Trinity Irish Dance Company
Managing Director
Full time, remote*, flexible hours
Salary: $75k-$85k, plus health benefits
Reports to:
Board President, working directly with the Artistic Leadership Team.
*Remote work, with in-person meetings with Artistic Leadership Team, donors, board, and attendance at in-person events (open rehearsals and performances)
About the Trinity Irish Dance Company:
The Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) is an international Irish-American performing arts company based in Chicago. TIDC has significantly changed the direction and scope of Irish dance, positioning the art form as a progressive, forward-looking, and dynamic dance genre. This cutting-edge nonprofit company was created in 1990 to celebrate the pioneering work of Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard. Howard’s uniquely Irish-American company was the birthplace of progressive Irish dance, an innovative movement genre which led directly to commercial productions such as “Riverdance.”
The reemergence of TIDC in recent years has led to critically-acclaimed performances at significant performing arts venues across the USA and Japan, new agent representation, increasingly diverse and committed artists, and fresh new repertoire that is relevant, accessible, and resonating with audiences and critics worldwide. In this energizing moment for TIDC, significant donors are coming forward to pledge their support, our board is enthusiastic and growing, and there is very strong momentum for the company. At this time, TIDC is in a transformative period of organizational growth with tremendous opportunity to expand its Board of Directors, operating budget, audience reach, and staff. This position will be our first full-time administrative staff since the company’s rebirth in 2014, and the person who fulfills this role has the potential to make a significant impact on the organization’s future.
Job Description:
TIDC is hiring a key full-time Managing Director to work in direct partnership with the organization’s Artistic Leadership, including the Associate Artistic Director who has managed most of the administrative operations in recent years. The Managing Director will be responsible for leading the charge in fortifying the organization’s administrative structure, funding, finances, and communications. This new role will be a critical member of the organization’s staff and become a significant part of the team to elevate this cultural institution to the next level, with opportunities to grow with the organization.
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP
- Work directly with TIDC’s Board of Directors, the Artistic Leadership Team, and outside counsel to establish strategies for securing the organization’s health and stability
- Serve as an ambassador of the organization by cultivating relationships with community members including supporters, potential donors/sponsors and board members in order to build awareness of and commitment to TIDC’s mission
- Create and manage pathways and goals for all sources of contributed income (individuals, foundations, corporations, and governmental)
- Build a strong culture of philanthropy through cultivation of solid relationships with current and prospective funders and supporters, especially individual donors
DONOR CULTIVATION AND STEWARDSHIP
- Manage relationships and communications with existing donors, maintain and expand connections
- Build new relationships with potential supporters, drawing upon pre-existing networks as well as cultivating new supporters/revenue streams
- Introduce new donors to the TIDC community through performances, events, galas, meetings, visits to TIDC rehearsals
- Create strong systems, policies, and procedures necessary to the development of a solid infrastructure for sustainable funding
- Seek out funding opportunities with communities beyond Chicago, taking advantage of TIDC’s national and international profile
DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS
- Manage a Development Associate and oversee day-to-day development tasks, including maintaining a donor database using Network for Good software, which may include: categorization of gifts, acknowledging gifts, tracking pledges, and providing monthly reports to the board
- Report regularly to the BOD on all fundraising activities including major giving, grants, special events, direct mail appeals, and corporate partnership initiatives.
- Oversee strategic calendar of annual campaigns based on past rhythms and innovative ideas - execute campaign including e-blast communications, providing tools to TIDC artists and board of directors, tracking amounts, and achieving funding goals
- Align all development and communication initiatives with the organization’s marketing, messaging, and adhere to organizational branding guidelines
- Edit and approve grant applications written and organized by a contracted grant writer
OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
- Annual upkeep of general liability insurance policies
- Work with production manager to organize and approve engagement contracts with theaters (via TIDC’s agency)
- Create and maintain contract records and organizational paperwork for independent contractor artists (dancers, musicians, choreographers) and production staff
- Support the recruitment and hiring of additional staff members
- Represent TIDC at community events and initiate networking opportunities to enhance its reputation and foster new relationships
- Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and annual reporting requirements for non-profit organizations
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Assist in the preparation of budgets in collaboration with Artistic Leadership and Board
- Work with Treasurer to prepare reports of budgets to actuals monthly and at the end of each fiscal year
- Work with Treasurer to maintain financial records via Quickbooks Online
- Oversee payments for independent contractors via Quickbooks Direct Deposit
- Oversee reimbursements via Quickbooks Direct Deposit or Zelle
- Collaborate with TIDC’s Accounting Firm to upkeep annual 1099 records and 990 Tax Returns
- Oversee Audit process with external auditor
EVENTS AND MARKETING
- Lead the planning of (in partnership with Artistic Leadership, Board, and an event committee) TIDC’s 35th Anniversary Celebration (Performance & Fundraising event) to take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art: May 15-18, 2025
- Overseeing overall marketing calendar, facilitating communication with theaters and external marketing firms in collaboration with Associate Artistic Director
BOARD DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONS
- Serve as a liaison to the board
- Seek out and build relationships with existing and potential board members, including potential board members located across the country
- Participate in regular meetings of the Board of Directors (quarterly)
- Engage the board in company activities, relationships, and fundraising
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports as requested by the Board President
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (required)
- Minimum of five years experience arts or arts-related management (required, more preferred)
- Understanding of non-profit management, including financial planning, budgeting, and revenue streams
- Experience in financial management, budget projections and management (preferred)
- Passion for the arts
- Flexible, self-starter, collaborative, attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Confidence in and comfort with frequent in-person, phone, email, and video call communication with high level donors
- Demonstrated commitment to accountability, measuring outcomes and a results-oriented culture
- Strong interpersonal, supervisory, administrative and management skills–entrepreneurial mindset
- Proficiency in Google programs and ability to learn other software tools (i.e., our donor management database Network for Good)
TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, three references, writing sample and complete resume via email to Shannan Bunting, TIDC Board President at trinityirishdancecompany1990@gmail.com and include “TIDC Managing Director” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.
Trinity Irish Dance Company offers a welcoming, dynamic, and highly spirited environment and encourages people from all backgrounds to apply.