Managing Director, Performing Arts Venue

Title: Managing Director, Performing Arts Venue (Full-Time, Exempt)

Location: Bronx Music Hall @ Bronx Commons (438 E. 163rd Street, Bronx, NY 10451)

Reports To: WHEDco President

About Us:

The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is a community development organization founded on the radically simple idea that all people deserve to live in healthy, vibrant communities. We build award-winning, sustainable, affordable homes – but our work is not over when our buildings are complete. WHEDco believes that to be successful, affordable housing must be anchored in strong communities of which residents can be proud. WHEDco’s mission is to create and bridge access to resources that support thriving neighborhoods – from high-quality early education and after-school programs, healthy food, cultural programming, and economic opportunity. Please visit our website (www.whedco.org) for more information.

WHEDco emphasizes the arts through all its programs and through the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), a program it founded in 2010 to promote the cultural legacy of the Bronx, cultivate Bronx artists and enable them to perform in their own borough, and provide free and low-cost cultural programs for the local community. Core BMHC programs include live music, dance, and spoken word events, music and dance classes, film screenings, art exhibitions, community showcases, and more. Since 2012, the BMHC has operated out of the BMHC Lab, a 1,400 sq. ft. storefront incubator in WHEDco’s second South Bronx affordable housing development, Intervale Green.

In the second half of 2024 WHEDco will open the Bronx Music Hall, a new performance venue and community arts center, as the cultural centerpiece of Bronx Commons, WHEDco’s mixed-use affordable housing development that opened to residents in 2020. The Bronx Music Hall will feature a flexible performance theater, lobby and exhibit hall, multi-use classroom, a production room and two outdoor performance plazas. WHEDco will transition all its BMHC arts programming to the Bronx Music Hall when it opens later this year.

Job Summary:

WHEDco seeks a full-time Managing Director, Performing Arts Venue to lead the day-to-day business operations at the Bronx Music Hall. The Managing Director will collaborate with WHEDco leadership and BMHC programming leadership to transition current programs from the BMHC Lab to the Bronx Music Hall, activate the facility’s multiple uses and specialized equipment, implement new working procedures, and formalize partnerships and a facility rental program.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Develop and implement an operational structure for productions and events taking place in the Bronx Music Hall, including those of the BMHC, partner organizations, and private rentals, in collaboration with WHEDco and BMHC leadership.

· Serve as the primary contact for customers, vendors, and community members; and manage vendor relations, staff and artist contracting, and service contracts.

· Manage and schedule the various spaces and uses (e.g. theater, multi-use classroom, etc.)

· Formalize a calendar, fee structure, and related services to encourage rentals; manage all contracts, rental agreements, and related budgeting.

· Engage in outreach and marketing to promote space-use partnerships with local arts groups.

· Collaborate with the BMHC team to transition current arts and cultural programs from the BMHC Lab to the Bronx Music Hall.

· In collaboration with the Artistic Director, supervise BMH and event staff

· Develop knowledge of and manage in-house technical systems, as needed.

· Manage box office operations, including implementing and managing ticketing software, customer inquiries, online and in-person ticket sales, and more.

· Track and guide spending, and help plan for, execute, and track earned and contributed revenues, including rental income, ticket sales, class fees, program sponsorships, and more.

· Monitor audience attendance, student enrollment, rentals, program sponsorships, and other key operational metrics. Analyze data to identify trends and liaise with Development and Fiscal teams to ensure compliance and accurate funder reporting.

· Other duties as deemed necessary or as directed.

Qualifications:

· Minimum five – seven years’ full-time experience operating in a similar role for arts/cultural organizations.

· Available and willing to prioritize as necessary to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by schedule demands.

· Advanced knowledge of computerized ticket sales, digital inventory management, and venue box office operations.

· Experience developing and managing contracts with renters and/or vendors.

· Understanding of and experience working to support bar and catering operations. Detail oriented and organized with an ability to meet deadlines and follow-up and through with multiple people and tasks.

· Desire to grow with the role as performance seasons and educational programming build and grow in this new facility.

· Demonstrated ability in taking on a leading role when necessary.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and excellent overall computer and technical skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to successfully communicate with the public, other employees, vendors, industry personnel, and community members.

· Strong aptitude for budgeting and data analytics.

· Proven job reliability, diligence, and dedication.

· Must obtain or be willing to pursue Fire Guard and S-95 certification.

· Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.

· Bilingual (English and Spanish) is strongly preferred.

Excellent benefits and competitive salary ($85,000.00 - $95,000.00) based on experience.

WHEDco affords all qualified applicants equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, or any other category protected by law. WHEDco follows the requirements of the New York Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.

WHEDco is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm employment eligibility.