SEATTLE REP seeks an innovative, dynamic, and highly skilled General Manager to join its Senior Leadership team to oversee and support key operational areas of the Theater, including contracting, administration, operations, short- and long-term strategic planning, events management, facilities, and Front of House. This position reports to the Managing Director and partners with the Artistic Director, Director of Production, Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, and every other department head to ensure seamless program and service delivery across the organization. 

ABOUT US

Located in Seattle, WA, Seattle Rep is a Tony Award-winning not-for-profit organization and the pre-eminent theater in the Pacific Northwest. We produce 8 – 10 plays each season (which runs from Sept – June) in our two theater spaces: the Bagley Wright Theater (690 seats) and the Leo K Theater (289 seats). We host nationally recognized artistic programs such as the New Play Program, Public Works, the Next Narrative Monologue Competition, Pay What You Choose performances, and numerous audience enrichment and engagement initiatives, including post-play panels, discussions, and community events.

Seattle Rep has a $15 million annual operating budget and a $13 million endowment. In 2019, we launched the first of two consecutive capital campaigns with an initial target of $20 million to be raised over the next several years, followed by a more robust 7+ year campaign in support of new facilities.

Seattle Rep is committed to producing the highest quality programming, and we believe that our ability to contribute to excellence in the arts depends on building a community whose members come from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences. 

We are part of a growing movement in theater to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion of those who have been historically excluded, focusing particularly on racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and women, ensuring that they are part of our decision-making processes and reflected in our programming.

Mission

Seattle Rep collaborates with extraordinary artists to create productions and programs that reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of our region.

Vision

Theater at the heart of public life

Values

Artistic vitality, sustainability, generous and inclusive practices

ABOUT THE POSITION

As the successful candidate for the General Manager role, you will be a dynamic strategic thinker with the ability to implement adaptive strategies to address the challenge of organizational change. You will report directly to the Managing Director while providing critical support and partnership to the artistic and production sides of the Theater and working closely with all department heads. This is a newly structured position on the Senior Leadership team, providing a unique opportunity to refine the job responsibilities in partnership with the Managing Director. If you have a successful track record of using influence and relationship-building to achieve results this will be your dream job!

Typical duties include the following, with potential other duties as assigned:

• Contracting
  • Negotiate and execute all artist, licensing, commissioning, co-production, commercial enhancement, and other production-related agreements with an eye to promoting equitability of contracts across the season.
  • Represent Seattle Rep to outside producers, presenters, promoters, and visiting national and international companies, with a spirit of collaboration and timely communication.
  • Partner with the Chief People Officer and Director of Production to administer the Theater’s participation in the League of Resident Theatre (LORT)’s collectively bargained agreements with artists’ unions (AEA, SDC, USA) and all other union agreements (IATSE, AFM, Teamsters).
  • Negotiate royalties and production licenses for Seattle Rep-produced plays.
  • Collaborate with Production Finance Associate on execution of payment schedules for all contracts.

• Supporting the Managing Director
  • Assist the Managing Director with (and at times lead) the planning of Theater and building services, IT and operations, internal and external communications, front of house operations, event planning, capital projects, etc.
  • Assist the Managing Director with strategic projects, analysis, hiring, and long-range planning.
  • Work closely with the Director of Production to support the creation, maintenance, and tracking of production budgets.
  • Assist the Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer in developing, maintaining, and tracking a variety of complex budgets or financial status reports that contribute to the fiscal health of the Theater.
  • Supervise the Company Manager (artist support), Events Manager (building rentals), and other assigned employees, as needed.
  • Help the Managing Director manage agendas and lead Senior Leadership, Senior Management, and all-staff meetings.
  • Establish positive and productive relationships with Trustees and donors, attending Board and Board Committee meetings, as necessary.

• Serve as an essential contributor to Seattle Rep’s culture and success
  • Serve as a member of Seattle Rep’s Senior Leadership team, providing organizational leadership; contributing to the establishment and maintenance of a healthy and positive culture; and participating in long-range strategic planning, budgeting, and staffing.
  • Support strategic alignment of the organization’s activities with its articulated strategies and goals.
  • Actively and constructively add to the equity, diversity, and inclusion work of the organization, including attending all-staff training sessions and meetings of the Anti-Racism Accountability Team (ARACT).
  • Serve as a key spokesperson, representative, and ambassador of Seattle Rep; take an active role in the community; and cultivate key relationships and associations with centers of influence within the city, state, and region.
  • Embody Seattle Rep’s mission, vision, and values in all aspects of work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 8 years of arts administration experience with increasing levels of responsibility
• Solid knowledge of theater bargaining agreements and experience representing a theater to unions such as AEA, SDS, USA, AFM, etc.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
• Familiarity with theatrical budgets and budgeting
• Successful track record in executing multiple projects and priorities
• Ability to exercise healthy judgment and confidentiality in matters requiring discretion
• Ability to foster and maintain positive relationships with artists, agents, colleagues, vendors, community partners, patrons, volunteers, and community members
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; a self-starter who works well independently and is proactive about effecting positive change
• Strong proficiency in MS Office Suite

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of theater administration experience, including in a leadership position
• MFA degree or equivalent education and experience
• Experience working with LORT collective bargaining agreements

TO BE CONSIDERED:

• • Attach a resume detailing related experience and education.
  • Attach a cover letter that outlines how your related experience qualifies you for the position.
  • Attach a writing sample response to the following questions (250 words max for each):
    • Share a little about how you came to terms during a particularly challenging negotiation.
    • What has been your role in implementing or enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in your current organization, including any obstacles you overcame?

Seattle Rep has a mandatory vaccination policy for all employees, with accommodations for medical and religious exemptions only.

Contact hr@seattlerep.org with any questions regarding the application process.