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Executive Director

Position Title: Executive Director – Business & Operations
Type of Position: Regular Full-time, Exempt
Hours: Days, Evenings, Weekends
Reports to: Board of Directors
Directly supervises: Administrative Staff, Theatre Volunteers

How to Apply

Send a copy of your resume  and a letter of intent to staff@dakotastage.org by February 17, 2026.

Purpose of Position

The Executive Director – Business & Operations (Executive Director), under the direction of the Board of Directors, has overall accountability for all administrative affairs and routine operations of the Theatre. 

Specifically, this position provides administrative, fiscal, and fundraising leadership for the Theatre. 

The Executive Director holds primary accountability (with secondary input from the Artistic Director) to translate organizational strategy and goals into practical fundraising, programming, audience development and community relations initiatives in accordance with DSL’s mission and bylaws.

This position directly manages the rest of the theatre staff. 

The Executive Director closely collaborates with the Board and the Artistic Director to build and implement the annual budget, develop and execute the fundraising plan, and coordinate the organization’s long-range and annual planning processes to ensure long-term sustainability.

Values and Organizational Culture

In collaboration with the Artistic Director and partnership with the Board of Directors, this position is focused on achieving the Theatre’s strategic priorities. Together they will foster a culture of collaboration, teamwork, clear communication and mutual support. The Executive Director welcomes feedback, and participates in periodic self-evaluation, annual goal-setting and performance assessment, with the Board Executive Committee. The Executive Director demonstrates a passion for the Theatre’s mission and commitment to the stewardship of the organization’s historic facilities.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning and Leadership
   1. In collaboration with the Board and Artistic Director, annually coordinates review of the Long-Range Strategic Plan and annual operating plan to ensure achievement of goals and objectives; provides timely notice to the Board of potential risk.
   2. Collaborates with theatre staff and Board to define, clarify and plan for all revenue required to execute the Long-Range and annual plans, including Capital Campaign, Annual Fundraising, and other funding streams.
   3. Translates organizational strategy and goals into clearly defined goals and measures for administrative staff, and provides leadership toward their accomplishment.
2. Financial Resource Management and Revenue Generation
   1. Collaborates with Artistic Director and Board to 
   2. executes fundraising plans for Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, and other funding streams
   3. builds and implements budget expense/revenue goals for approval by the Board
   4. Provides operational oversight of annual budget and alerts Board to potential variances, plus associated recommendations for mitigation as needed.
   5. Oversees the patron database as it relates to fundraising, ensuring best practices are being used in recording and analyzing data.
   6. Provides management and resources to staff and community volunteers to create and carry out fundraising efforts. 
   7. Ensures timely and accurate reporting to Board and appropriate staff as required.
   8. Engages with fundraising committee to identify new funding streams, ensure timely submission of grant applications and maintain strong relationships with donors.
   9. Oversees communication with donors and patrons relative to fundraising or institutional advancement, ensuring best practices are being used.
3. Operational Management
   1. Manages administrative staff and volunteers:
      1. Recruits, hires, trains and develops administrative staff, full- or part-time.
      2. Provides clear and attainable goals in line with mission and strategic objectives; provide ongoing feedback plus evaluate staff performance annually
      3. In conjunction with Volunteer Coordinator, oversees volunteers and activities, including training and scheduling
      4. Provides administrative support to educational programs 
   2. Meets weekly or as needed with both administrative and production staff to review production costs, marketing, box office statistics, development activities, facility needs, etc. 
   3. Maintains master calendar that is accessible to entire staff and Board
   4. Facilities 
      1. In collaboration with Artistic Director, serves as contact person for scheduling and use of facilities, including rentals  
      2. In collaboration with the facility committee, ensures overall maintenance of facilities is scheduled and executed.
      3. Maintains security of program and building access.
   5. Insurances
      1. Reviews, updates and maintains adequate and current insurance programs for all Theatre needs.
      2. Serves as primary manager of staff, Board and building insurances.
   6. Contract Management
      1. Oversees contracting with external agents, including leases, vendors, except as they pertain to production management (rights/royalty agreements, rentals, vendors, etc.).
4. Marketing and Public Relations 
   1. Ensures marketing efforts are adequate in support of programming and fiscal goals, and that they adhere to operational budgets.
   2. Ensures collaboration and alignment with artistic/production staff on all marketing plans and materials, website; obtains approvals where needed.
   3. Participates personally in Theatre events (meetings, galas, opening nights, box office sales). 
   4. With Artistic Director, serves as one of the Theatre’s key representatives in the local community and region, including cultivation of donors, funding sources and government agencies.
   5. Represents DSL at community events, galas, meetings, etc., or otherwise ensures the DSL’s presence.
   6. Establishes and maintains positive relationships with key media personnel.
   7. Upholds and enhances DSL’s reputation via excellent leadership, public representation, and by ensuring high quality of print materials, social media and Theatre representatives.
5. Technology Management
   1. Ensures the Theatre has the information, communications and technology systems necessary to be effective.
   2. Oversees Information Technology budget.
   3. Identifies and maintains positive relationships with technology vendors/partners.
6. Board Relations
   1. Participates as a member of the Board of Directors, except when the Board calls an executive session without staff present.
   2. Provides timely information regarding issues and opportunities that affect organization goals, programming and daily operations.
      1. Meets with Board President at agreed-upon intervals to provide status reports as requested and other relevant information in time to be useful.
      2. Submits written report at least 5 days in advance of Board meetings.
      3. Contributes relevant information to Board Treasurer reports.
   3. Supports the development and effective operations of the Board.
      1. Identifies need for committees to support Board and organization goals.
      2. Actively identifies, cultivates and recruits potential Board and committee members; assists with Board orientation and training.
      3. Serves as staff liaison to Finance committee of the Board and as ex officio member of all Board committees. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or comparable professional experience 
• Successful experience managing a non-profit
• Demonstrated staff and budget management skills
• Demonstrated marketing and fundraising skills (capital campaign experience a plus)
• Superior leadership, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
• Positive non-profit board relations and demonstrated governance skills
• Strong computer
skills 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, good humor and flexibility to handle new challenges; willingness to pitch in alongside staff and do ‘whatever it takes’ 
• Interest and availability to represent DSL at fundraisers, meetings, events, opening nights, etc., as well as related events in the community
• Strong work ethic, integrity, creativity, initiative, able to work alone or within a group 
• Passion for DSL’s mission

This job description is intended to be a summary of the primary responsibilities of the position. It is not a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities. There may be additional job duties and/or projects assigned by the Board of Directors.