Managing Director - Contract to Hire

Overview

About Red Clay Dance Company

Red Clay Dance Company lives at the intersection of Black culture and social change. Through performance, education, and community engagement, we bring Artivism to life—using the power of movement to transform lives and communities. Based in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Red Clay Dance is committed to cultivating a thriving arts ecosystem that centers African Diaspora aesthetics and voices.

Introduction

Red Clay Dance Company is excited to invite visionary arts leaders to join our team during a time of growth and transformation. This opportunity begins as a 3-month contract position to ensure mutual alignment and set the stage for long-term success. Following this initial period, the role is intended to transition into a full-time Managing Director position, with the long-term goal of evolving into the Executive Director role as part of our succession strategy. This unique pathway offers the chance to step into a key leadership role, contribute meaningfully from day one, and grow into the future steward of Red Clay Dance Company’s mission and vision.

Position Summary

Contract-to-Hire, Full-Time, on-site role based in Chicago, IL

The Managing Director (MD) is the chief operations strategist of Red Clay Dance Company, responsible for leading the internal business functions that support and advance the artistic and educational vision set by the Artistic Director & CEO. The MD oversees organizational operations, finance, HR, and strategic communications, while ensuring alignment between staff, board, and community stakeholders. They will work in close partnership with the Director of Facilities & Operations to coordinate organizational and facility needs. The MD reports directly to the Artistic Director / CEO and supervises development staff, administrative staff, and consultants.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Operations & Administration

• Lead all non-facility business operations, including HR administration, donor management, and workflow systems.
• Develop cross-departmental processes that promote accountability, collaboration, and efficiency.

Finance & Budget Oversight

Human Resources & Organizational Culture

Marketing & Communications (Strategic Oversight)

Board & Strategic Relations

Collaboration with the Director of Facilities & Operations

Benefits

How to Apply

Please include “Managing Director” in the subject line and email your cover letter, resume, and references in a single attached .pdf file to HR@redclaydance.com. We respectfully request no phone inquiries. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. All application materials will be treated with strict confidentiality, and we will acknowledge every submission.

Red Clay Dance Company is a Black, female-led, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, for-purpose organization dedicated to inspiring "Glocal" Artivism through creating, performing, and teaching dances of the African Diaspora.

Red Clay Dance Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of our work. We believe that diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions strengthen our organization and enrich the art we create. We honor the intersectionality of identities and strongly encourage candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming and non-binary, neurodiverse, and people with disabilities to apply. Employment decisions are based on individual qualifications, merit, and organizational needs, without discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualifications

Skills & Competencies

Traits & Characteristics

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