Associate Executive Director

Company Overview

The Citadel Theatre is an Edmonton-grown cultural cornerstone and a leading force in Canadian regional theatre, celebrated for bold, imaginative productions that deeply resonate with our local community while contributing to the national artistic conversation.

As one of the largest not-for-profit theatres in North America, the Citadel attracts audiences from Edmonton and communities across central and northern Alberta.

Job Description

The Associate Executive Director is a new, full-time, permanent leadership position that sits as part of the senior leadership team, working under the direction of the Executive Director. The ideal candidate is driven, deeply committed to the performing arts, and well-versed in the evolving challenges and opportunities facing cultural non-profit organizations.

This role will oversee the Hospitality, Marketing, and Sales teams (three direct reports and 19 full-time staff) and will be responsible for cultivating a high-performing, collaborative, and inspired team that amplifies the Citadel Theatre’s impact, supports sustainable growth, and strengthens its role as a leading Canadian cultural institution.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Executive Leadership

• Support the Executive Director and Artistic Director to ensure the overall health of the organization, and support the leadership team in upholding inclusivity, integrity, workplace safety, and compliance with all relevant regulations and statutory requirements.
• Serve as a core member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and executive decision making.
• Provide vision, guidance, and support to operational department directors and managers, ensuring alignment with the Citadel’s strategic goals.
• Foster collaboration and continuous improvement across departments, while reinforcing accountability and a culture of service excellence.
• Work in partnership with the Executive Director to support the Board of Directors, including the preparation of reports and updates and the advancement of strategic initiatives.

Granting

• Manage grant agreements with government funders (municipal, provincial, and federal) to ensure full compliance with reporting schedules, deliverables, financial tracking, and recognition commitments, maintaining organized systems for documentation, deadlines, and correspondence.
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement department to manage private and foundation applications, reporting, and relationship-building, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and community impact.
• Develop clear and comprehensive interim and final reports for funders,demonstrating progress, outcomes, financial accountability, and impact.
• Closely work with program leads, Community Engagement and Finance to gather data, evaluate results, and articulate outcomes that strengthen relationships with funders.

Marketing

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Marketing department (6 full-time staff), working with the Director of Marketing to shape strategy and vision, grow audiences, elevate the Citadel’s profile, and support revenue growth.
• Set strategic direction to drive audience development and achieve revenue goals.
• Ensure consistency of messaging and visual identity across all platforms.
• Provide guidance in public relations, media strategy, and crisis communications.

Sales (Box Office, Events & Rentals)

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for Sales departments, including Box Office, Events & Rentals (10 full-time staff).
• Ensure sales targets are aligned with the Citadel’s mission, development priorities, and financial objectives.
• Oversee the implementation of ticketing systems, policies, and reporting to maximize accessibility, data accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
• Foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration across all teams supporting ticket sales, space rentals, and patron customer service.
• Guide long-term planning for Events and Rentals to enhance community engagement, organizational profile, and revenue growth.

Hospitality (Front-of-House, Bar)

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for all patron-facing departments, including Front-of-House (including 100+ volunteers), and Bar. (3 full-time staff).
• Ensure staff align service delivery with the Citadel’s mission, audience development goals, and financial objectives.
• Champion a customer-first approach, balancing operational efficiency with exceptional experiences for all patrons.
• Foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration across all Hospitality teams.
• Guide long-term planning for events and rentals to enhance community engagement, elevate the Citadel’s profile, and drive revenue growth.

Leadership & Culture

• • Mentor and develop department directors, managers and supervisors to strengthen leadership capacity, accountability, and collaboration.
  • Model and promote the Citadel’s core values: kindness, access and inclusion, collaboration, communication, and accountability.
  • Build strong cross-departmental relationships to integrate operational excellence with artistic vision and organizational strategy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Arts Management, Operations, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field – preferably with experience overseeing patron-facing services, events, or venue operations – including at least 5 years in a senior management role.
• Demonstrated success in audience development, brand management, or patron engagement strategies that deliver measurable results.
• Experience overseeing multiple operational departments (e.g., marketing, hospitality, sales) in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
• Knowledge of ticketing systems and CRM platforms; experience leveraging data for decision-making and revenue growth.
• Proven track record of building and sustaining partnerships, ideally within the arts, culture, tourism or non-profit sectors.
• Experience as an arts or tourism professional
• An understanding of the Canadian theatre landscape.
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SKILLS

• Strong strategic planning and project management skills, with the ability to align external operations with organizational goals.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, able to represent the Citadel effectively with patrons, partners, and the broader community.
• Proven ability to lead large, diverse teams, manage budgets, and drive accountability across multiple portfolios.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, with experience embedding these values into public-facing operations.
• Creative problem-solver with the ability to navigate complexity and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Post-secondary education in Arts Management, Operations, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related fields is an asset.
• Experience in grant writing and program or project management is an asset.
• Experience in patron experience, audience development, or community engagement is an asset.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to support performances, events, and community initiatives.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to remain current with best practices in marketing, patron services, and organizational leadership.
• Willingness and ability to represent the Citadel at industry and local events, building networks and fostering partnerships that support the organization’s mission and growth.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for conferences, funder meetings, or community partnership events.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a respectful, inclusive, and positive workplace culture aligned with the Citadel’s core values.
• Passion for theatre, the arts, and creating exceptional patron experiences.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment while maintaining strategic oversight.