executive Director is responsible for the following fundraising and development functions:
   • Maintains relationships with major donors and funders
   • Attends key functions for donors and funders recognizing them for their
   • Maintains a leadership role in the solicitation process for major gifts and grants
   • Approves strategies for capital support, the Annual Fund, membership, sponsorships, and planned giving
   • Assures industry standards for fundraising and development practices in honoring donor intent
   • Maintains direct contact and relationships with local, state, and federal public entities funding the arts

7. Facility Development and Management. The Executive Director is responsible for the following facility development and management functions:
   • Working with NSA Board, advises on the capital program, design and presentation of New Spire Stages and any other properties that may be accrued to the benefit of the organization
   • Ensures compliance with all regulatory bodies in the operation of the facilities
   • Supervises staff in the development of facility policies and procedures for recommendation to the Board of Directors

8. Arts Partners and Client Organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for the following arts partner and client organization functions:
   • Along with Senior Staff, maintains active relationships with each arts organization in greater Frederick
   • Directs strategies to support arts programs of partner and client organizations
   • Assures the highest quality support services to arts partners and clients, including arts venues, production technical support, ticketing, and food service
   • Facilitates service delivery and partnership conflict resolution as they may occur

9. Constituent and Public Relations. The Executive Director is responsible for the following constituent and public relations functions:
   • Represents NSA as the public face of the organization to patrons, donors, arts organizations, governments, and the general public
   • Assures a consistent method of communication with all stakeholders
   • Serves as the chief spokesperson with the media for NSA
   • Direct the organization’s communications activities, including publications, press/public relations, creation/maintenance of website and social media

Additional Job Functions

The above listed duties are not all inclusive. This position is expected to perform other work- related duties as assigned even though they may not be considered primary duties.

Line of Communication and Accountability

The Executive Director of NSA reports to the NSA Board of Directors. All senior staff members report to the Executive Director. The Executive Director directs senior staff in major strategies and relationships with patrons, donors, sponsors, arts partners and licensees, local, state, and federal governments, the general public, and national arts organizations.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum Training and Experience

1. A Master’s degree in a relevant arts or business field preferred
2. A minimum of ten years’ non-profit arts management experience, including budget development and the leadership of senior staff
3. Detailed knowledge of presenting and performing arts organizations and
4. Superb oral and written communications skills
5. Demonstrated leadership skills in motivating staff to achieve long-term and short-term priorities
6. Ability to create and sustain a team-oriented environment
7. Ability to maintain effective and respected relationships with trustees, appointed and elected officials, donors, ticket holders, other arts organizations, and the general public
8. Ability to make independent judgments with highly significant public and fiscal impact
9. Willingness to relocate to Frederick and fully commit to the community for at least five years

Skills and Knowledge Required

1. High level of initiative, creativity and energy
2. Excellent leadership skills and ability to work in a team setting
3. Knowledge of physical and logistical requirements of facility
4. Strong fiscal management skills
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
6. Microsoft Office suite and computer operations skills
7. Organizational, supervisory, and human relations’ skills
8. Customer services skills
9. Ability to work independently without close supervision; self-direction in the initiation, coordination and completion of tasks is essential
10. Flexibility to work in an entrepreneurial setting with both left-and right- brain thinkers

Performance Standards

Evaluation and Review Process

The performance of the Executive Director will be evaluated annually based upon an agreed upon set of objectives and an annual performance plan. Decisions compensation are ordinarily reviewed annually based upon individual performance and the financial condition of NSA.

Performance Indicators

The performance of the Executive Director will be evaluated against the following performance standards:

1. NSA performance against annual budget projections and overall financial health of the organization
2. Effectiveness in meeting annual fundraising and development goals for the Annual Fund, capital campaign, endowment, and sponsorships
3. Effectiveness in meeting annual sales and earned revenue goals
4. Effectiveness of communications and relationships with client and partner arts organizations
5. Effectiveness of the organization in meeting strategic plan and annual operating plan objectives
6. Quality of morale among employees and the climate of the organization
7. Overall quality of work, attendance, dependability and compliance with duties as described

About Frederick, Maryland

Frederick Maryland is the second largest city in the state after Baltimore. This charming history- filled locale is located less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The city has developed a reputation as an arts center. There are more than 10 art galleries within the downtown area and many small music venues within both the downtown historic district and the greater Frederick area. In 2005, downtown Frederick became the first city in Maryland to receive the Great American Main Street Award.

The downtown mixes workplaces, homes, shops, theaters, museums, and restaurants. Home to many outdoor murals, there is a designated Arts and Entertainment District that includes the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, The Weinberg Center for the Arts, the Frederick Arts Council and the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET), a professional theater company.

Musical organizations include the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, the Frederick Chorale, the Choral Arts Society of Frederick, the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, the Frederick Symphonic Band and the Frederick Children’s Chorus. Frederick also has a large amphitheater in Baker Park, which features regular musical performances of local and national acts, particularly in the summer months. Musical acts also perform during the summer along the Carroll Creek Linear Park, and Sky Stage serves as a small open-air theatre and public art installation.

The city is home to the Frederick School of Classical Ballet, the official school for Maryland Regional Ballet. Approximately 30 dance studios are located around the city.

Frederick also hosts an Artomatic, a free independent showcase for multimedia artists and performers. This year, Artomatic was held at 115 East Church Street and featured more than 300 participants.

The city supports a large number of independent restaurants in the historic downtown area, which is full of visitors on Friday and Saturday nights. These restaurants include the highly acclaimed Bryan Voltaggio restaurant Volt, The Tasting Room, and The Wine Kitchen on the Creek. Cuisines range from Thai and Cuban to Japanese, Italian and New American. Many restaurants depend to a great degree on locally sourced ingredients.

Greater Frederick’s population is more than 65,000 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, and there are many employment opportunities both inside and outside the arts. Within a 15-mile radius of the city, the population has a high propensity as arts attenders, being older, affluent and well educated.

Formally established in the mid-1700s, Frederick started out primarily as an agricultural center and became a midpoint for travelers and commerce between Washington, D.C., Hagerstown, Maryland, and Philadelphia. Today, more high-tech businesses have moved in or started up in Frederick. The city also houses the U.S. Army’s Fort Detrick, the area’s largest employer, which has a National Cancer Institute-affiliated research center located on the base, and a national biological research facility.

Frederick County is home to a nationally recognized public school system and the site of the state’s first charter school. Frederick also is a college town, supporting three institutions of higher learning—Hood College, Frederick Community College and nearby Mount St. Mary’s University.

The county has a strong job market, employing nearly 75,000 people. The highly skilled workforce, access to metropolitan areas, affordability of real estate, and low taxes makes Frederick a hub for large employers. The agricultural industry is also a significant part of Frederick County’s economy, with county farmers producing almost $100 million of agricultural products annually.

In addition to the lively downtown, which plays host to First Saturday events at the beginning of each month, Frederick County offers outdoor recreation at Catoctin Mountain Park, many festivals and wine tastings, the Great Frederick Fair and minor league baseball games played by the Frederick Keys.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, and personal leave.

Application and Inquiries

Please submit a cover letter and resume (electronic submissions preferred) with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments to: Patrice.Sabatano@sodexomagic.com

Intern with New Spire Arts! We have three internships with rolling applications available to students.

To apply, please email a cover letter describing why you would like to work with New Spire Arts and what skills you have to offer and a PDF resume to play@newspirearts.org. If you are applying for a Marketing Internship, please include at least one example of graphic design work.

New Spire Arts is an equal opportunity employer, has an inclusive work environment, and actively embraces a diversity of people, backgrounds, ideas, talents, and experience.

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