ABOUT US:
Corn Stock Theatre was founded in 1954 by a small group of friends with a strong interest in quality theatre. Corn Stock is a not-for-profit community theatre located in Upper Bradley Park in Peoria, IL. Corn Stock Theatre presents 12 shows a year across two performing spaces.
The Executive Director is the chief staff executive of Corn Stock Theatre and is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the organization. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director oversees operations, finances, staff, facilities, fundraising, marketing, productions, and community engagement while implementing Board-approved policies, budgets, and strategic initiatives. The Executive Director serves as the primary public representative of the theatre and helps ensure a welcoming, financially sustainable, and mission-driven organization.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- Five years of leadership experience in nonprofit, arts administration, business management, or a related field.
- Experience supervising staff, managing budgets, and working with volunteers.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work effectively with a volunteer Board of Directors, committees, staff, artists, volunteers, patrons, donors, and community partners.
- Understanding of nonprofit governance, community-based arts organizations, and mission-driven leadership.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, personalities, and projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency with common office, communication, ticketing, database, and digital tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in theatre, performing arts, community arts, or cultural nonprofit management.
- Experience with fundraising, sponsorships, grants, donor relations, or capital campaigns.
- Experience supervising box office, patron services, marketing, administrative, or operations staff.
- Experience with theatrical licensing, production administration, box office operations, or venue management.
- Experience working with volunteer-driven organizations.
- Familiarity with community theatre production processes, including auditions, rehearsals, technical production, front-of-house operations, and performance logistics.
- Experience with marketing, public relations, social media, website management, and audience development.
- Knowledge of nonprofit compliance, insurance, risk management, and employment practices.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Executive Leadership & Board Relations
- Implement Board-approved policies, strategic priorities, budgets, and organizational goals.
- Provide regular operational reports, updates, and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
- Advise the Board on organizational needs, risks, opportunities, staffing, facilities, finances, programming, fundraising, and long-term planning.
- Maintain productive, professional relationships with the Board of Directors, committees, staff, volunteers, members, patrons, donors, vendors, and community partners.
- Maintain compliance with organizational policies, bylaws, and applicable laws.
Staff Leadership & Human Resources
- Supervise, hire, train, evaluate, and support all paid staff.
- Develop job descriptions, staffing plans, and personnel recommendations for Board approval when required.
- Promote and foster a positive, respectful, collaborative, and mission-centered workplace culture.
- Ensure employees comply with CST’s Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Policy, Whistleblower Policy, Child Protection Policy, background check requirements, and other applicable policies.
- Provide annual employee evaluations and recommendations related to compensation, staffing, and future employment needs to the Executive Committee or appropriate Board leadership.
Volunteer Leadership & Organizational Culture
- Support the recruitment, orientation, training, scheduling, and retention of volunteers across CST operations.
- Work collaboratively with Board committees, production teams, coordinators, and volunteer leaders to ensure volunteers are supported and properly informed.
- Ensure volunteers understand and follow CST policies, safety expectations, facility procedures, and codes of conduct.
- Serve as a resource for resolving operational concerns involving volunteers, staff, patrons, or production participants.
- Foster a culture that values volunteer contributions and reflects CST’s mission as a community theatre organization.
Financial Management & Compliance
- Assist with budgeting, financial reporting, and cash flow monitoring.
- Support financial controls, compliance, insurance, and risk management.
- Recommend strategies that promote long-term financial sustainability.
- Ensure proper documentation, recordkeeping, and retention of business records in accordance with CST policies.
Fundraising, Development, & Donor Relations
- Support and help implement CST’s fundraising, sponsorship, underwriting, grant, and donor engagement strategies.
- Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, advertisers, grantors, and community partners.
- Research and develop grant opportunities in collaboration with appropriate Board or committee leadership.
- Support capital campaigns, annual giving efforts, fundraising events, preview events, donor recognition, and stewardship initiatives.
Operations, Facilities & Risk Management
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of Corn Stock Theatre, including office administration, scheduling, rentals, facility use, and general business operations.
- Coordinate with the Facilities & Safety Committee, Annual Production Coordinators, staff, vendors, contractors, and volunteers to address facility, grounds, equipment, and maintenance needs.
- Ensure safety procedures are followed and safety concerns are promptly addressed.
- Serve as a key decision-maker in urgent operational or safety situations, within the authority delegated by Board policy.
- Make or coordinate performance cancellation, delay, or emergency operational decisions as authorized by CST policy, with the Box Office Manager responsible for related ticketing logistics, exchanges, refunds, and patron communication as directed.
- Maintain relationships with the Peoria Park District, contractors, vendors, insurers, government agencies, and other operational partners.
Production & Artistic Administration
- Provide operational and administrative support for CST productions, educational programs, special events, and other Board-approved activities.
- Negotiate, execute, and administer theatrical licensing agreements, royalties, scripts, scores, and related production materials within Board-approved authority.
- Ensure CST complies with licensing requirements, including advertising restrictions, recording restrictions, script/material usage, and royalty obligations.
- Support directors, production teams, stage managers, coordinators, and liaisons by providing information on policies, facilities, budgets, scheduling, and operational procedures.
- Coordinate with the Selection Committee, Corn Stock for Kids Committee, production coordinators, Box Office and Board leadership as needed to support approved programming.
Marketing, Communications & Audience Development
- Oversee organizational marketing, communications, publicity, and audience development efforts.
- Work with staff, the Marketing Committee, show marketing liaisons, directors, designers, and volunteers to promote productions, programs, campaigns, and events.
- Ensure CST’s website, social media, newsletters, press releases, brochures, programs, signage, and public communications are accurate, timely, professional, and consistent with CST’s brand.
- Oversee direct patron communication strategy while delegating routine ticketing, performance reminder, exchange, accessibility, and box office policy communications to the Box Office Manager.
- Represent CST positively and professionally in public communications and community settings.
Community Relations & External Represention
- Serve as a primary staff representative of Corn Stock Theatre to patrons, donors, members, volunteers, artists, community partners, government agencies, arts organizations, business groups, vendors, and the general public.
- Identify and participate in appropriate community organizations, partnerships, speaking opportunities, and outreach efforts.
- Strengthen CST’s visibility, credibility, and relationships within the broader community.
- Maintain strong relationships with other theatres, arts organizations, schools, civic groups, and community partners.
Strategic Planning & Organizational Growth
- Support the Board, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating & Legacy Committee, and other leadership groups in long-range planning.
- Recommend operational improvements, policy updates, staffing changes, and strategic initiatives that support CST’s mission.
- Help ensure continuity of institutional knowledge, documentation, and organizational processes.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $58,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
Work Location: In person
