Historic Elitch Theatre
Position Summary
The Director of Operations will serve as the organization’s central coordinator—managing finances, budgets, fundraising initiatives, programming logistics, and organizational planning. Working closely with the Board of Directors, this part-time freelance role will ensure the theatre’s operations run efficiently and sustainably. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and passionate about arts, history, and community engagement. We’re seeking a leader with demonstrated fundraising success, strong financial expertise, nonprofit management skills, and a passion for historic preservation and cultural programming. As Director of Operations, you’ll partner closely with our volunteer Board of Directors to ensure the theatre thrives as both a historic treasure and a vibrant community hub. Key Responsibilities
Administrative and Financial Management: Oversee day-to-day operations, including financial tracking and reporting. Manage contracts, insurance renewals, licenses, and compliance filings. Also help develop and maintain organizational calendars, databases, and files. Programming and Event Support: Oversee theatre operations, venue rentals, and event programming for the six-month summer season. For 2026, we are planning venue rentals as a major source of revenue for the theatre. Fundraising and Development: Facilitate, oversee, and manage all fundraising efforts, including planning and executing fundraising events. (This includes the annual gala and year-end giving campaign.) Also support fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and sponsorship outreach. This includes managing donor acknowledgements, maintaining donor databases, and tracking donor giving. Marketing and Communication: Plan, manage, and grow visibility and support for the programming and the organization in general. In collaboration with Marketing volunteers, manage newsletters, website updates, and social media. Staff: Manage a small staff, including an Administrative Assistant, and hire/manage a Summer/Seasonal Event Manager. (The theatre is a summer-only venue, so all programming occurs between May and October, but the other half of the year is spent planning the summer programming.) Community Networking: Liaise with artistic partners, contractors, and volunteers to ensure smooth operations for each event. What We’re Looking For
5+ years of nonprofit or cultural organization leadership experience Strong skills in financial management, budgeting, and organizational systems. Experience in marketing and promotion would be a great addition. Proven ability to coordinate multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work independently. Comfort working with volunteers and the Board of Directors, as well as networking with community partners Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a collaborative spirit Passion for the arts, history, and community engagement – a commitment to historic preservation and the expansion of accessible and inclusive cultural events Proficiency with QuickBooks, Google Workspace, and donor management or CRM software is a plus. Flexible, collaborative, and comfortable working in a small, growing organization. This is a freelance (independent contractor) position, averaging 20 hours per week. Based on benchmarks for nonprofit administrative roles in Colorado, we’re proposing an hourly rate in the range of $30 to $40 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, and the complexity of duties. As a contractor, this position does not include traditional employee benefits (health insurance, retirement, paid time off, etc.), but the schedule is flexible, the role will be largely self-directed, and the candidate will have the opportunity to shape and expand the role as the Historic Elitch Theatre grows. Should the organization’s capacity increase in future years, there may be pathways to increased hours or even conversion to a salaried staff role with benefits. Schedule
Part-Time, Freelance – approximately 20 hours per week (on-site at Historic Elitch Theatre, with some remote flexibility) Compensation
Freelance/Contractor position, commensurate with experience Reports to
Board of Directors
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The Director of Operations will serve as the organization’s central coordinator—managing finances, budgets, fundraising initiatives, programming logistics, and organizational planning. Working closely with the Board of Directors, this part-time freelance role will ensure the theatre’s operations run efficiently and sustainably. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and passionate about arts, history, and community engagement. We’re seeking a leader with demonstrated fundraising success, strong financial expertise, nonprofit management skills, and a passion for historic preservation and cultural programming. As Director of Operations, you’ll partner closely with our volunteer Board of Directors to ensure the theatre thrives as both a historic treasure and a vibrant community hub. Key Responsibilities
Administrative and Financial Management: Oversee day-to-day operations, including financial tracking and reporting. Manage contracts, insurance renewals, licenses, and compliance filings. Also help develop and maintain organizational calendars, databases, and files. Programming and Event Support: Oversee theatre operations, venue rentals, and event programming for the six-month summer season. For 2026, we are planning venue rentals as a major source of revenue for the theatre. Fundraising and Development: Facilitate, oversee, and manage all fundraising efforts, including planning and executing fundraising events. (This includes the annual gala and year-end giving campaign.) Also support fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and sponsorship outreach. This includes managing donor acknowledgements, maintaining donor databases, and tracking donor giving. Marketing and Communication: Plan, manage, and grow visibility and support for the programming and the organization in general. In collaboration with Marketing volunteers, manage newsletters, website updates, and social media. Staff: Manage a small staff, including an Administrative Assistant, and hire/manage a Summer/Seasonal Event Manager. (The theatre is a summer-only venue, so all programming occurs between May and October, but the other half of the year is spent planning the summer programming.) Community Networking: Liaise with artistic partners, contractors, and volunteers to ensure smooth operations for each event. What We’re Looking For
5+ years of nonprofit or cultural organization leadership experience Strong skills in financial management, budgeting, and organizational systems. Experience in marketing and promotion would be a great addition. Proven ability to coordinate multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work independently. Comfort working with volunteers and the Board of Directors, as well as networking with community partners Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a collaborative spirit Passion for the arts, history, and community engagement – a commitment to historic preservation and the expansion of accessible and inclusive cultural events Proficiency with QuickBooks, Google Workspace, and donor management or CRM software is a plus. Flexible, collaborative, and comfortable working in a small, growing organization. This is a freelance (independent contractor) position, averaging 20 hours per week. Based on benchmarks for nonprofit administrative roles in Colorado, we’re proposing an hourly rate in the range of $30 to $40 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, and the complexity of duties. As a contractor, this position does not include traditional employee benefits (health insurance, retirement, paid time off, etc.), but the schedule is flexible, the role will be largely self-directed, and the candidate will have the opportunity to shape and expand the role as the Historic Elitch Theatre grows. Should the organization’s capacity increase in future years, there may be pathways to increased hours or even conversion to a salaried staff role with benefits. Schedule
Part-Time, Freelance – approximately 20 hours per week (on-site at Historic Elitch Theatre, with some remote flexibility) Compensation
Freelance/Contractor position, commensurate with experience Reports to
Board of Directors
#J-18808-Ljbffr