General Manager

Company Overview

Theatre Newfoundland Labrador (TNL) is dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre that reflects the lives and diversity of our people on the province’s west coast, extending to Labrador and across the island of Newfoundland.

TNL operates the Gros Morne Theatre Festival (GMTF) from May to September annually. Through GMTF, production tours and educational outreach TNL seeks to provide Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans, and visitors to this part of the world with thought-provoking and relevant productions with an emphasis on regional and Canadian work.

The state-of-the-art Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts opened its doors in 2021. This brand new, $10-million, 21,500-square multi-performance space is an innovative facility that has long been needed to sustain the festival, now in its 30th year. Located in magnificent Gros Morne National Park, the theatre aims to be more than a performance space – it will be an anchor and catalyst for creativity, education, socio-economic support and inspiration for communities throughout the Great Northern Peninsula.

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the General Manager is responsible for the overall administration and daily operations of the company and its activities year-round. Working closely with the Board Chair and Executive, the General Manager will report on the organization's finances and operations to the Board of Directors regularly, as per the Board’s Terms of Reference and regular meeting schedule. The General Manager also works in partnership with the Artistic Producer to facilitate the realization of the artistic vision of TNL and GMTF, to oversee the yearly budget and to ensure the ongoing viability and long-term sustainability of the company. In conjunction with the board’s Fund Development Committee and related staff, the General Manager builds and maintains relationships with major stakeholders in the company (funders, granting bodies, Gros Morne National Park, donors, colleagues in the community, etc.). When the festival closes, the work doesn’t stop! The General Manager works with TNL staff to oversee operations, including activities and rentals from October to April. This time period is also critical for report writing and preparation for the TNL annual audit.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the General Manager will include working in partnership with the Artistic Producer to support the effective realization of the artistic vision of TNL and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization, with a focus on financial management, project development and communications, including management of box office and financial platforms, online company profile and general communications. Duties also include the negotiation/preparation of contracts for, and management of, staff including kitchen/bar, front of house, maintenance and marketing/fund development. 

Financial duties: Creating an annual operating budget and closely monitoring the budget to insure financial stability for the company; overseeing the bookkeeper’s monthly reconciliations and payroll transactions; monitoring and managing cash flow; monitoring all receivables and payables; administering payroll for all part-time and full-time staff; ensuring GST reporting is done quarterly; monitoring banking, petty cash, box office reconciliations, and artist, venue, and other stakeholder settlements; acting as a signing officer for all financial documents and transactions; keeping insurance (board and general liability) updated; issuing tax forms as required (the fund development manager issues tax receipts); scheduling all audits and providing necessary materials to the auditor; working in partnership with the Artistic Producer in grant writing and reporting; and other financial duties inherent to the well-being of the company, such as grant applications and reports to ACOA, Canadian Heritage and other federal and provincial funding bodies.

Development, planning and communications: Working in partnership with the Artistic Producer and TNL staff to support the development of shows, productions, workshops, partnerships, tours and other collaborations; in collaboration with the Artistic Producer, managing ongoing relationships with all funders and funding agencies; managing Board meeting schedules, reports and agendas, attending Board and Executive meetings as required, and maintaining Board documents; communicating respectfully and skillfully with all contracted artists, technical crew, students, volunteers, Board members, donors, funders, presenters, community members, etc. who interact with the company; performing such other activities as may be requested by the Board from time to time.

CONTRACT DETAILS

This is a full-time, salaried position, located in the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts in Cow Head. Priority will be given to candidates living in (or willing to relocate to) the Gros Morne region.

(October-April): During this time, activities at the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts include community outreach programming, TNL’s Presenting Arts series, and community and corporate rentals.

Gros Morne Theatre Festival season (May-September): During this time, activities at the Nurse Myra Bennett centre for the Performing Arts include the Gros Morne Theatre Festival and community rentals.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE 

  Experience in the not-for-profit sector

·         Strong financial management skills (including grant writing/reporting, budgeting, tracking, financial statements and reporting)

·         Excellent organizational skills; detail-oriented, ability to multitask and meet deadlines and a strong track record of fulfilling commitments

·         Excellent communication skills (spoken and written)

·         Proven ability to create and implement financial resource strategies, including earned revenue targeting, grant writing/reporting, sponsorship proposals, etc.

·         People management skills, with ability to deal with a wide variety of situations

·         A keen awareness of the local sociocultural environment

ASSETS

·         A passion for live theatre!

·         A certificate or degree in arts management or similar area

Professional experience/skills in arts management/live theatre production; experience in managing repertory theatre