Executive Director
ORGANIZATION Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
ROLE Executive Director
LOCATION Winnipeg
COMPANY WEBSITE https://royalmtc.ca/
REPORTS TO Board of Trustees
DIRECT REPORTS Winnipeg Fringe Festival Executive Producer, Director of Marketing & Communications, Director of Production, Director of Development, Director of Patron Services, Director of Finance, Building Manager, IT Manager, HR Generalist
TYPE Permanent, Full Time
CITY OF WINNIPEG https://www.tourismwinnipeg.co...
THE ORGANIZATION
In 1958, founders John Hirsch and Tom Hendry and their supporters had what might have seemed like a crazy dream. Their vision was to produce great theatre with mass appeal in what was then a city of less than half-a-million people on the Canadian prairies. Since then, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Royal MTC) has created, produced, and presented extraordinary theatre for a vibrant audience which became a model for regional theatres throughout North America.
The stability and health of Royal MTC over time has enabled programming in two downtown venues, the creation and support of the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and a regional tour. As North America’s oldest English language regional theatre, Royal MTC believes its responsibility is to be a theatre for all Manitobans. Located in Winnipeg, now a city of more than 800,000 residents with Canada’s largest urban Indigenous population, Royal MTC is committed to building authentic relationships through art that will foster reconciliation. Royal MTC has advanced an organization-wide conversation about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Its mission is to truly both reflect and engage the community it serves.
THE COMMUNITY
Winnipeg is a culturally diverse city where more than 100 languages are spoken, and where over 34% of the population are visible minorities (based on Statistics Canada’s 2021 census). Just over 11% of the total population are from the Philippines. Over 12% of Winnipeg’s population identify as Indigenous, with events and celebrations including Indigenous Day Live and the Manito Ahbee Festival. The city has a robust French-speaking population (about 10% of residents’ mother-tongue is French) and hosts the winter-time Festival du Voyageur, which celebrates the region’s francophone, Métis and Indigenous culture and history. The city is also home to Folklorama, the world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival.
The heart of Winnipeg is The Forks, a historic site at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, with warehouses converted to shops and restaurants, plus ample green space dedicated to festivals, concerts, and exhibits. Nearby, the Exchange District is known for its well-preserved, early 20th-century architecture and numerous art galleries.
Known as the ‘cultural cradle of Canada’, in addition to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg is home to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Opera, and the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, North America’s 2nd largest Fringe, which is produced by Royal MTC. Winnipeg also boasts the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Manitoba Museum, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Qaumajuq, home to the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world.
The generosity of the Winnipeg community represents the largest per capita for philanthropy in Canada. In addition, 57 out of 200 foundations in Canada are based in Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Foundation being the biggest.
Winnipeg is a four-season city with something for everyone. Ranked as number three in Canada’s Most Livable Cities (The Globe and Mail, 2023), Winnipeg offers a great place to raise a family, with reasonable cost of housing, good schools, and a vibrant sense of community. The city is surrounded by prairie, forests, and hundreds of lakes including the world’s 11th-largest freshwater lake. Vacation country is easy to get to, most beaches and lakes are much less than 2-hours away by car. Known for its many tree-canopied neighbourhoods, Winnipeg enjoys an average of 317 days of sunshine per year, much more than most of Canada.
Take a deeper look at living in Winnipeg here: https://www.theglobeandmail.co...
THE POSITION
This is an exciting opportunity to co-lead North America’s oldest English language regional theatre.
Working with the Artistic Director (AD), Royal MTC employees and volunteers, the Executive Director (ED) will set a collaborative tone in the organization, empowering the team to contribute to its overall success.
The Executive Director will be a leader in the Winnipeg cultural community and throughout Manitoba, with a strong desire to engage with both the local community and other theatrical organizations and leaders across Canada and internationally. The ideal candidate will have a drive to build public and private sector support to deliver on strategic priorities and embrace collaboration with the Royal MTC team to maximize earned and contributed revenue.
The ED will build authentic relationships with staff at all organizational levels, as well as with the board, artists, and donors, by being a visible presence in the office and community. A fearless champion of EDI and Reconciliation, they will support Royal MTC’s commitment to be inclusive for people of all backgrounds, and create an organizational culture of respect, teamwork, and accountability.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership
• Lead and manage the administrative and business operations of Royal MTC.
• Establish a strong, complementary, and effective working relationship with the AD.
• In collaboration with the AD, advance Royal MTC’s programming and long-term strategic direction, artistic vision, and organizational goals.
• With the AD, monitor the environment in which Royal MTC operates in order to identify any changes that are needed to strategic directions.
• In partnership with the AD and the Board of Trustees, create and implement the Strategic Plan, and establish and report on key performance indicators.
• Represent management at all opening and closing nights, sponsorship and Director's Circle events.
• Negotiate collective agreements.
