Director of Operations

Job Title: Director of Operations

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervises: Facilities Manager, Manager of Operations, Manager of Coffee Shop, and Contractors TBD.

Key Relationships: Executive Director, Director of Programs, Artistic Leads, Staff, Partnering Programs, Board

Location: 134 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612 Role will be located on site.

Start date: August 2025

For best consideration, apply by June 25, 2025. Applications will be reviewed ongoing until the role is filled.

About BandWith

Founded in 2013, BandWith is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to providing lasting access to instrumental and vocal music instruction in underserved communities. Our mission is to empower youth through music education, ensemble performance, and mentorship. Learn more at bandwithchicago.org.

BandWith is in a time of exciting growth and transition, with our free performing arts programs moving into a permanent home, to open in the fall of 2025. Through a generous gift from the Glasser & Rosenthal families, BandWith was able to purchase a 25,000 sq. ft. building in East Garfield Park, a block away from where the program had its start 10 years ago. Housing BandWith’s free dance, drumline, sound engineering, instrumental and choral ensemble programs, we are building a space for many more students to grow as people and performers, for young adults to receive job-training and meaningful employment, and for the community to gather and celebrate the talents of their youth for years to come. With this in mind, we are excited to open the search for our first Director of Operations, who will help shepherd and sustain this new phase of organizational development.

Job Summary

The Director of Operations has overall responsibility for ensuring that BandWith Chicago’s facility and operations advance the organization’s vibrant set of arts programs, community partnerships, and organizational functioning. This will include operational oversight of in-house programming, external partner usage, and the launch of and hiring for BandWith’s on-site coffee shop. The Director of Operations will enlist strong collaborative leadership skills, a systems-orientation and keen attention to detail to accomplish this goal.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee the operations and schedule management of BandWith Chicago Facility (35%)

• Develop and administer policies and procedures regarding the use of the BandWith Chicago facility that support the users of the facility and the long-term condition of BandWith Chicago furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
• Work closely with art directors and partnering programs to coordinate scheduling across the facility. Support facility scheduling with direct responsibility for scheduling all shared and public spaces.
• Manage overall event and program operations and production support including working with BandWith art directors, partnering programs and partners hosting events.
• Support internally generated facility requests from faculty, staff and partnering organizations, including set-up, breakdown, repairs, and general assistance with individual space and scheduling needs and projects. Advise, coordinate and supervise events taking place at the BandWith Chicago space.
• Supervise Facilities Manager, and in doing so ensure requirements for day-to-day operations, custodial, maintenance, repairs and receiving needs for the facility are met.
• Responsible for facility-related security, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and sustainability efforts.

Hire, train, supervise and evaluate BandWith Chicago Facilities and Operations Staff (30%)

• Supervise and support the Coffee Shop Manager and Staff, Facilities Manager, Operations Manager, Audio Visual and other part-time/student staff who are responsible for operations and events. Through layers, supervise Security and Janitorial staff.
• Utilize supportive coaching, clear expectations, and effective leadership skills to lead a high-performing, trusting, and collaborative team.
• Hire and supervise the Manager of Operations, who is responsible for:
• Executive assistant responsibilities to the Director of Operations, Directors of Programs, and Executive Director
• Serving as Front Desk individual and coordinating fill-ins for front desk, and
• Coordinating the intern program
• Supervision and management of other professional, contract or operations staff, as needed.

Manage budget and data systems, ensuring ongoing fidelity and tracking (20%)

• Develop and manage facilities operations budgets and oversee facility-related revenue generation.
• Monitor and manage organizational budget, in partnership with Executive Director, with responsibility for making and overseeing regular programming expenses and vendor payments, submitting and paying invoices, reconciling budget details, and ensuring the BandWith staff community is clear on financial policies and procedures and supported systematically
• Manage facility-related revenue including facility use by artists, and outside organizations – particularly during breaks, summer, evenings, and weekends.
• Propose, approve and coordinate facilities related purchases and services for BandWith Chicago.
• Manage and promote fidelity to existing database systems and technical platforms, including bringing BandWith team on board and leading training and support required for consistent uptake
• Formulate plans for building projects and ensure facility maintenance, custodial care, and safety and security advance the priorities of the BandWith Chicago facility and its users.

Develop, support, and implement additional operational systems (15%)

• Engage with initiative, collaborate and support around developing or honing other operations and organizational systems, protocols and policies as needs arise.
• Support development of human resources protocols like evaluation cycles, multi-directional feedback cadences, management professional development, staff coaching and development plans, and more.

Key Competencies and Experience:

Building/Program Operations:

• Experience managing vendors and overseeing building operations, and enthusiasm for overseeing the development of a coffee shop and hire and support a team to run it effectively
• Exceptional organizational skills. Must be able to oversee complex projects and schedules, maintain deadlines, work within budgets, and be able to set priorities and manage several projects simultaneously Ability to successfully manage a workload which balances long-range planning with the unanticipated daily demands of BandWith operations.
• Demonstrated history of creating and implementing systems and procedures that sustain smooth organizational operations.

People Management/Leadership:

• People management and leadership experience, both in direct supervision and in cross-team collaboration. Able to bring organization along in implementing new systems, policies, and procedures with grace, support, and accountability.
• Experience hiring and onboarding staff.
• Strengths-based approach to supporting staff, teams, and a developing organization
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills with the ability to synthesize and accurately present relevant information.
• Demonstrated success in building collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including students, staff, artists, and community members.

Budget & Systems:

• Comfortable with database systems and learning technical platforms
• Demonstrated ability in financial/ budgetary processes (analysis and reporting).
• Competent computer skills, including proficiency with Google and Microsoft programs, and familiarity with facility management software.

Orientation to the Work:

• Experience working with arts, non-profit, and/or like-minded organizations
• Proactive and responsive approach to the work
• Comfortable and agile in a building stage non-profit where change is the norm
• Experience and passion for developing and honing needed systems, and in developing innovative and sustainable solutions to problems and opportunities that arise
• Willingness to manage up and consistently surface needs and priorities to the Executive Director and other stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as required. In collaboration with the Facilities Manager, this position will be the primary contact for coordinating response to after-hours emergencies.
• Self-directed and self-motivated; able to set goals and develop projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. College or advanced degree specializing in arts or non-profit management preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in Lead Operations role or comparable experience in non-profits, the arts, or educational programming.

Compensation: $70,000-$80,000 annual salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Bandwidth Chicago offers a competitive benefits package to its employees, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance; sick days and paid annual vacation.

Note: Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every competency or experience listed. We encourage you to apply if this role excites you and you believe you can demonstrate the skills and experience to be a strong candidate.

TO APPLY, please fill out and submit this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIPMulAm_fNLpU5H4OXj2C-7O4dki22AFMW8Oz_CzhA3Pi0A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=113863227655988779294

It will ask you to attach a resume and answer four short answer questions in lieu of a cover letter. Please remember to submit the form once complete.