Director of Operations

Pillar Nonprofit Network; London; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Palace Theatre Arts Commons in London, Ontario seeks a Director of Operations to provide organizational leadership, financial stewardship, and strategic oversight of venue and technology systems. The role collaborates with the Board, staff, volunteers, and community partners to advance PTAC’s mission and sustainability.

You will oversee operations of the Palace Theatre, concessions, and front-of-house, while guiding fundraising, risk management, and capital planning.

Qualifications

• Experience leading nonprofit or arts organizations.
• Track record budgeting and financial oversight.
• Experience working with boards of directors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage staff and volunteers effectively.
• Experience engaging with community partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead Palace Theatre Arts Commons as the primary staff leader.
• Help implement strategic vision and annual goals.
• Ensure financial reporting and controls are in place.
• Oversee venue operations, concessions, and front-of-house support.
• Coordinate technology systems and office operations.
• Foster inclusive, collaborative culture and volunteer engagement.
• Represent PTAC with government bodies, donors, and partners.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Board collaboration

Public speaking

People management

Volunteer management

Job description

Palace Theatre Arts Commons (PTAC) is a community-focused performing arts organization and registered charitable organization located in London, Ontario's Old East Village. Since 1973, the Palace has provided a home for community theatre, education, artistic development, cultural events, and community participation.

PTAC operates the historic Palace Theatre at 710 Dundas Street and provides theatre and related resources to the broader community. PTAC's activities include the London Community Players main-stage season, London Youth Theatre Education (LYTE), London Fringe, resident theatre companies, educational programming, venue rentals, and other cultural activities.

PTAC's mission is rooted in the belief that everyone who wants to be entertained, provoked, inspired, or moved by theatre should have the opportunity to participate at the level of involvement they choose. The organization is committed to community, collaboration, creativity, accessibility, and inclusion.

The Opportunity

Palace Theatre Arts Commons is seeking a Director of Operations to provide operational, financial, and leadership for this important London cultural institution.

The Director of Operations will work closely with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, theatre companies, donors, sponsors, government partners, patrons, and community organizations to strengthen PTAC's financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and community impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. Organizational Leadership

• Serve as the primary staff leader and representative of Palace Theatre Arts Commons.
• Work with the Board to implement the organization’s strategic vision and long-term organizational priorities.
• Translate the organization's mission and strategic objectives into measurable annual goals and operational plans.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen PTAC's position as a leading community arts and cultural hub in London.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the organizations and theatre companies that use the Palace.
• Ensure that PTAC's various programs and activities work collaboratively toward common organizational goals.
• Monitor the changing arts, cultural, nonprofit, and community landscape and identify opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Represent PTAC professionally with municipal, provincial, and federal governments, funders, arts organizations, businesses, community organizations, and the public.

Support the monitoring of the organization's financial health and long-term sustainability. Monitor and report revenue, expenses, cash flow, financial performance, and emerging financial risks.

Provide clear and timely financial reporting to the Board , and w ork with the Board and staff to establish appropriate financial controls, policies, and procedures.

Maintain effective relationships with accountants, auditors, financial institutions, legal counsel, and other professional advisors.

Support the organization's fundraising and development strategy.

3 . Venue , Concessions , and Front of House Support

Provide operational oversight of the Palace Theatre and associated facilities, including the organization's rehearsal, production, rental, costume, wardrobe, props, and related resources.

Work collaboratively with artistic and programming leaders while respecting appropriate artistic independence.

Coordinate the logistics of concessions, including monitor ing inventory levels, stock rotation, purchasing , deliveries, and restocking .

Coordinate ordering, pickups, and deliveries with suppliers and volunteers.

Ensure appropriate compliance with applicable public-health requirements, liquor licensing requirements, and organizational policies.

Support long-term capital planning, maintenance, accessibility, technology, and infrastructure improvements.

Oversee relationships with external renters, resident companies, community organizations, and other facility users.

Ensure appropriate risk management, insurance, health and safety, licensing, and regulatory compliance.

4. Technology, IT , & Business Systems

Oversee the effective operation of computers, printers, scanners, phones, payment terminals, internet connectivity, and other office technology.

Provide operational support for ticketing, point-of-sale, scheduling, communications, website , and other software platforms. S ystems including Microsoft365 suite, AudienceView , Clover, Google Calendar, Canva, Mailchimp, and other organizational applications.

Coordinate with external IT providers and technology vendors to identify areas of opportunity, and ensure issues are followed through to resolution and appropriate user access, permissions, documentation, and basic system administration is maintained .

Train and support staff and volunteers in the effective use of organizational systems.

Evaluate technology needs and make recommendations to the Board regarding improvements and investments.

5 . Marketing & Community Engagement

Provide operational support for PTAC's marketing and communications activities without functioning as the organization's primary marketing or graphic-design specialist.

Support marketing, communications, public relations, digital engagement, and brand developmen t across systems (social media, email, etc ) and the Marketing committee .

Promote the Palace as a welcoming space for people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and levels of theatrical experience.

Provide leadership, direction, supervision, and support to PTAC staff.

Establish clear responsibilities, objectives , performance expectations, and accountability.

Foster a healthy, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture.

Support professional development and staff retention.

Recognize, support, and appropriately manage the substantial volunteer contribution upon which PTAC's community theatre activities depend.

Develop systems that allow volunteers to contribute effectively while maintaining appropriate organizational standards and accountability.

7 . Board Relations & Governance

Maintain a strong and productive relationship with the Board of Directors.

Provide the Board with the information, analysis, recommendations, and reporting necessary for effective governance.

Support effective governance practices and appropriate separation between governance and day-to-day management.

Assist the Board with succession planning and long-term organizational development.

The Ideal Candidate

PTAC is seeking a leader who is passionate about the performing arts but who also understands that a successful arts organization requires strong business, financial, operational, and relationship-management skills.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate :

L eadership experience in the nonprofit, arts, cultural, entertainment, hospitality, business, or related sectors.

Experience managing budgets and organizational operations .

Experience working with Boards of Directors or other governing bodies.

Excellent written, verbal, and public-speaking abilities and srong people-management and relationship-building skills.

Technologically confident, resourceful, and comfortable independently diagnosing and solving everyday technology problems.

Experience in hospitality, restaurants, bars, events, or other service-oriented environments will be considered a strong asset.

Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.

Experience working with volunteers and community organizations.

An understanding of the realities and opportunities facing community-based arts organizations.

A genuine commitment to accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and community participation.

Experience in theatre or the broader performing arts sector is an asset, but exceptional leadership, nonprofit management, business development, fundraising, and community-building experience will also be highly valued.

Compensation

$45,000- 7 0,000

Application

Palace Theatre Arts Commons is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for artists, employees, volunteers, patrons, and community members.

We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and participation process. Applicants who require disability-related accommodations or other accessibility supports are encouraged to let us know how we can support their participation.

* We have a use of AI policy that discourages the use of AI , or requires clear and transparent content labelling when AI is used .

Palace Theatre Arts Commons is a registered Canadian charity.

Facilities Management, Hospitality / Tourism, Information Technology / Internet, Marketing / Communications / PR, Supervision / Team Leader