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Title

Dance Center Operations Manager 
About the Organization The internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) has received 'highest praise for their technical aplomb, their musicality, and their sheer human authenticity.' (Bloomberg News). Founded in 1980, the Dance Group performs the repertory of choreographer Mark Morris, hailed as the 'the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical' (The New York Times), whose work is acclaimed for its ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity. Live music and community engagement are vital components of the Dance Group. It has toured with its own musicians, the MMDG Music Ensemble, since 1996, and regularly collaborates with orchestras and opera companies around the world. In addition to 17 full-time dancers, the organization currently employs 34 full-time staff and 75 part-time staff, teaching artists, and musicians.

In the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, the Mark Morris Dance Center, founded in 2001, is the hub of dance and music education in Brooklyn. The nine-studio building provides affordable classes in multiple genres for people of all ages, levels, with and without disabilities, accompanied by live music. The studios, a performance space, a Wellness Center, and ancillary spaces are all available to the community and to nonprofit organizations at subsidized rates. MMDG's Community Education Programs partner with public and private schools and community centers to provide customized classes. MMDG also offers customized dance workshops for persons with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

MMDG programs in NYC and worldwide engage nearly 100,000 people annually. Propelled by core values of community, access, excellence, and creativity, MMDG is committed to ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion work to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all.
 
Category Operations  
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt  
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time  
Description

SUMMARY:

Mark Morris Dance Group seeks a Dance Center Operations Manager to play an integral role in ensuring the smooth daily operations of the Dance Center, with a focus on managing building safety and security and the visitor/constituent experience. This position requires significant supervisory experience as well as excellent communication and problem-solving skills to lead the Front Desk team and support the Dance Center’s wide-ranging activities and constituencies. A successful candidate will have the ability to make informed decisions with autonomy and authority. The Operations Manager works closely with the Facilities Supervisor and all Program Directors to collectively ensure we maintain the highest standards of customer service and will collaborate with Dance Center leadership to develop and implement Dance Center operational policies and procedures. The Operations Manager joins the organization at a pivotal moment as we explore new systems, continue to advance our core values in our work, and welcome back our community.

The successful candidate joins a community of kind and dedicated arts and administrative professionals who are propelled by Mark Morris's commitment to artistic excellence, access to the arts, and the impact that the arts have in connecting and engaging communities. MMDG is committed to ongoing and sustained equity and inclusion work. All staff are expected to be actively engaged and dedicated to upholding our core values:  celebrating our diverse community, pursuing excellence in all that we do, advancing access, exposure, and opportunity to dance and music, and cultivating creativity. Staff members also have opportunities to shape the culture of the organization through our Work, Life and Culture Committee working groups at a time when we are revamping our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) action plan, initiating an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategic plan, and more.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

People Management and Training

  • Manage and schedule 6-person team of part-time Operations staff who work at the Front Desk; ensure the team has the information they need to support regular programming and special events; oversee onboarding, training and offboarding; ensure the Dance Center is adequately staffed.
  • Support the research and implementation of training resources (customer service, conflict de-escalation, fire safety, etc.) to ensure front-facing Dance Center staff (Operations, Facilities, and Programming) are adequately trained.

Access Management and Safety

  • Serve as on-site manager during peak hours of activity at the Dance Center.
  • Manage daily operations at the Front Desk; oversee screening and check-in process; maintain training manual, forms and logs; approve daily cash and check finance deposit.
  • Communicate, uphold and enforce Dance Center policies, including COVID-19-related safety requirements, MMDG’s Community Agreement, and lobby and studio policies.
  • Manage Incident Reporting process; document and report injuries and medical emergencies, occurrences of trespassing, theft, disruptive or violent activity and any other health or safety related issues that occur at the Dance Center; ensure there is an incident postmortem and actions are taken to update policy and/or follow up with impacted parties when needed.
  • Serve as a Dance Center Fire Guard and assist in the event of an emergency at the Dance Center, maintain fire safety staffing schedule, ensure compliance with Fire Safety policies.

