Managing Director

ABOUT OTB

For four decades and counting, On the Boards (OtB) has moved the needle on culture in Seattle. We continue to occupy a unique corner of this region's cultural arena—presenting dance, theater, and performance works that are challenging, provoking, surprising, and inspiring. We influence the contemporary art field on a global scale, investing and supporting local artists who go on to develop careers and performances that are shared with thousands of audience members across the world.

OtB fulfills its mission by supporting artists from the Northwest and beyond, through new commissions and existing work presented through an in-person and online via OtB TV. OtB offers a range of resources and events that provide in-depth information and complimentary social experiences to frame the art on its stages and create dynamic access for its audiences. On the Boards is governed by a 17-member board and operates a 300 seat theater and an 85 seat black box, with a $1.8m annual budget and 10-11 full-time staff.

SUMMARY

As a member of On the Board’s executive leadership team and reporting to the Executive & Artistic Director, the Managing Director (MD) will provide strategic and operational oversight at a pivotal moment in the organization’s growth. The MD will ensure that On the Boards remains financially sound, well managed, and aligned with its mission as a contemporary performance center. The MD oversees the administrative, financial, marketing and communications, production, and facilities functions of the organization, ensuring that systems, people, and resources are aligned to support ambitious artistic work and long-term sustainability.

The MD role provides organizational clarity, operational rigor, and steady leadership so that staff can do their best work and the organization can move confidently into its next strategic chapter. This role supervises senior staff in Marketing & Communications, Operations & Finance, and Production. The MD ensures cross-departmental goal-setting, collaborative planning, earned revenue, budgeting, and operations, including stewardship of the physical building and major initiatives such as operationalizing the new 5-year strategic plan and future building renovation projects.

The Managing Director is a collaborative, people-centered leader who brings sound judgment, strong communication, and a deep understanding of how performing arts organizations function at the intersection of creativity, complexity, and care.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational & Operational Leadership

Contribute to the execution and evolution of OtB’s overall strategic planning and values alignment as a senior leader in the organization.

• Serve as the senior operational leader of the organization, partnering closely with the Executive & Artistic Director to translate artistic vision and strategic priorities into effective organizational execution.
• Serve as a key thought partner to the Executive & Artistic Director, providing timely operational insight, strategic feedback, transparent analysis, and organizational perspective.
• Support Board work as appropriate (Finance, DEI and Building committees), including providing operational context, data, and reporting for planning and decision-making.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across finance, marketing, communications, production, facilities, and administration, ensuring alignment with organizational needs, clarity of goals and roles, and accountability.
• Maintain a visible, solutions-oriented presence at internal and external activities. Represent the organization externally as needed.

People & Team Leadership

• Directly supervise senior staff, including the Director of Finance & Operations, Director of Marketing & Communications, and Production Manager; support their leadership development, goal-setting, and performance.
• Foster a healthy, collaborative, and transparent work culture that supports staff autonomy, sustainability, and excellence.
• Establish clear roles, workflows, and decision-making processes that reduce bottlenecks and enable staff to do their best work.
• Support hiring, onboarding, evaluation, and retention of staff in partnership with the Executive and Artistic Director. Serve as an escalation point for employee relations issues, supporting resolution and organizational alignment.
• Work across Board and Staff to develop, implement, and track DEI measures.

Financial Management

• Oversee annual organizational budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning in collaboration with the Director of Finance & Operations and Executive and Artistic Director.
• Work to fulfill financial performance against goals. Prepare analyses and recommendations to ensure fiscal discipline and clear communication with the Board and Finance Committee.
• Evaluate best practices and assess resource needs, balancing future organizational requirements with fiscal responsibility.
• Develop and maintain systems that support earned revenue, contributed revenue tracking, expense management, and reporting alongside the Director of Finance.