• Hire, terminate, and negotiate salaries and terms of employment for all administrative and maintenance staff.
• Manage and engage with direct reports and support the development of their departmental staff.
• Represent Royal MTC in work with the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) through committees and negotiations as invited, Manitobans for the Arts, the Canadian Arts Summit, and sector initiatives and campaigns.
• Convene with representatives of other local arts organizations to discuss provincial and municipal issues and trends and establish advocacy paths.
• Cultivate a cohesive and constructive work culture.
Financial Management
• Ensure Royal MTC operates at the highest standard of financial sustainability.
• Apply financial and business acumen to budgets, expenditure control, and forecasting.
• Implement and oversee approved budgets.
• Ensure accounting processes produce accurate, timely financial and statistical information.
Board Relations
- Establish a strong and valuable working relationship to support the Chair and Board of Trustees including providing monthly reports as required.
- Report to the Board of Trustees and prepare and provide relevant information including regular operational and financial updates, forecasts, and clear analysis.
- Support the meetings and activities of all Board Committees, Ad-Hoc Committees and support the Development staff in participating as necessary in Fundraising Event Committees activities (Black & White Ball Committee, Lawyer Play Committee)
- Recommend all operating and fiscal policies, objectives, and capital requirements to the Organizational Performance Committee.
- Serve as a member of the Board of the MTC Foundation.
Public & Private Sector Fundraising
• Generate and steward relationships with government agencies, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, including identifying and securing new funding sources and partnerships.
• Build strong relationships with key local, provincial, and national government representatives and partners, including the Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Art Council, Canada Council, the Winnipeg Foundation, and pursue new funding opportunities.
• Cultivate partnerships and relationships to both drive revenue and increase awareness of Royal MTC in the community.
• Review and secure special funding for capital upgrades, replacements and new projects.
• Manage major grants, including writing, submitting, monitoring, and reporting outcomes in accordance with established requirements.
In Collaboration with the Artistic Director
• Oversee production, community programming, fundraising, and public relations.
• Oversee the marketing department on communications directives and ticket-pricing models.
• Represent Royal MTC's interests at all professional association meetings (PACT, Canadian Conference for the Arts) and relevant industry events.
• Implement audience engagement strategies and initiatives and enrich the experience of new and existing theatregoers.
• Create an open, collaborative, and productive environment for staff, artists and volunteers.
• Along with the AD be the public face of Royal MTC and represent the theatre in Winnipeg and the surrounding region, and when the AD is not available deal with media representatives.
• Engage with the Winnipeg community, connecting with funders, local supporters, government officials and politicians, other local arts organizations, to build on Royal MTC’s reputation and raise awareness on the impact of theatre.
• Ensure Royal MTC represents and is accessible to the broad and diverse community.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum five years of senior management experience in a producing theatre organization, or in the performing arts in general, or a multi-faceted, complex cultural organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to co-leadership; able to collaborate with Royal MTC’s AD to support the development and execution of the organization’s artistic vision.
• Strong track record of inclusive, strategic leadership and operational planning.
• Possess a strong business acumen that supports the growth and ongoing success of Royal MTC.
• Solid understanding of the business side of the performing arts, including producing, marketing, venue management, subscription & ticket sales, pricing tactics, and artist & labour relations.
• Proven experience in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial forecasting, and reporting.
• Experience in theatre facilities management is an asset.
• A consensus builder and confident networker with proven relationships in the arts and cultural sector, including with government and granting agencies, donors, and sponsors.
• An excellent communicator who fosters an open-door culture with staff, Board, and stakeholders.
• Experience and knowledge working with and reporting to a Board of Directors.
• Ability to lead, inspire, mentor, and negotiate with staff.
• An advanced degree in arts administration, theatre management, business, or a related field is strongly preferred or experiential equivalent.
COMPENSATION
In addition to this position being a great opportunity for anyone with a passion for theatre, Royal MTC offers a collaborative and fast-paced working environment, a salary of $160K to $170K, depending on qualifications and experience, and a comprehensive benefits package.
HOW TO APPLY
As demonstrated by our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Commitment to Action, Royal MTC is on a deliberate and strategic path to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and remains dedicated to antiracism throughout the organization. We desire to attract a workforce that reflects and shares these values and welcome all applications from diverse backgrounds.
We are committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process and will work with all applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of our process. If you require additional accommodations, please email [email protected].
Please submit your application by emailing your cover letter and résumé to [email protected] no later than February 18th, 2024.
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is proud to call Manitoba home. Royal MTC is located in Winnipeg on Treaty 1, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree and Dakota people, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We are thankful for the benefits sharing this land has afforded us, acknowledge the responsibilities of the Treaties, and embrace the opportunity to partner with Indigenous communities in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Royal MTC thanks all candidates for their interest, however only those going forward in the process will be contacted.