Operations Manager/Assistant to the Executive Director

Operations Manager/Assistant to the Executive Director

Operations Manager/Assistant to the Executive Director 150 150 Whitebirddance
White Bird Dance
Published
May 30, 2022
Location
Downtown Portland
Job Type
Contact Name (not public)
Graham Cole
Main Phone
503.245.1600 ext 200

Description

White Bird, a dance-presenting nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, is seeking a motivated, passionate individual to fill its full-time position of Operations Manager/Assistant to the Executive Director.

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
White Bird Mission Statement
White Bird is committed to bringing the best Portland-based, regional, national, and international dance companies to Portland, Oregon and to fostering the growth of dance in the region. Through presenting established and emerging companies and choreographers, commissioning and co-commissioning new work, as well as collaborating with other arts organizations in Portland and the region, we are able to make these dance performances possible.  White Bird strongly believes in making dance exciting, educational, equitable and accessible to everyone, young and old, of all social backgrounds, and through contributed income and sponsorships, is able to facilitate outreach to schools and keep ticket prices affordable. A passionate advocate for dance, White Bird strives to broaden audienceship and diversify its programming through the lens of its Equity Commitment.

White Bird Profile
White Bird was founded in 1997 in Portland, Oregon by Walter Jaffe and Paul King and, since 2021, has been led by Executive Director Graham Cole. To date, we have presented over 270 dance companies from around the world in 750 performances before a total audience of 525,000. Each season we present a subscription series as well as non-subscription performances.  We have supported the growth of dance by commissioning 40 new works. We are committed to expanding the audience for dance through extensive community engagement activities, including our Annual Outreach Project with Portland Public Schools. Through our innovative Equity initiative, the NEST (No Empty Seats Today) Program, we distribute hundreds of free performance tickets each year to Portlanders in need.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Operations Manager/Assistant to the Executive Director (OMAE) is a vital base of support for much of White Bird’s day-to-day operations, particularly in the areas of Finance, Development, and general office management. This is a mid-level position with growth potential, and a great opportunity to join a small, but dedicated, staff of arts administrators passionate about dance and serving our community. The OMAE reports directly to White Bird’s Executive Director (ED).

Specific responsibilities include:
Operations Management – 50%
- Oversee the smooth operation of White Bird’s downtown Portland office, including an open-to-the-public gallery space. This is a broad, evolving responsibility which will include liaising with building management, security, and janitorial services, welcoming visitors, inventorying/ordering supplies, and troubleshooting interruptions to office workflow.
- Provide warm, friendly service to White Bird subscribers, donors, ticket holders, and volunteers, both in-person and over the phone.
- Supervise on-site work performed by White Bird volunteers and interns.

Finance – 20%
- Accurately and efficiently enter financial transactions – including bills, credit card transactions, and journal entries – and generate reports using Quickbooks Online.
- Work with White Bird ED to organized financial records.
- Assist White Bird ED with regular financial projects, including budget preparation, board meeting preparation, and a yearly audit.

Development – 20%
- Assist White Bird ED in completing grant applications and post-award reports.
- Oversee the comprehensive maintenance of White Bird’s donor records and fundraising schedules.
- As needed, assist White Bird ED with special fundraising projects, including donor meetings, annual appeals, and special events.

General Support – 10%
- As needed, assist White Bird staff with packing/unpacking of supplies as well as greeting patrons at White Bird performances.
- As needed, assist White Bird staff in meeting deadlines on special projects.

 

Successful applicants will have experience with most, if not all, of the following:
- Database Management/Data Entry (Quickbooks, Arts People, and Microsoft Excel experience a plus, but not required)
- The Arts generally, and Dance specifically
- Teamwork and collaboration tools (Asana, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook experience a plus, but not required)
- Anti-Racism, both in philosophy and in practice
- Customer Service and Communications Skills, both written and spoken
- Prior work experience in office environments and/or administrative capacities
- Arts fundraising (grant writing, donor relations, and grant research experience a plus, but not required)

 

PAY AND BENEFITS:
The starting salary for this position is budgeted between $43,000-$46,000, depending on the relevant experience and preferred schedule of the candidate. Benefits include:
- Health and Dental insurance (premiums 100% covered by employer)
- 15 days of paid time off in the first year of employment, plus additional paid time off on holidays, with additional paid time off granted beginning in the second year of employment
- Complimentary tickets to all White Bird performances
- Stipends available for candidates willing to relocate to Portland if selected, and also for approved professional development opportunities

WORK LOCATIONS:
Work will primarily take place at White Bird’s offices in downtown Portland. Some work will take place at 3rd party performance venues: Portland’5 Center for the Arts and PSU’s Lincoln Hall in Portland, and the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton. All White Bird employees are offered the option to work remotely one day each week.

SCHEDULE:
The expected time commitment for this position is between 36 and 40 hours per week. The OMAE is expected to complete most of their work during business hours (no earlier than 9am and no later than 6pm), Monday through Friday, though some flexibility to complete work outside of these hours is possible. Some onsite night and weekend work will be required to be present for White Bird performances.

COVID SAFETY:
The safety of its staff, volunteers, and audiences is of the utmost importance to White Bird. All White Bird staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and willing to receive all future CDC-recommended vaccines or boosters with urgency, or alternatively present an objection to vaccination for medical or religious reasons. Applicants must be willing to comply with all COVID-19 policies both at the White Bird offices and at performance venues; these policies are created in response to local, state, and federal mandates as well as industry best practices, and are subject to revision as the COVID-19 pandemic develops. The OMAE will work in close proximity to the Executive Director, Director of Patron Services and Communication, and Communication Manager, as well as numerous volunteers, interns, audience members, and theatre staff.

How To Apply

Please email a resumé, cover letter, and the contact information for 2-3 professional references to Graham Cole, Executive Director, at graham@whitebird.org.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but early application is highly recommended. The anticipated start date for this position is in late June 2022.