Interim Executive Director

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Entering its 30th year, Porchlight Music Theatre (PMT) is Chicago’s only professional nonprofit equity theater company solely dedicated to celebrating musical theater. Porchlight delights more than 30,000 patrons annually through diverse and engaging programming including Mainstage productions of reimagined classics, recent Broadway hits and new musical finds; the Porchlight Revisits series of rarely seen musicals in limited run with enhanced dramaturgy; the Porchlight in Concert symphonic staged reading series; and the free Broadway in your Backyard neighborhood-park summer concert series set in Chicago Public Parks throughout the city. Porchlight also provides educational programs for students of all ages through classes and camps, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Youth Centers and other community partnerships. PMT annually awards dozens of full scholarships and provides hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this unique American art form. 

The company’s many honors include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 49 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 15 BTA awards. Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards in 2019 and has been honored with seven awards in this tier to date including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies (2019) and Best Production-Revue for Blues in the Night (2022). Over three decades, Porchlight has presented more than 70 Mainstage works with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. (SEE OUR 2022/2023 ANNUAL REPORT)

ABOUT THE POSITION

Porchlight seeks a motivated and experienced individual to serve in an interim capacity and who will be expected to initiate and lead a transformation to significantly improve the organization’s overall business performance, including product offering(s) and profitability.  This will allow PMT to invest in further growing the organization for years to come. This leader will also oversee the general operations of PMT, ensuring the consistent achievement of the mission and objectives, providing leadership in overall season programming, financial and human resource management, fundraising, delivery of artistic, education and outreach programs, strategic planning and board relations, all in alignment with the transformation. This is a full-time interim position, with an estimated term of 12 to 18 months, and will be located in Chicago.

A detailed job description is viewable at our website: porchlightmusictheatre.org

RESPONSIBILITIES (Additional Detail)

Leadership & Management (60%)

Ensure a successful business transformation while continuing to deliver on programmatic excellence and evaluation, consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications and systems, and maintain a work environment that champions diversity and motivates high performance and successful outcomes.

Fundraising & Relationship Building (20%)

Collaborate with development team to create and execute the annual development plan encompassing individual giving, major gifts, board giving and engagement, corporate sponsorships, government and foundation funding and special events, ensuring objectives and activities are consistently communicated to stakeholders (including staff and board) and goals are met.  

Strategic Oversight & Financial Planning (20%)

Provide leadership in continuing the applicable strategic objectives of the organization, while helping (in collaboration with the Board of Directors) to define and then execute on those new strategic initiatives required to transform the PMT organization into a world-class theatre business with both strong product offering(s) and a growth organization with strong financial planning and the ability to profit enough to continue to reinvest in the growth of the business and its people.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS    

• Minimum 7 years of non-profit leadership at the senior/executive level, preferably in the performing arts, with experience having successfully turned around organizational performance, both with product offerings as well as financials, in order to deliver viability for years to come. 
• Demonstrated experience in managing people and budgets, with the confidence to lead, motivate, engage and inspire others, sometimes through a difficult and unpredictable process. This includes communicating and liaising with various constituencies including permanent staff, temporary/production team, board members, funders, community leaders, etc.
• Proven track record as a results-oriented leader with a strong working knowledge of non-profit management, including financials, human resource management and strategic oversight.
• Excellent written/oral communication skills, time management and superb interpersonal skills.
• Strong change mindset and the ability to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to ensure the strength and viability of the organization as part of the transformation.
• Detail oriented with demonstrated ability balancing and successfully delivering on multiple tasks and priorities.
• Demonstrated success in securing philanthropic gifts of $100K+ from foundations, corporations and/or individuals.
• Demonstrated success in budget oversight and management, including forecasting and goal setting/achievement, especially related to annual funding goals, productions and overall operations.
• Ability to work evening and weekend performances, events or meetings as necessary.
• Displays integrity, credibility and dedication to the mission of Porchlight Music Theatre.

COMPENSATION

• $100,000 - $125,000 annually, dependent upon experience and qualifications.
• Optional individual PPO health insurance with at least 80% employer contribution for individual coverage; optional dental/vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays annually.
• Flexible hybrid work setting.
• No relocation expenses will be provided.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send a cover letter and resume via email to boardchair@porchlightmusictheatre.org. No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed, with preference given to materials received by May 30, 2024. Initial screening calls will be scheduled in early June 2024, with virtual and live interviews for finalists starting June 21, 2024. Anticipated approximate start date: August 1, 2024.

Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Optional individual PPO health insurance with at least 80% employer contribution for individual coverage; optional dental/vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays annually.
• Flexible hybrid work setting.
• No relocation expenses will be provided.