The Waldo

Job opening in Waldoboro

The Waldo Board seeks a rare combination of artistic leader, entrepreneurial business operator and community builder to be our Executive Director. The right person will help guide the historic Waldo, located in midcoast Maine, as we build a recurring and dedicated audience for our programs. Our mission is to connect and build community by celebrating culture and the arts.

Our History

The Waldo is a beautiful 1936 art deco building that was once considered one of the best-designed cinemas in the nation. Later converted to a stage theater, today it remains a signature landmark of Midcoast Maine. The building, listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and Maine’s list of the Most Endangered Historic Places, is a cultural cornerstone we are reviving. After several years of neglect, a community effort is underway to restore and operate The Waldo once again. Significant progress has already been made. An Executive Director will bring added leadership, focus and organization towards our goal of being open and operational by mid-2020.

Our Culture

As Executive Director of The Waldo, you’ll be part of a vibrant organization and a close-knit community. You will be supported by a dedicated Board of Directors and will work with community members that have long ties to the theatre as well as newly-engaged volunteers and partners who have new vision for the building and programming. You will be part of our effort to strike a balance between new and old, and to bring opportunities to our communities that are too often socially and economically isolated. As we grow, you will help us navigate our organization’s development while upholding our commitment to professionalism, sustainability and stewardship. We will operate as a team, sharing responsibility and accountability for artistic leadership, organization management and development.

What We Need

Our new Executive Director will thrive in a dynamic environment. This role combines artistic vision and direction, program development, community engagement, fundraising, organizational operations and development. We will look to your strengths as we collaborate on detailed job responsibilities and specific plans, but in general, over the coming year you will work with the Board and Committees to:

• deepen our understanding of how best to deliver our mission in our community
• build a distinctive brand that attracts and retains audiences and performers
• develop high-quality programming for all ages
• develop strategic relationships with local and regional partners
• oversee the ongoing building restoration
• rebuild an annual membership base
• articulate and promote The Waldo’s mission through marketing materials and community outreach
• manage the operations of the organization and the facility
• be able and willing to participate in evening and weekend activities.

You Should Bring

We seek a uniquely qualified individual, eager to implement ambitious visions and plans as we accomplish great things together. To be successful in this job, you should bring:

• a collaborative approach as we build sustainability in pursuit of ambitious goals
• the ability to conceive and execute successful artistic programs
• enthusiasm for the unique contribution The Waldo can make to broader economic and community development goals
• problem solving skills and the ability to adjust and adapt approaches in the face of unforeseen challenges
• the ability to cultivate and manage donors, volunteers, audience members, artists and community partnerships while respecting a diverse set of people, needs and interests
• strong written and oral communication skills, including business and casual writing and public speaking as you will be the spokesperson for The Waldo
• management skills including experience with staff supervision, managing nonprofit budgets and planning processes
• development skills including successful fundraising
• a great sense of humor
• B.A, M.F.A, or relevant degree and five-year work experience in leadership roles.

What This Job Offers

• Salary range of $50,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience and skills
• Healthcare benefits comparable to similar positions
• A chance to make a dramatic impact in a unique role in a wonderful community

How to Apply

Information is located on the Waldo website. To apply, send a your resume and a letter of interest to apply@thewaldotheatre.org.

Please let us know how your qualifications and experience connect with our mission, how you would organize this position to best match your strengths with our needs, and any questions you might have.

Applications will be accepted until June 1st or the position is filled.

Applications will be acknowledged via email upon receipt.

The Waldo Theatre, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of a person’s race, color, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, age, ancestry or national origin.