Inspire Arts and Music is dedicated to programs that develop and inspire youth to their highest potential via scholastic, non-scholastic, competitive and non-competitive activities that are built on an Arts and Music platform.
Position Overview:
The ED/COO drives organizational performance by managing operations, finance, human resources, technology, and fleet and facilities to support Inspire Arts & Music’s (IAM’s) educational programs. As a member of IAM’s executive leadership team, the ED/COO will report to the CEO/Board President, and will work closely with the Board of Directors and senior-level program leaders across the organization (e.g., Director of the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, Great East Music Festivals operations team). In this role the ED/COO will lead the organization’s daily operations to ensure strong performance to meet ambitious goals.
The successful candidate is a seasoned strategic and process-minded leader with experience leading a management team and developing a performance-focused culture in a time of unprecedented organizational growth. The successful ED/COO has the sensitivity and ability to maximize the talents of a small, close-knit office team of five direct reports. Key functional knowledge is desired in strategic development and planning, financial management (including P&L responsibilities), budgeting, business analysis, information systems, HR, and marketing.
Detailed Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership & Management
Lead the administrative team. Set expectations and provide clear guidance to staff to insure success of marketing, fund raising, events, festivals, outreach, and office management functions. Perform annual goal setting and performance reviews with employees.
Interact closely with leaders of IAM’s primary programs and business units.
Significantly drive revenues while managing costs and volunteer engagement.
Drive best in class execution across the organization though detailed planning and execution and structured communication practices.
Attend and report to the Board at all board meetings concerning ED/COO related matters. Ensure Board is abreast of all critical operations projects, work, and risks. Assist with production of operations-related Board materials, and support relevant Board committees.
Operations, Facilities & Technology
Manage administrative, facilities and transportation functions to ensure seamless operations of all physical plants and equipment.
Negotiate and executes leases, vendor contracts, and insurance agreements.
Oversee the purchasing and maintenance of technology equipment and implementation of technology training. Ensure organization has sufficient and reliable technology infrastructure to meet operational needs of programs, effective disaster recovery systems and backup, and data security to meet all needs.
Oversee internal information systems including accounting (Intaact), CRM (Salesforce), student membership (Charms), and ecommerce (Shopify); and processes to manage integration and information flows between systems.
Ensure organization-wide compliance with health, safety and employment laws.
Finance
Provide strategic direction and overall functional financial leadership to the organization.
Collaborate with the finance committee to develop the annual budget, meet budget goals, review financial performance, and improve program budgeting and reporting practices.
Maintain financial controls. Manage resource allocation according to budget, and provide approvals.
Ensure timely execution of monthly financial reports, financial estimates, and forecasts, for presentation to the Board of Directors.
Manage financial staff to deliver on payroll process and all phases of internal accounting work including A/R, A/P, and accounts reconciliation.
Oversee, in coordination with the staff and board Audit & Finance Committee, year-end audits, reporting, and financial statement preparation.
BASIC/MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
BS in Business; Accounting or Finance preferred. Master’s Degree preferred.
Geography
Must live in the Boston metropolitan area
Experience
Minimum of 5 years of operations management experience.
Background in or knowledge of the musical pageantry arts whether though competitive drum corps (DCI), color guard (WGI), marching band or related activities.
Detailed knowledge of financial management, accounting and reporting processes.
Previous exposure to staffing processes and general HR procedures.
Experience managing cross-functional teams to develop and implement systems and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of a growing organization.
Desired Qualifications
MBA or Masters equivalent
Salary
Commensurate with experience
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. At Inspire Arts and Music we embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion with equal access to opportunities based on individual merit by creating an environment which encourages employees to contribute their unique capabilities and perspectives.
About Inspire Arts & Music
Our primary programs:
Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps –An internationally known, world class elite touring performing ensemble consisting of 150 young men and women between the ages of 16 and 22, grouped into approximately 80 brass players, 30 percussionists, and 40 color guard members. The world of competitive drum and bugle corps is an intense, choreographed musical educational experience staged on football stadium fields by students who strive to achieve high levels of excellence in performance through competition in the Drum Corps International summer tour.
Great East Music Festivals – Great East Music Festivals is the premier scholastic educational music festival series in New England, serving over 20,000 each spring. GEF events are non-competitive elementary, middle, and high school music festivals, geared to musical organizations of all sizes, grades and ability levels.
The ED/COO will join Inspire Arts & Music (IAM) at a crucial time in our history. IAM has grown and matured as an organization over the last 75 years. Much of our growth has occurred the past two years, during which IAM grew from an organization with an $850,000 budget and two FTEs to a $2.4 million organization with five FTEs, more than 50 part-time employees, and hundreds of volunteers. We have deep roots in the Boston community, which date back to 1940.
As IAM looks to the future, the ED/COO will be intimately involved in developing the music instrument sales and rental business, while exploring opportunities to scale its successful festival business. Finally, as part of the executive team, the ED/COO will be a key player in other organizational priorities such as our new home in central Boston, program growth, and increasing visibility in the community.
How to apply
To apply, please upload a cover letter and resume in PDF or Word format, to applicants@iaminspired.org.
We encourage all applicants to review www.inspirearts.org, www.bostoncrusaders.org, and greateastmusicfestivals.org to familiarize themselves with our primary programs before applying.