Director of Operations

Southern Vermont Arts Center; Manchester (VT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Southern Vermont Arts Center seeks an experienced Director of Operations to serve as the internal engine keeping SVAC running day to day. You will lead facilities and gallery teams, own HR (potentially outsourced), and act as the primary liaison for IT, vendors, and our restaurant partner, while guiding upcoming construction with the general contractor.

This high-trust role requires strong leadership, project management, budgeting acumen, and excellent communication with board members, staff,

Qualifications

• 5+ years in operations management, nonprofit or cultural settings.
• Experience supervising multiple teams.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent budgeting and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication across diverse stakeholders.
• Calm under pressure with a solutions mindset.
• HR experience desired but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities and gallery teams and manage HR function.
• Oversee budgets for facilities, operations, and staffing.
• Coordinate IT, vendor relationships, POS and CRM.
• Liaise with Buildings & Grounds Committee and restaurant partner.
• Manage upcoming construction projects with general contractor.
• Ensure artwork safety and visitor wellbeing.

Skills

Operations management

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Communication

Nonprofit experience

Tools

Gusto payroll

CRM systems

Point of Sale

Job description

At Southern Vermont Arts Center we draw on Vermont’s spectacular landscape and vibrant artistic heritage to inspire lifelong relationships with the arts for all. We believe art has the power to inspire, challenge, and connect people. We're a community-centered art museum dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for every visitor who walks through our doors — we're looking for someone who shares that passion. SVAC has grown quickly in recent years, including the opening of a new building and increased admissions and membership, and we're looking for an experienced operations leader to help us run smoothly as we continue to grow.

The Role

As Director of Operations, you'll serve as the internal engine that keeps SVAC running day to day. You'll lead our facilities and gallery associate teams, own our human resources function (which could be outsourced), serve as the organization's go-to person for IT and vendor relationships, and act as a key liaison to our restaurant partner and to the Buildings & Grounds Committee of the Board. You'll also step into a pivotal role managing our next construction project, working directly with our general contractor. This is a high-trust role for a strong manager of both projects and people — someone who genuinely enjoys making complex operations successful.

What You'll Do

Operations & staff leadership

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, partnering closely with the Executive Director on organizational operations and planning
• Directly supervise the Facilities team (2 full-time Facilities Leads, 1–2 part-time staff, and contract housekeeping), overseeing maintenance, safety, and upkeep of SVAC's buildings and 100 acres.
• Directly supervise the Gallery & Sales Manager, who in turn oversees the team of part-time Gallery Associates and manages visitor services, admissions, the museum shop, and an annual craft fair.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor direct reports, and foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented team culture
• Manage budgets related to facilities, operations, and staffing within these areas

Human resources

• Own SVAC's human resources function, including onboarding, benefits administration, personnel records, and policy compliance. This piece could be outsourced to a contract HR firm in the future.
• Process payroll through Gusto
• Serve as a point of contact for staff on HR matters, and help ensure a positive, well-supported employee experience across the organization
• Maintain and update employee handbooks, policies, and procedures as needed
• Serve as the staff lead on IT matters, managing SVAC's contracted IT service provider and troubleshooting day-to-day technology needs
• Coordinate technology needs across departments, including Point of Sale and CRM systems
• Serve as staff liaison to the Buildings & Grounds Committee of the Board, preparing updates, gathering quotes for maintenance projects, and working with the committee to plan for and prioritize building needs.
• Act as staff liaison to SVAC's restaurant partner, ensuring smooth day-to-day coordination between curATE and the Arts Center and to jointly manage event rentals across the campus.
• Serve as SVAC's staff lead on upcoming construction projects, liaising directly with the general contractor and owner's representative to keep projects on schedule, on budget, and aligned with institutional needs
• Work with collections staff to maintain gallery and facility conditions for artwork safety and visitor wellbeing
• Manage the Gallery & Sales Manager with a focus on visitor experience standards, admissions operations, museum shop performance, and on-site revenue generation.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in operations management, ideally within a nonprofit, museum, or cultural institution
• Previous supervisory experience leading multiple teams or departments
• Exceptional experience in project management
• Exceptional organizational, budgeting, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills, and comfort serving as liaison across a wide range of stakeholders — board members, contractors, vendors, staff
• Calm and composed under pressure, with a solutions-focused mindset
• Strong work ethic and personal commitment to helping the organization succeed
• Experience with human resources (benefits, onboarding, policy administration) desired but not required
• Experience with leading construction or capital project coordination is a strong plus but not required

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role at the heart of a vibrant, growing cultural institution
• A high degree of trust, autonomy, and influence over how SVAC operates day to day
• Staff access to exhibitions, events, and professional development opportunities
• A beautiful, inspiring place to work every day
• A collaborative, mission-driven team environment
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Salary range: $80,000 – $90,000, commensurate with experience

Southern Vermont Arts Center is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.