Program and Event Support

  • Act as a liaison between students, renters and administrative staff; act as on-site point of contact for regular programming, events and rentals; ensure spaces are used safely and respectfully and resource, set up and space requests are fulfilled; provide technical support regarding the use of in-studio filming/streaming equipment and sound systems for daily live online and hybrid classes and rentals; ensure that special events and regular programming have the necessary support to operate simultaneously.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for long-term Wellness Center tenants regarding equipment, resources and maintenance of the space to ensure the space is fully operational, safe and welcoming.

REQUIRED TRAINING UPON HIRE:

  • First Aid Certification + refresher courses offered annually
  • CPR/AED Certification + refresher courses offered annually
  • Dance Center Floor Warden and Fire Guard Safety Training
  • FDNY Certificate of Fitness F03 (Place of assembly emergency personnel) + recertification (required every 3 years)
  • Bystander / De-escalation Training – offered annually
  • COVID-19 related: MMDG COVID19 Safety Plan and Dance Center Health and Safety policies
 
Position Requirements

YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE IF YOU:

  • Are an outstanding team leader- You enjoy managing a diverse team and fostering individual growth by giving and receiving feedback with diplomacy and patience.
  • Are solution-oriented- You are a resourceful and creative problem solver who is proactive and self-motivated to identify areas of improvement.
  • Are a community builder - You enjoy working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to create systems and policies that ensure a welcoming, joyful, and respectful atmosphere at the Dance Center; you are able to find common ground when there are competing priorities for shared resources.
  • Appreciate our work and align with our core values: Welcome MMDG’s wide ranging staff and constituency that reflects a diversity of backgrounds, ages, identities, and abilities with ease and sensitivity.

SCHEDULE: 40 hours per week on-site at the Dance Center; Monday-Friday 12-8pm; ability to provide event coverage outside of regular work hours and adjust hours to ensure the Dance Center is adequately staffed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 3+ years visitor services, event management, stage management or comparable experience required
  • 3+ years supervisory experience required
  • Creative, resourceful, entrepreneurial mindset, with roll-up-your-sleeves mentality
  • Superior judgment and diplomatic skills
  • Conflict de-escalation training a plus
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience with scheduling software a plus
  • Ability to act with diplomacy and patience
  • Superb attention to detail and excellent time management skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

  • Must be able to lift, push, pull, hold, and/or carry objects and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
  • Must be able to climb stairs, kneel, and crouch.
  • Must be able to be on your feet for up to 4 hours at a time.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

  • Annual Salary: $50,000-$60,000; commensurate with experience
  • Paid vacation, sick/personal leave, holidays and bonus days
  • Comprehensive benefits package includes: Employee Health and Life insurance covered 100%, Flexible Spending Plan, Voluntary vision and dental coverage, Pre-tax commuter benefit, 403(b) retirement plan, and 100% paid family leave
  • Access to free and discounted classes at the Dance Center and online
  • Access to special events and MMDG performances (when available)
  • Invitations to cultural events extended to staff members by community partners.

APPLICATIONS:

  • Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.
  • Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
  • You will be asked to submit the following as part of your online application:
    • 1-page Cover Letter addressed to Elise Gaugert, Director of Events and Venue Operations
    • Complete résumé highlighting relevant experience.
  • The cover letter should include answers to each of the following questions:
    • Why are you interested in working at the Mark Morris Dance Group?
    • What qualities makes an ideal team leader?
    • MMDG is a values-driven organization; please review our core values of Community, Excellence, Creativity, and Access and discuss an instance in your professional career where you have demonstrated at least one of them.

DEADLINE:

  • The position is open until filled.
  • Please note that some candidate interviews may be conducted by video using the Zoom (https://zoom.us/) video communications application. Please download the application in advance and have a functioning camera and speaker on your device. MMDG can also provide candidates with reasonable accommodations, if needed.
 
 
EOE Statement We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or veteran status. It is the policy of MMDG to comply with all the relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MMDG does not discriminate against any qualified employees or job applicants with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person’s physical or mental disability. MMDG makes reasonable accommodation wherever necessary for all employees or applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments connected with the job and provided that any accommodations made do not require significant difficulty or expense.  

This position is currently accepting applications.

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