MU Performing Arts Seeks Managing Director

Mu Performing Arts is looking for a new managing director, as they look to add a passionate, qualified candidate to the Mu family.

The full job description is here (and below). In short, Mu is looking for someone with strong managerial, financial, and fundraising experience (ideally in the arts), coupled with a deep commitment to telling authentic versions of Asian-American stories. They’re especially seeking applicants from communities that have historically been under-represented in arts administration, so people of color are encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is May 12, so if you know potential candidates, please pass this along to them. If they have questions you can’t answer, you’re welcome to direct them to Robin Gillette, who’s helping  with the search, at robin@artsprogress.com.

Job Description

 Seeking Managing Director

Status: Full-time, salary employee
Schedule: Flexible, primarily daytime, with some evenings and weekends required

THE ORGANIZATION

In the 24 years since Mu Performing Arts was founded, Mu has become a leader in Asian American arts, providing celebrated performances and known nationally for its vibrancy and excellence. Focusing on giving the Asian American community a unifying voice, Mu delivers programs that illuminate lives through the power of art. As the largest Asian American performing arts company in the Midwest and a leader of the national Asian American theater movement, Mu introduces the Asian American experience to non-Asian communities and gives Asian Americans a place to connect and belong.

Mu’s annual operating budget is $750,000 with two full time and four part-time employees. Productions are presented in venues all over the Twin Cities including the Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, SteppingStone Theatre, and others. Mu is a proud member of the Twin Cities Theaters of Color Coalition.

Mu’s success is built on a staff culture of openness, collaboration, generosity, and a good sense of humor. Though the work can be difficult and stressful at times, flexibility and working together create a team with an ongoing commitment to the organization. For more information about Mu’s mission, vision, and values, please visit www.MuPerformingArts.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

If the Artistic Director provides the vision, artistic integrity, programming, and face for the organization, the Managing Director leads and manages the organizational engine that delivers that vision. Mu is looking for a dynamic team-oriented individual to continue to advance and uphold the structure that supports the artistic goals. The Managing Director is supported by staff in managing fund and donor development, marketing and communications, community relations, and program management. The Managing Director reports to the Artistic Director and works closely with the AD and the Board of Directors to shape Mu’s programming, execute operating strategies and plans, manage administrative staff, lead fundraising efforts, and establish relationships within local, regional, and national communities.

THE COMMUNITY

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the 14th largest metropolitan area in the country, are known as one of the most livable and literate communities in the country. The metropolitan area is distinguished by its nationally renowned park system with hundreds of miles of trails, its abundant lakes and creeks, and its vibrant cultural scene, including a thriving theater community, four major museums, a robust dance community and two major orchestras. The Twin Cities also are home to 17 Fortune 500 companies.

The Asian American community in the Twin Cities is large and quite diverse. With as many as 30 different Asian ethnicities and populations ranging from immigrants, long-standing populations, adoptees, and more, the Asian community is the fastest-growing ethnic group in Minnesota.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Financial Oversight
   1. With the Artistic Director and Finance Committee, develop annual budget.
   2. Develop and pursue funding models that support the annual budget.
   3. Monitor revenue and expenses, cash flow projections, and project, show, and season budgets vs actuals.
   4. Act as member of the Finance Committee, preparing and presenting all financial reports.
   5. Create and track budgets as necessary to fulfill grant requirements; ensure compliance with grant restrictions.
   6. Track timesheets and prepare payroll through ADP.
   7. Use Quickbooks to manage and monitor all financial transactions.
   8. Contract administration & compliance.
   9. Engage and assist independent auditor for annual audit.

1. Strategic Planning & Governance
   1. Partner with the Board of Directors as a consensus builder, working collaboratively to develop an overall strategy and policy.
   2. Support the Board by keeping them informed of the internal and external issues affecting the organization.
   3. Assist the Artistic Director and Board Chair in engaging, attracting, and developing new Board members, ensuring that they are motivated, engaged, and energized by their association with Mu.
   4. Help Committees develop goals and implement strategies to advance annual and long-term goals.
   5. Assist the board in developing, implementing, and tracking ongoing strategic planning.

1. Fundraising & Donor Stewardship

1. With the Artistic Director, actively participate in the cultivation and solicitation of major donors, individuals, foundations, corporations, and government.
2. With the help of the Development Director, set goals and priorities for donor development and stewardship.
3. Attend and assist at as many as 25 donor and audience-building events per year including food, drinks, and socializing.
4. Develop and maintain relationships with program officers and other leadership for supporting foundations and corporations.
5. Determine grant funding plans and assist the grant writer to request funding.
6. Hiring and oversight of customer service staff for all earned income revenue streams.

1. Program Development & Evaluation
   1. With the Artistic Director, work to promote and create innovative program services and practices that fulfill the organization’s mission; identify and implement high quality programs that serve the community and ensure stakeholder satisfaction.
   2. Promote staff leadership and involvement in program planning, development, evaluation, and quality assurance efforts.
   3. Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the fields of culturally-specific art, community art, art education, arts integration, interdisciplinary, visual and performing arts.
   4. With the Community Liaison, develop, implement, and track innovative evaluation strategies for all programming.
2. Staffing & Administration
   1. Encourage a climate that attracts, motivates, supports, and keeps a diverse staff of energetic, enthusiastic and top quality people.
   2. Be responsible for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, paid staff, independent contractors, and volunteers.
   3. See that an effective team, with appropriate provision for succession/promotion, is in place.
   4. Assure that: job descriptions are fully developed; orientation, training, and on-going evaluations of performance are provided; improvement plans are developed as needed; and sound human resource practices are in place and followed.
   5. Supervise and support staff in their programmatic and administrative duties.
   6. Encourage staff and volunteer development and education; assist program staff in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

The ideal candidate is an experienced professional who has demonstrated nonprofit finance and management experience and is committed to Mu’s mission, while being interested in a collaborative work environment that values team participation.

Fundraising: Track record of effective and strategic fundraising in a nonprofit organization.

Finance: Strong understanding of nonprofit finance, including tracking and reporting restricted funding.

Management: Track record of effective supervision of administrative staff.

Communications: Excellent written and verbal communication skills that demonstrate an ability to inspire and motivate others to action.

Program Development: Experience with developing, managing, and evaluating artistic and/or educational programming.

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES

Sense of humor Excellent communicator

Personable & Social Well organized

Cultural fluency Self-starter

Collaborative team player

Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment

DETAILS & COMPENSATION

Salary range: $45,000 – $52,000
Benefits: 8 paid holidays, 2 weeks paid vacation (3 weeks after two years), plus full medical insurance coverage

HOW TO APPLY

Submit cover letter and resume to mu@artsprogress.com. Application deadline May 12, 2017. Mu Performing Arts seeks a diverse pool of qualified candidates with a demonstrated commitment to our mission of producing great performances born of arts, equity, and justice from the heart of the Asian-American experience. Mu strongly encourages applications from populations under-represented in the theater field.