GENOVESE, VANDERHOOF
& ASSOCIATES
Job Opportunity
Executive Director
Fox Theatre Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
The Fox Theatre Tucson invites applications for the position of Executive Director (ED).
The Position:
Reporting to the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Director oversees all aspects of the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation and Fox Presents!, and has overall accountability, responsibility and authority for their leadership. This individual reports to the Foundation’s Board of Directors and oversees a full-time staff of 12, an overall staff of 40, and approximately 100 volunteers.
We seek a forward-thinking, energetic, and visionary arts professional who will ensure an efficient, successful, and fiscally sound operation.
For Fox Presents! the Executive Director is responsible for programming, scheduling and booking decisions consistent with the Theatre’s elegance, history and evolution as a leading concert venue in the West. The new Executive Director will also oversee every aspect of day-to-day operations, including facility upkeep and maintenance, staff scheduling, and dealing with outside vendors. For the Foundation, the Executive Director will be responsible for fundraising activities, including an anticipated Capital Campaign to reacquire the title to the Theatre. This person must have the confidence, poise, experience and ability to build strong, sustaining relationships across a broad spectrum of patrons, donors and community partners.
The Executive Director will be an effective communicator who will guide the Foundation through strategic planning and execution while supporting organizational and staff development. The ED will collaborate with the Board to set strategic objectives that promote the mission and financial sustainability of the organization, foster strong public participation and attendance, and will in a timely and accurate manner provide all information necessary for a board to make informed decisions.
The combined annual budget of Presents! and the Foundation is approximately $5 million.
Background:
Located in the heart of downtown Tucson, the historic 1164-seat Fox Tucson Theatre opened in 1930 as a dual vaudeville/movie house. Competition from other venues and the decline of downtown shopping led to its closing in 1974. The building sat empty for many years until the not for profit Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation was able to purchase the building in 1999.
The Foundation was formed in 1999 to restore the theater in cooperation with the downtown revitalization tax district known as Rio Nuevo, and it was established as the operator of the historic downtown venue. A $15 million renovation was completed in 2005, using a combination of tax funding from Rio Nuevo and historic tax credits. The grand reopening in 2006 allowed the Fox Tucson Theatre to reclaim its place as “The Crown Jewel of Downtown Tucson.” Rio Nuevo currently owns the theater and leases it to the Foundation, but has expressed a willingness to sell the venue to the Foundation.
Today the Fox hosts approximately 150 to 160 events a year. It is a premier live performance venue, a classic film buff’s dream (showing films on the big screen “the way they were meant to be seen”), and multi-purpose, elegant rental facility for corporate, not for profit and private events. It also provides an education program for underserved youth. A theatre organ is to be installed in 2020.
The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation currently earns revenue (from ticket sales, concessions, and rental income) to cover approximately 75% of operating expenses with the remainder raised through various fundraising activities. In the last six years the number of patrons coming through its doors has more than doubled (93,000 attendees in 2018) and more than $1 million was in contributed revenues. Foundation fund-raising has increased by $90,000 to 100,000 annually over the last several years and leadership anticipates that it will continue at that pace or better for the short- and mid-term period.
Qualifications:
A minimum of seven (7) years as a chief executive officer (or senior leadership experience of increasing responsibility) in large, complex performing arts facilities, hopefully an historic theatre.
A track record of excellent relations with resident companies and the key stakeholders; the ability to build and nurture excellent management teams; and
the strategic thinking, personal leadership qualities, political acumen, tact and patience required to negotiate and manage change successfully.
Demonstrated leadership in annual fundraising. Experience in working with senior level development staff and boards of directors to plan and implement fund-raising goals, objectives, and policies. Ability to cultivate, solicit and steward major gifts from high level individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation/government funders in conjunction with a development staff and volunteers.
A BA degree in arts, arts management, or not for profit administration is required, with a graduate degree preferred.
Comprehensive knowledge of many performing arts forms and all aspects of arts venue management. An industry professional with existing networks within the cultural sector and a personal vision of how the arts and arts education play a role within the life of a community. Experience with film product might be helpful.
An articulate champion for the performing arts with advanced oral and written communications skills with the ability to represent the Foundation to a variety of audiences and in a myriad of settings.
Excellent analytical, financial and organizational skills. The ability to build and maintain relationships with a broad range of stakeholders both inside and outside the organization and to enhance community understanding of the mission and vision of the Foundation.
A successful track record in managing a complex institution and the ability to lead a senior leadership team to meet strategic, financial, and operational goals.
About Tucson:
Tucson has a rich artistic and cultural tradition that has been enhanced through the efforts of enthusiastic residents and organizations such as Rio Nuevo. The downtown district has experienced significant growth and activity recently with the building of a new hotel and student housing and the opening of a streetcar that connects downtown to the University of Arizona.
For more information, see visittucson.org.
Application Process:
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits package. Deadline for applications: Friday, September 27, 2019.
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume with a list of references and salary requirements in confidence to:
Margaret Genovese
Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates
77 Carlton Street, Suite 1103
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5B 2J7
For additional information: www.foxtucson.com www.genovesevanderhoof.com
