Chief Executive

The Big Idea; Nelson; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Theatre Royal Nelson, operated by the Nelson Historic Theatre Trust, seeks a Chief Executive to provide strategic, commercial, and operational leadership for the venue's sustainable growth. You will translate the Board's plan into a clear business strategy, drive revenue diversity, and expand the venue's use and audience engagement.

You will be the senior external representative with funders, sponsors, iwi, councils and the wider community, bringing a proven track record of revenue

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a commercially focused, public-facing organisation.
• Proven track record of developing new revenue streams and partnerships.
• Strong financial acumen and governance experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate the Board's strategic plan into a clear, measurable business plan and lead commercial growth and revenue diversification.
• Lead external relations with Nelson City Council, funders, sponsors, donors, iwi and the community.
• Inspire and develop staff, contractors and volunteers while ensuring health, safety and risk compliance.

Job description

Built in 1878, the Theatre Royal Nelson is a historic 330-seat performing arts venue, owned and operated by the Nelson Historic Theatre Trust, serving the arts, events, education, community and visitor economy of Nelson Tasman. Recognising a changing arts environment, economic pressures and new opportunities to strengthen the theatre’s contribution to the region, the Board is positioning the theatre for the long term. Their aim is to build on the Theatre Royal's rich heritage and strong community connections, while developing these new opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the theatre remains vibrant, relevant and financially sustainable for future generations. For more information, please visit: www.theatreroyalnelson.co.nz .

For almost 150 years, the Theatre RoyalNelson has been part of Whakatū Nelson's cultural and community life, bringingpeople together through live performance and providing a stage for generationsof local, national and international performers. As the theatre approaches its150th anniversary in 2028, the Nelson Historic Theatre Trust Board has taken animportant step towards securing the theatre’s future in creating a new ChiefExecutive role to lead its next stage of growth and development.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Trust Board and leading a small, dedicated team and supporting a wider base of contractors and volunteers, you will provide the strategic, commercial, and operational leadership the Theatre Royal needs to operate sustainably and successfully into the future. You will translate the Board's strategic plan into a clear, measurable business plan, lead commercial growth and revenue diversification, and grow the use of the theatre and its spaces. Beyond the theatre, you will be its senior external representative with Nelson City Council, funders, sponsors, donors, iwi, the arts sector and the wider community. Key to your success will be:

• Building new and strengthened revenue streams through sponsorship, partnerships, grants, donors and bequests
• Exploring opportunities to strengthen and expand service delivery, and diversify venue use and hire
• Increasing venue utilisation and audience engagement, while protecting the theatre's heritage and community purpose
• Leading health, safety, risk and compliance assurance for a busy, public-facing heritage venue
• Inspiring, supporting and developing staff, contractors and volunteers

To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced, commercially astute leader with the strategic vision, relationship skills and enthusiasm to help shape the Theatre Royal's next chapter. You will bring significant senior leadership experience in a commercially focused, public-facing organisation, ideally within arts and culture, events, venues, tourism or the for-purpose sector. You will have a proven record of developing new revenue and partnerships, strong financial acumen, and experience advising a Board or similar governance group.

A confident communicator and natural relationship builder, you will move credibly between funders, Council, sponsors, hirers, performers, staff and volunteers. You will bring a practical operational leadership capability, health, safety and risk expertise, as well as a genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to the community value of this much-loved venue.