Executive Director - The Washington Ballet

Company: Management Consultants for the Arts
Location: Washington
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Celebrating its 80th year as an organization, The Washington Ballet (TWB) grew out of the success of The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB), founded and directed for years by legendary dance pioneer Mary Day and her mentor Lisa Gardiner.The mission of TWB is threefold:

• To bring the joy and artistry of dance to the nation's capital and the world's stage through the professional presentation of the best in classic and contemporary ballet;
• To provide the highest caliber of dance training through a preeminent school of ballet;
• To serve and involve the entire community through extensive dance education and community engagement programs.The Executive Director will work in a Co-CEO relationship with the Artistic Director, with both positions reporting to and working collaboratively with the Board of Directors. It is critically important that the individuals in these two positions work in a cohesive and productive manner. The central roles of the Executive Director are as follows:
• Build a deep and productive partnership with the Artistic Director and Board to strategically lead TWB into the future.
• Effectively align financial and human resources with organizational goals, objectives and aspirations in a way that will sustainably realize the strategic and artistic vision for TWB.
• Forge and maintain important external local/regional/national relationships.
• In concert with the Artistic Director, create a positive and productive working environment, achieve strong collaboration across the organization, and inspire others to produce and deliver their best work.
• Develop and support key fundraising relationships, especially with major donors, and continue the nurturing and growth of long-held partnerships.
• Ensure that The Washington School of Ballet continues to thrive as an essential programming arm.
• Manage, develop, and inspire a diverse team of direct reports, which includes the Directors of Development, Finance, Marketing, Community Engagement, Facilities, the Executive Assistant, and other positions that fall under the administrative functions of the Company.QUALIFICATIONSThe chosen candidate will be someone who will establish strong and productive working partnerships with the Artistic Director and the Board; prior experience with such partnerships is essential. Successful candidates will also have the following skill sets and experience:
• Strong passion for building a great cultural institution fully rooted in its community.
• Successful financial background creating and managing budgets across various departments, monitoring and explaining financial results and variances against budget.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and lead a team with a collaborative, transparent, and supportive leadership style, enabling the staff to deliver their best work.
• Ideally, a background in non-profit performing arts. Dance experience is not required, but serious candidates will have enthusiasm for the arts and the work for which TWB is known.
• Demonstrated success in securing philanthropic support in a nonprofit arts environment.
• Knowledge about organizational systems, routines, and processes.
• A commitment to DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging), evidenced in current and previous leadership roles.
• Strong experience in and knowledge of performing arts business models and the ramifications of artistic and budgetary decisions, with the ability to align them strategically.
• Strong interpersonal skills in multiple social, political, and business contexts.
• A desire to engage with Washington's diverse communities.
• Tenacity and drive.COMPENSATION AND START DATEThe salary range for this position begins at $200,000 and benefits will be highly competitive with other ballet companies of comparable size and stature. The Company hopes to make its decision by Q1 of 2025, with the successful candidate onsite by Q2 of 2025.The Washington Ballet has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this important search; interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply in complete confidence by providing materials requested below.
• A cover letter of no more than 1.5 pages describing why this post is attractive to the applicant and what will make them a potentially strong administrative leader for TWB;
• Resume-- or CV;
• Names of four professional references, including email and phone contact information (recommendation letters are not required);
• Application materials should have the applicant's name included as part of each file name and must be submitted electronically.
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