Cinema General Manager: Hospitality & Operations Leader

West Newton Cinema Foundation; West Newton (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Dental plan

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Job summary

West Newton Cinema Foundation seeks a dedicated Cinema General Manager to oversee daily operations of our historic cinema and lead a team of 15+ employees. You will ensure flawless showings, top-tier guest experiences, and sound financial management aligned with the Foundation's mission.

The role reports to the Foundation Board and requires flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, with a focus on hospitality, data-driven decisions, and community engagement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of management experience in a cinema, live venue, restaurant, retail, or comparable public-facing operation, including direct responsibility for a team of ten or more and for a budget or profit and loss statement.
• Demonstrated success in hiring, training, and retaining hourly staff.
• Demonstrated leadership ability with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build team trust, mentor staff, and foster a culture of warm hospitality.
• Experience in financial management, including budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting.
• Sound judgment and composure in a public-facing environment, including service recovery and emergency situations.
• Proficiency with, or the ability to learn, ticketing, point-of-sale, scheduling, and reporting systems, and a commitment to accurate record keeping.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work flexibly, adapting to varied hours and job duties as required.
• Genuine enthusiasm for film and for the Cinema's role in the community.
• Experience using data and analysis to support decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Staff Leadership and Development: Manage, mentor, and evaluate the Cinema's on-site staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.
• Develop the Assistant Managers into leaders capable of running the building independently.
• Maintain a collaborative and respectful work environment.
• Operational Management: Oversee daily cinema operations and ensure that all operational protocols are followed.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment throughout the building, and ensure that staffing levels match the demands of the schedule.
• Develop and manage standard operating procedures.
• Guest Experience: Build a culture of hospitality by setting and modeling high service standards for patron interactions, cleanliness, accessibility, and presentation.
• Ensure that every showing begins on time and meets the Cinema's standards for picture and sound, and that guest concerns are resolved promptly and courteously.
• Ensure that the Cinema's accessibility commitments, including accessible seating, assistive listening, and open-caption are consistently met.
• Financial Oversight: Manage labor, purchasing, and other operating expenses within the Board-approved budget.
• Oversee daily cash handling and prepare payroll inputs.
• Provide operating data to the Treasurer, ensuring financial activities are in line with overall business goals set by the Foundation.
• Concessions and Bar Operations: Manage the concession and bar program, including menu, cost of goods, and per-guest revenue.
• Oversee Assistant Manager with direct responsibility for ordering and inventory.
• Ensure full compliance with alcohol service requirements, including licensing, server certification, identification policy, and incident documentation.
• Program and Event Execution: Oversee the Program Manager who has direct responsibility for film and event bookings, working with the Foundation's booker, to ensure an accurate weekly schedule including showtimes, screen assignments, turnovers, and technical preparation.
• Staff and oversee special events, private parties, and facility rentals so that each is delivered to a consistently high standard.
• Facilities and Safety Management: Oversee the maintenance of the building and its equipment, including projection and sound, HVAC, rest rooms, lighting, seating, security and life safety systems.
• Manage relationships with maintenance service providers and contractors.
• Ensure that all licenses and inspections remain current and that staff are trained in emergency procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors' Facilities Team on execution of capital projects including restoration work.
• Community and Mission: Serve as a visible and welcoming presence in the Cinema.
• Support members, donors, volunteers, and community partners when they are in the building, and share guest feedback with the programming and marketing staff.
• Serve as an ambassador to the Cinema's residential and business neighbors.
• Keep abreast and engaged with the independent cinema community locally and nationally.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Specialist to ensure that in-theater promotion and staff messaging support current campaigns and help the staff understand and articulate the Cinema's mission.

Skills

Management experience

Staff hiring & training

Leadership & communication

Financial management

Public-facing service

POS & ticketing systems

Organizational skills

Flexible scheduling

Passion for film & community

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Ticketing systems

POS software

Scheduling software

Reporting software

Job description

West Newton Cinema Foundation seeks a dedicated Cinema General Manager to oversee daily operations of our historic cinema and lead a team of 15+ employees. You will ensure flawless showings, top-tier guest experiences, and sound financial management aligned with the Foundation's mission.

The role reports to the Foundation Board and requires flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, with a focus on hospitality, data-driven decisions, and community engagement.