Administrative Oversight

• Oversee interdepartmental systems and communication to ensure departments are working together, in alignment with the mission and strategic plan. Translate strategic direction into departmental objectives, finances, and goals.
• Ensure internal and external programs are delivered on time, on budget, and at the highest standard of care and professionalism.
• Steward the organization’s physical building and infrastructure, including facilities planning, maintenance, and capital or renovation projects.
• Build and refine systems, policies, and workflows that support scale, resilience, and long-term organizational health.
• Identify operational risks and opportunities, proactively addressing challenges and strengthening organizational infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. All OtB employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Managing Director will be a people-centered, emotionally intelligent leader who is excited to be a part of a creative community, oriented towards problem-solving and communication. The MD will be a strong business manager who understands project management, delegation, department coordination, and collaboration. We hope to find someone who is curious and can connect with people with authenticity and kindness. We expect you to share our values of collaboration, mutual trust, accountability, civility, and communication.

Specifically, we are looking for:

• Minimum 5 years of senior management experience in the arts or nonprofits with demonstrated responsibility for people management, operations, budget, and cross-departmental coordination.
• Experience operationalizing strategy, translating artistic or organizational vision into systems, plans, and execution. Strong time and priority management skills.
• Experience overseeing complex operations in a mission-driven environment. Acumen to responsibly mobilize resources and deliver outcomes within allotted time frames and budgets.
• Demonstrated success managing and supporting senior staff, with the ability to set clear expectations while fostering trust, autonomy, and accountability.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience working with budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting, with executive communication.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and an ability to develop trust and maintain deep relationships with a variety of diverse internal and external stakeholders. The ability to effectively and tactfully handle difficult or sensitive issues, and the versatility to respond and adapt to change with minimal resistance and maximum efficiency.
• Comfort working in a collaborative leadership model, partnering closely with an Executive & Artistic Director. Ability to use independent judgement for when to problem solve and when to advance challenges to the Executive.
• A persistent commitment to communication in the face of challenge and conflict. Ability to communicate through challenges, and stay highly organized with competing priorities and information. Ability to navigate ambiguity and be competent when confronted with the unknown.

The strongest candidates will have:

• Demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, and understanding the role inequities play in our society
• Experience in the performing arts.
• Experience managing or supporting facilities or capital projects, including renovations or building stewardship.
• Familiarity with board-facing work, including reporting, planning support, or committee coordination.
• Experience supporting organizations during periods of transition or growth.

Additionally

On the Boards values the many ways leadership and operational expertise are developed, both professionally and personally, and strongly encourages applications from individuals whose lived experience and diverse career paths have comparably prepared them to provide operational and cultural leadership at the highest level.

If you feel like this job excites and resonates with you but aren’t sure you fill all the qualifications of the role, please consider still applying.

HOURS, LOCATION CONDITIONS

Reports To: Executive & Artistic Director

Salary: $90,00-105,000

Location: Seattle

FLSA Classification: Full-Time Exempt Salary

This position is 40 hours a week and flexibly hybrid (3-4 days on-site). Candidates must be able to commute reliably to our office in Seattle with evening or weekend work for special events. Additionally, we offer:

• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• 13 paid federal holidays and 2 floating holidays
• 100% employer premium paid medical, vision and dental insurance
• STD, LTD and Life/ADD plans
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid volunteer time
• One-time home-office/tech stipend
• Annual professional development stipend
• Complimentary access to our theater programming for you and 1 person

APPLY NOW!

Applications for this role are due by end of day on April 2nd, 2026 .

On The Boards is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within our staff, students, and governing institutions. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience are encouraged to apply. On the Boards will engage in the interactive process to make reasonable accommodations that enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties when possible.

This position is 40 hours a week and flexibly hybrid (3-4 days on-site). Candidates must be able to commute reliably to our office in Seattle with evening or weekend work for special events. Additionally, we offer:

• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• 13 paid federal holidays and 2 floating holidays
• 100% employer premium paid medical, vision and dental insurance
• STD, LTD and Life/ADD plans
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid volunteer time
• One-time home-office/tech stipend
• Annual professional development stipend
• Complimentary access to our theater programming for you and 1 person