Executive Director, Dance Heginbotham

Cora Dance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dance Heginbotham is seeking a dynamic Executive Director to lead operations, finance, and fundraising efforts. This full-time role is ideal for a strategic leader passionate about contemporary dance. The ideal candidate should have at least 5 years of experience in nonprofit management, especially in an arts environment.

The compensation for this role ranges from $75,000 to $90,000 annually. The position offers a flexible work environment and the chance to make a significant impact in the arts community.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of progressive nonprofit management experience.
• Experience in an arts organization.
• Strong financial management skills including budgeting and cash flow oversight.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all operational, financial, and producing functions of the organization.
• Drive short- and long-term organizational planning.
• Engage and manage a strong Board of Directors.

Skills

Nonprofit management

Fundraising

Financial management

Communication skills

Job description

Company: Dance Heginbotham

Location: New York, NY

Compensation: $75,000 - $90,000 annually.

Position: Executive Director

Position Type: Full-Time

About Dance Heginbotham

The mission of Dance Heginbotham (DH) is to move people through dance. Founded in 2011, DH is a New York-based contemporary dance company committed to supporting, producing, and performing the work of choreographer John Heginbotham. With an emphasis on collaboration, DH enriches national and international communities with its unique blend of inventive, thoughtful, and rigorous dance theater works.

Position Overview

DH is seeking a dynamic Executive Director (ED) to serve as the company’s senior administrative and producing leader. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in close partnership with Artistic Director John Heginbotham (AD), the ED will oversee all operational, financial, fundraising, marketing, and producing functions of the organization. This is a full‑time role ideal for a strategic arts administrator who thrives in a lean, entrepreneurial environment and is deeply invested in the future of contemporary dance.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Organizational Leadership

Serve as the AD’s primary strategic and administrative partner, translating artistic vision into operational reality.

Provide vision, leadership, and direction to the Board, staff, and supporters, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and shared commitment to DH’s mission.

Drive short- and long‑term organizational planning, identifying opportunities for growth, sustainability, and increased impact.

Represent DH as an ambassador in the broader arts field, with funders, presenters, and peer organizations.

Operations and Administration

Oversee day‑to‑day management of the organization, ensuring administrative systems, policies, and procedures are efficient, well‑documented, and consistently followed.

Manage complex organizational calendars across leadership, artistic, production, and administrative functions.

Team Management

Manage the administrative team, including a part‑time Director of Development and Administration, Fiscal Consultant, and Digital Marketing Associate.

Hire, onboard, and supervise additional staff according to the shifting demands of the company, including:

• Performers
• Rehearsal Director
• Company Manager
• Production Manager
• Designers
• Other contractors

Serve as the primary point of contact for human resource matters, including hiring, onboarding, and employee management.

Foster a positive, inclusive and professional working environment for artists, staff, and contractors.

Artistic Director Support

Serve as primary administrator and liaison for the AD’s independent projects, managing contracts, payment, logistics, and communications.

Maintain a master calendar of the AD’s outside commitments, ensuring alignment with DH’s own production, rehearsal, and touring schedule.

Provide general administrative support to the AD as needed, allowing him to focus his time and energy on the creative work.

Development

Design and implement fundraising strategies across government, foundation, corporate, and individual giving streams, with goals and benchmarks set annually in alignment with the organizational budget.

Engage and manage a strong Board of Directors, working collaboratively to achieve DH’s mission and development goals. Cultivate and steward individual donors at all levels, including managing a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.

In collaboration with the AD, Board, and staff:

• Identify, cultivate, and onboard new Board members.
• Plan and execute fundraising events.

In collaboration with the Director of Development and Administration:

• Oversee the organization’s fundraising efforts.
• Ensure appropriate gift tracking, acknowledgement processes, and donor database upkeep.
• Oversee the research, writing, and timely submission of grant applications and reports to government agencies and private foundations.

Coordinate scheduling and planning for quarterly Board and committee meetings.

Producing

New Work & Repertory

Serve as lead producer for the creation of new works and remounting of existing repertory, managing the entire lifecycle of a production.

Work in close partnership with the AD to understand the vision, scale, and timeline of each project, and build the infrastructure to support it.

Secure commissioning funds appropriate to the scope of each new work.

Negotiate contracts for all members of the creative team, including performers, designers, composers, musicians, and other collaborators, ensuring terms are fair, compliant, and within budget.

Booking & Touring

Serve as DH’s primary in‑house booking representative, actively prospecting and cultivating relationships with presenters at the regional, national, and international level, nurturing these relationships throughout the engagement lifecycle.

Negotiate and execute presenter contracts for all touring engagements, including fees, expenses, billing, and technical requirements.

Participate in pre‑production calls with the AD, DH production staff, and venue teams in advance of each engagement.

Coordinate all logistics for company travel and tours, including transportation, housing, and per diem for dancers, production, and creative team members.

Travel with Company to ensure that the needs of the Company are met, including travel, accommodations, medical issues, outreach, wardrobe, local transport, etc.

Scheduling & Production Oversight

Build and maintain detailed production timelines, run‑of‑show schedules, and organizational calendars across rehearsal, performance, touring, and administrative functions.

Track deadlines and key milestones to ensure seamless execution across all programs and engagements.

Fiscal

Develop, manage, and monitor the annual operating budget in close collaboration with the Board President and Treasurer, with an emphasis on long‑term financial sustainability and growth.

Supervise a part‑time Fiscal Consultant, who maintains company finances, bill payment, payroll, insurance policies, and compliance.

In collaboration with Fiscal Consultant, maintain close oversight of cash flow, financial position, reserves, projections.

Establish and maintain sound financial controls.

Provide the Board with regular, clear financial reporting, including quarterly profit‑and‑loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow tracking.

Oversee the annual audit process in coordination with the Board Treasurer and external auditors; oversee preparation and timely filing of the Form 990 and all required state registrations.

Marketing

Create and implement the organization’s Marketing Strategy.

Supervise the part‑time Digital Marketing Associate, who manages digital communications and social media.

Oversee the design and production of all print and digital marketing materials, including hiring freelance designers, photographers, videographers as needed.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive archive of photo and video assets.

Cultivate and maintain relationships with press contacts; coordinate or directly manage press outreach, media inquiries, and promotional opportunities.

Qualifications

Required

• At least 5 years of progressive nonprofit management experience.
• Experience working in an arts organization.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, specifically individual giving.
• Strong financial management skills including budgeting and cash flow oversight.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing and donor correspondence.

Preferred

• A love for working in close creative partnership with an Artistic Director, and sensitivity to the importance of the artistic vision.
• Experience serving in a producing capacity for live performance, including managing contracts, budgets and people.
• Knowledge of the presenting and touring ecosystem, commissioning landscape, and key funders.
• Experience working in a small or lean organization where leadership roles carry broad, cross‑functional responsibility.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor staff, freelancers, and contractors across multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience in fundraising through government and foundation grants.
• Experience with delivering financial reports to a Board of Directors.

Compensation

This is a full‑time position offered within a highly flexible work environment. Compensation: $75,000 - $90,000 annually. A base salary of $75,000 is guaranteed; and approximately $10,000 - $15,000 is available as independent contractor compensation, contingent on outside project activity managed through this role. Please note that this position does not include health insurance or other benefits at this time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dance Heginbotham is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.