Business Manager - Puppet Umbrella
The Puppet Umbrella seeks an organized and entrepreneurial person to build organizational capacity and efficiencies as a Business Manager for the Puppet Umbrella.
Salary Range: $30-$40 an hour depending on experience
Time commitment: 2-4 days a week, goal is to build the position to a full-time role. Six month trial from November - April/May.
To apply: Send a cover letter and resume to: producer@puppetfestival.ca by Oct 16, 2023
Background:
The Puppet Umbrella is a collective entity made up of three small independent arts companies: Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS), The Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry (CAMP), and the Festival Of Animated Objects (FAO). Each company has a unique mandate for advancing, presenting, and being an incubator for mask and puppetry arts in Calgary/Mohkinstis and across Western Canada. All three are committed to advancing the art forms and fostering a strong community of artists. The PU has created a full time role for a qualified, inspired, business-minded person to help each organization fulfill their mandates in support of Calgary’s puppet and mask community, and to support the success and potency of each company's artistic mission.
The Puppet Umbrella is led by the three artistic leaders of CAOS, FAO, and CAMP, who frequently work together to produce puppet-related activities, and who have created collective goals and calendars to create the Business Manager position. The Business Manager will report to each team in regards to each organization’s goals and needs.
Primary Focus:
The Puppet Umbrella Business Manager (BM), plays a key role in managing the business affairs of each company by providing administrative and communications support, company management, fundraising, and project coordination. The BM acts as the primary liaison for business matters, ensuring a seamless flow of operations for each of the three companies and helping the collective to elevate their artistic and future growth plans.
Responsibilities:
Tasks range from day-to-day operations to strategic management. The role entails budget tracking, contract negotiations, staff onboarding, casino/fundraising management, grant support, and board engagement. The BM also assists with touring, workshop & performance logistics, reporting, and other business-related tasks.
The successful candidate will be an experienced administrator who is well-organized, detail-oriented, who can effectively manage deadlines. Prior experience with grant writing and fundraising is an asset. With a passion for supporting the arts, you will help build strong relationships with artists, venues, festivals, audiences, sponsors and stakeholders to ensure successful community collaborations across this city and province.
Best of all, you get to work in the puppet biz! A totally unique world of brilliant artists, handmade creations, awe-inspiring community engagement, and a dedicated, passionate audience base. As a key member of the Puppet Umbrella team, you will help grow mask and puppetry arts in Calgary/Mohkinstis and across Canada.
The Business Manager will meet with the Puppet Umbrella leaders frequently to align collective goals, calendars, and needs. The Business Manager will report to each company separately for company-specific tasks and goals.
Puppet Umbrella leaders are:
Cosmo Christoffersen - Festival Director | FAO
Xstine Cook - Artistic Director | CAOS
Elaine Weryshko - Educational Director | CAMP
Responsibility:
(Some responsibilities and timelines will be different for each organization's need)
Administration & Operations
● Keep up to date on filing yearly registrations, casino fundraising events, and reports.
● Oversee/monitor shared Umbrella calendar.
● Attend monthly/regular meetings with Umbrella leadership.
Project & Budget Management
● Conduct financial projections for activities, grant applications, and assist with the preparation and tracking of annual budget and project-based activity.
● Monitor project budget and spending management in concert with the bookkeeper.
● Aid in preparing an annual operating budget in conjunction with the Artistic lead of each company, for review and approval by each societies’ board.
● Assist in post-project/event financial reconciliations as needed by board and reporting.
● Ensure the bookkeeper’s tasks are up to date and in compliance.
Contracts & Community Connections
● CAOS Specific: Manage the booking and coordination of puppet shows, workshops, and events. Coordinate communications between artists, venues, festivals, and events to ensure successful production of collaborations.
Grant Management
● Maintain a detailed tracking calendar of all funding applications and final reports. This includes staying informed about new funding opportunities, programs, and changes.
● Work with appropriate staff members to gather relevant information for applications.
● Assist in assembling final grant applications and reports for projects and operations.
Board Liaison
● Schedule regular Board meetings and committee meetings
● Coordinate the annual AGM and any other Extraordinary General Meetings of the Board
● Coordinate and distributes reports, new Board member orientation package, Board manuals, and other documents
● Ensure Board manuals and other documents are kept up to date under the guidance of the Board Governance Committee
● Attend Board and select committee meetings to ensure minutes are recorded and follow up on action items
● Oversee compliance with society bylaws and policies, and the Alberta Societies Act
Fund Development
● Develop and implement fundraising strategies, including grant writing, developing new funding models and sponsor relationships.
● Development and reporting to private and public partners.
● Build positive relationships with funding sources, sponsors, patrons, employees, other performing arts groups, volunteers and stakeholders.
● Attend stakeholder events to represent the Puppet Umbrella.
Requirements:
● Bachelor's degree in Business, Arts Administration, or hands on equivalent experience.
● 3+ years of experience in a leadership role in a non-profit or arts organization.
● Proven financial management skills, including budgeting, reporting, and grant writing.
● Excellent communication skills both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate effectively with artists, board members, and stakeholders
● Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
● Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
● High competency using Google Drive suite, spreadsheets like Excel, word processing docs like Word.
If you are a motivated and experienced business minded person with a passion for puppetry and the arts, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please submit your resume and a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and experience to producer@puppetfestival.ca