Assistant Manager for Operations & Events

7321BR

College of Liberal Arts

CLA-Dept of Performing Arts

Job Summary

The Assistant Manager for Operations and Events within the School of Performing Arts at RIT provides leadership for and oversight of day-to-day operational aspects of the rapidly growing performing arts ecosystem at RIT. The Performing Arts Scholarship Program (PASP) at RIT, now in its fourth year of existence has welcomed upwards of 1,400 students. We anticipate there will be 2,000 PASP students by the fall of 2023. The PASP demands professional executives with strong and varied expertise, extensive business acumen, and performing arts backgrounds to ensure continued success with this strategic initiative of the Institute. The position requires an individual with deep knowledge and experience in facility and resource planning and oversight, contract negotiations, budgetary planning and analysis, marketing and communication plan development, and event scheduling expertise for both large- and small-scale performing arts engagements. The position authors policies and procedures surrounding much of the above for both the School of Performing Arts and the Performing Arts Scholarship Program at RIT.

The Assistant Manager for Operations and Events oversees and has broad latitude to make independent decisions surrounding operational aspects, including the newly launched student leader program within the Performing Arts Scholarship Program and the development and strengthening of campus and community partnerships. The former entails interviewing, hiring, training, evaluating and supervising a team of between six to eight student employees during the semester. Given the complex and challenging environment of higher education performing arts, the position responsibilities demand an individual capable of integrative thinking, zooming in and out at a moments notice, and the ability to weigh often competing/conflicting demands to devise creative solutions. The Assistant Manager for Operations and Events reports to the Operations Director of Performing Arts at RIT.

Job Responsibilities

Please note: occassional nights and weekends during the semester are required.

• Devise policies and procedures for 1,400 Performing Arts Scholars surrounding their use of facilities, equipment, and engagement in performing arts opportunities at RIT.
• In an effort to plan performance seasons two years ahead, use discretion to ensure concerts, productions and events are scheduled and coordinated in a successful manner. This requires the management of support services and student employee representation, and securing necessary equipment leading up to an event.
• Based on the growing demands of the performing arts at RIT, determine future facility, equipment, technology, and resource needs for faculty and 1,400 students involved in the Performing Arts Scholarship Program. Form strategic maintenance and replacement budgets and forecasts for instruments, equipment, and technology owned by the School of Performing Arts and Performing Arts Scholarship Program.
• Frequently predict needs and challenges before they arise, Assistant Manager must constantly maintain effective, positive, and productive relationships with colleagues to ensure the School of Performing Arts and Performing Arts Scholarship Program is providing the highest level of support to faculty and students involved.
• Requiring close attention to detail and experience with contract negotiation, review independent contractor and vendor agreements terms and conditions, and use best judgment to amend, edit, and serve as signatory on behalf of the Performing Arts Scholarship Program.
• Conduct independent decisions, frequently at a moment’s notice, about budgeting, events, and facilities/equipment usage to reach equitable resolutions without relying on a supervisor for guidance or insight.
• Approach all situations with student centeredness and an inclusive mindset, and ensure all decisions made fulfill the expectations of students, faculty, and administrative colleagues.
• Develop year-to-year budgets for the Performing Arts Scholarship Program; document and analyze procurement, spending, and contracting patterns to create forecasts for future fiscal year spending.
• Independent oversight of and authority for financial transactions connected to the Performing Arts Scholarship Program. This involves applying solid financial concepts and knowledge and understanding best practices for fiscal responsibility. Oversight of procurement processes including submitting/fulfilling Purchase Order Requisitions and management of capital expenditures for the Performing Arts Scholarship Program.
• Work with Operations Director of Performing Arts to ensure the Performing Arts Scholarship Program budget aligns with the forecasts, benchmarks, and outcomes of the School of Performing Arts budget.
• Based on the needs of the Performing Arts Scholarship Program, approve or deny requests for support if they do or do not fit within the mission and goals of the Program and School as established by the faculty and Director of the School.
• Supervise a team of six to eight student employees in a given semester. Requires interviewing, hiring, promoting, evaluating and occasionally terminating employees based on merit, the demands and needs of faculty, the Performing Arts Scholarship Program’s growth and expansion, and responsibilities of the School of Performing Arts Operations Team.
• Constant supervision of School of Performing Arts’ existing and forthcoming facilities including those in the Student Hall for Exploration and Development and Musical Performance Theater. Author policies and procedures to ensure safe, sustainable, and efficient space utilization, equipment usage, and event scheduling in existing and future facilities.
• Supervise, execute decisions, and appraise results pertaining to success of newly formed PASP Performance Groups involving faculty and students. This involves the introduction of new groups as well as the discontinuation of others, and demands a deep understanding of performing arts pedagogy, disciplines, and needs.
• Other duties as assigned

Live our values, embrace diverse perspectives, and nurture the RIT community to remain a great place to work for all.

Required Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s in performing arts, marketing/communications, arts administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Two to three years of professional/executive experience in performing arts operations, events management, marketing/communication and/or a related field are required for this position.

Skills:

• Ability to build strong, collaborative, and long-lasting relationships for the betterment of the organization.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives without supervision.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills that may include public speaking and presentations.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Financial Management, Administration, and Project Management skills and experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in performing arts, marketing/communications, arts administration, or a related field
• Experience in a leadership or management position and strong decision-making skills, especially during occasionally complex situations.

Required Minimum Education Level

Bachelors or Equivalent Experience

Work Location

Henrietta Campus — 100%

Employment Category

Fulltime

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume

What do we believe at RIT?

Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.

As a member of the RIT community, you’ll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).

How To Apply

In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at: http://careers.rit.edu/staff . Click the link for search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number.

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to [email protected] . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Commitment To Safety

COVID 19: Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of the RIT Safety Plan . Information on the responsibility for each employee can be found on the RIT Ready website. As per the RIT Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy , all university employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccination exemptions may be granted: (1) to employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or disability; (2) on the basis of an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, or (3) to employees who are fully remote and sign an Employee Attestation stating that they will not be on campus for any reason, nor will they participate in any in-person university-sponsored activities.