Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring a full-time Physical Operations Manager. This role will function as a department head, will be a core part of the CPT staff, and will make a meaningful contribution to life at CPT and its success. CPT will be accepting applications for this position through Friday, March 9.

Job Description

Cleveland Public Theatre has an opening for a Physical Operations Manager (POM). This role requires a broad skill set, leadership, and initiative and will be part of an intimate, resilient, team-driven staff. The role will work across production, facilities, front of house, and administrative areas and will primarily report to the General Manager. CPT runs three flexible-seating performance spaces and uses unconventional outside venues. As a result this position will work with the technical director, designers, and front of house to construct and manage seating. The position will manage the day-to-day needs of the physical plant, facilities staff, and vendors, as well as small-scale improvement projects. The POM will also manage CPT’s outside IT vendor and respond to the staff & production department’s day-to-day IT needs. General office management will also fall into this position’s portfolio. Salary: $30k to $35k. Anticipated start date is Monday, April 16.

Staff Description

Cleveland Public Theatre runs on inquisitive, ambitious, and energetic staff. This team places high value on kindness, grace-under-pressure, and an unstinting commitment to work. CPT’s professional artistic work has a bold and innovative aesthetic. We are invested in issues of social justice and equity related to race, gender (including transgender), and sexual orientation. Our education programs are integral to what we do and are focused on giving voice to underserved communities. CPT values diversity on-stage, backstage, and on staff.

Overall Responsibilities

• Provide the Best Possible Patron Experience
  • Work with Front of House staff to make CPT’s flexible performance spaces a unique, inviting, and awesome experience for patrons
  • Maintain building systems to maximize patron comfort
• Partner with Production and Front of House staffs to manage flexible audience seating arrangements
  • Assist production staff with constructing seating risers
  • Lead a team of over-hire staff to erect seating risers
  • Inspect quality of construction and maintain seating platforms throughout the season
• Support CPT Staff and Artists in Daily Work
  • Work with Production Department to ensure building system’s support productions and theatre projects and upgrade capacity & services when possible
  • Manage long-time IT vendor to maintain high quality IT infrastructure for staff and production
  • Troubleshoot and document IT issues, troubleshoot & assist staff in resolving workstation issues
  • Maintain office environment, systems, supplies, and support for staff in their day-to-day work
  • Prepare meeting spaces and maintain support equipment in all spaces
• Maintain and Improve CPT Facility and Develop Underlying Procedures
  • Build deep and engaging partnerships with facilities vendors to support artists, staff, and mission
  • Manage full-time custodian, as well as over-hire employees during peak times of activity on campus
  • Lead small-scale building improvement projects as opportunities to execute arise
  • Perform visual inspections of all spaces on CPT’s campus on a weekly basis
  • Expand and maintain documented procedures for building system maintenance and repair
  • Expand and maintain documented procedures for custodial activities
• Manage rental inquiries for recurring and occasional one-time rentals
  • Schedule campus tours with potential renters
  • Act as point of contact for rentals before, during, and after the event
• Assist with on-boarding and separation of employees
  • Assist Human Resources team in orienting new employees to building systems, IT access, and CPT policies

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Skills

• Exceptional vendor management skills, i.e. ability to assess, select, motivate, manage, and negotiate with outside vendors to do their best possible work and feel as if they are part of organization mission
• Computer “Power User,” i.e. great comfort with trying new software, messing around with operating systems, and experimenting with network devices
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel
• Ability to lift and carry up to 70 lbs
• Knowledge around managing expenses and budgets
• Very basic plumbing, electrical, and carpentry skills

Experience

• Previous live theatre experience is strongly preferred
• 1 to 2 years previous administration or management experience
• Professional (or personal) experience interacting with construction trades or theatre carpentry, e.g. worked on house rehabs or technical direction
• Previous IT management is preferred, but not required (IT responsibility revolves around managing a great vendor and an IT savvy staff)
• Some staff management and/or administrative experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in performing arts, humanities, or related fields

Qualities & Personality

• A genuine interest in the arts and knowledge of live theatre
• Natural curiosity in how things work
• Able to work efficiently and calmly in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to multi-function and re-prioritize tasks as they arise and keep busy at all times
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and always willing to see projects to completion
• Deep and abiding love for all kinds of office supplies and equipment

Interested candidates should send a resume and a letter of interest to Denis M. Griesmer, CFO/General Manager at careers@cptonline.org by end of day Friday March 9.
No phone calls, please.

CPT is a nationally recognized center for contemporary performance. Its mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT implements this mission through its annual theatrical season, featuring between 10-15 adventurous professional productions and a robust series of play development programs that support writers and devisers at multiple points in the creative process. It also provides a bold education program that engages disadvantaged youth and adults in creating their own plays and sharing them with the community. CPT’s annual budget is around $2 million a year. CPT has 22 full-time staff members.