Managing Director, Texas Performing Arts

University of Texas at Austin

3d • $150,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Managing Director is Texas Performing Arts’ second-in-command and is responsible for implementing the Executive & Artistic Director’s strategic vision through daily operational leadership, financial management, and guidance of operational and administrative teams. The role works closely with colleagues across UT Austin and engages with the university’s centralized systems and policies.

Reporting to the Executive & Artistic Director, the Managing Director oversees leaders responsible for business operations—including finance, human resources, accounting, procurement, and contracting—facilities, including IT and capital projects, production, event management, and guest experience. The position also provides leadership across fabrication and academic production.

Texas Performing Arts (TPA) is a university-based performing arts center at The University of Texas at Austin. It presents Broadway in Austin, international dance, theater, and music, and national touring artists through the Texas Welcomes series. Its education programs serve more than 30,000 K–12 students and UT Austin’s 55,000 students. The position is based at the UT Austin campus in Austin, Texas, requires residence in the greater Austin area, and is 100% on-site. Evening, weekend, and holiday work, on-call periods, and extended daily hours are regularly required in connection with performances and events. Work may exceed 40 hours per week during peak periods; a compensatory time program is provided.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in the arts, entertainment, education, or not-for-profit sectors.
• Demonstrated success using administrative, financial, and operational skills to achieve impactful results in a mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems within standardized policies and procedures.
• Experience with an organizationally significant number of direct reports across different functional areas, including recruiting, developing, managing, and retaining high-performing team members.
• Leadership presence that inspires others toward a shared vision, supported by exceptional written and spoken communication, authenticity, confidence, composure, and emotional intelligence.

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in the interconnected aspects of performing arts center operations, including programming, development, education and engagement, operations, ticketing, marketing and communications, guest experience, and production.
• General manager, managing director, or COO/CFO experience in a performing arts center, performing arts organization, theatrical production, or live event organization.
• Current understanding of the performing arts and education sectors, including present and future opportunities and challenges.
• Experience in a public or large-scale organization, such as an institution of higher education or municipally owned venue.
• Familiarity with databases, dashboards, and reporting tools applicable to cash and accrual accounting systems.
• Demonstrated fluency with current technology and commitment to adopting new technology.
• Strong interest in and passion for TPA’s purpose, values, vision, and programs.
• Relevant professional education or credentials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the heads of Business Operations, Guest Experience, Production, Fabrication & Academic Production, Human Resources, Facilities, and Event Management.
• Help functional leaders understand TPA priorities, set aligned goals, and achieve or exceed them.
• Develop and implement strategies aligning TPA’s needs and ambitions with its people, processes, and systems.
• Lead organization-wide, cross-functional initiatives and facilitate timely interdepartmental coordination.
• Guide and motivate TPA staff through authentic, emotionally intelligent, clear, and composed communication.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with university and industry partners; serve as a trusted leader at the university and within the field.
• Participate in reporting to and planning with TPA’s Leadership Board; serve as a proxy for the Executive Director when needed and as a public representative when assigned.
• Provide financial planning and management to sustain and improve TPA’s annual and long-term fiscal health.
• Provide financial insight and analysis to the Executive Director and other senior leaders.
• Oversee business operations budget development, management, and reporting, and supervise balance-sheet management.
• Maintain and continuously improve financial systems, and ensure compliance with university financial policies and procedures.
• Create operational excellence, discipline, and coordination across the organization, ensuring effective delivery of TPA programs.
• Apply entrepreneurial and solution-oriented approaches to operating TPA programs in a complex business environment.
• Operationalize TPA’s strategic and programmatic plans and provide operational insight and analysis to senior leaders.
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of and ensure compliance with university operating policies and procedures.
• Advance TPA’s goals of expansive and innovative programming, educational impact, and world-class facilities and experiences; perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A compensatory time program is provided for peak periods when work exceeds 40 hours per week.
• Retirement plan eligibility through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), with the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) subject to eligibility requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed