Assistant to the Executive Director

The Joyce Theater Foundation is committed to fostering and supporting a diverse and inclusive environment, both on and off stage. We embrace and celebrate diversity in all its forms, and value the rich experiences and perspectives that arise from differences in race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and cognitive and physical ability. 

In accordance with the health and safety guidelines of our local officials, The Joyce Theater Foundation requires vaccinations for our staff, audience members, and performers. 

Description

The Assistant to the Executive Director (E.D.) will assist in all aspects of the management of the theater and provide general administrative support as needed within the organization. Qualified candidates should have a strong interest in dance with exceptional communication skills and creative problem solving abilities.

Responsibilities

Executive Support

• Handle all Administrative needs of E.D. with confidentiality as needed
• Maintain and update contacts and calendar for E.D. in Outlook; includes handling all RSVP’s, keeping track of weekly meetings, setting up meetings upon request, making meeting and dinner reservations, recording due dates, adding all Joyce events to the E.D.’s calendar and keeping performance opportunities organized.
• Review all incoming mail to the E.D. and skim through publications for relevant articles.
• Manage and maintain E.D. To-Do List ensuring items are completed in a timely manner.
• Organize, prioritize and appropriately handle time-sensitive, confidential information and ensure action required is addressed in a timely manner
• Research, write drafts and/or follow up on E.D.’s special projects
• Draft and/or proof the E.D.’s weekly e-memo to the Board, including preparing and scanning all necessary attachments, i.e. newspaper articles.
• Liaison between busy E.D. and other departments, be resourceful in building relationships across the larger Joyce ecosystem.
• Post weekly program information, run times, postcards and production calendar
• Keep E.D. desk and office as organized and manageable as possible.
• Update the filing system.
• Handle all travel arrangements for the E.D.; car, hotels, air and reservations (performances, restaurants, etc.)
• Compile all E.D. business and travel receipts and create monthly expense reports to be submitted to the Finance department.

Communication

• Manage email, documents and phone calls; keeping track of messages.
• Handle all business correspondence for E.D.; write letters or drafts upon request.
• Participate and lead the Staff Meeting Agenda Committee to best prepare and communicate to the organization for Monthly Staff Meetings.
• Compile information to be circulated to all staff on a timely basis; including weekly staff notes email.

General Office

• Cater food for meetings as needed.

• Purchase gifts, food, flowers, etc. that E.D. gives as gifts to staff, VIP’s, visiting companies, etc.
• Circulate cards for special occasions and guests.
• Arrange the Holiday party and Staff Anniversary parties. Take care of any cards, gifts and/or food that accompany these celebrations.
• Assist other departments as needed when time permits.

Requirements

• Fluency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Must be able to manage all tasks with discretion keep information confidential
• High sensitivity to organization and detail
• Excellent follow through
• Willingness to take on new challenges, projects and responsibilities
• Ability to creatively problem-solve
• Flexible in adapting to changing timelines and priorities
• Able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities
• Knowledge and strong interest in the dance industry

About The Joyce Theater Foundation

The Joyce Theater Foundation ("The Joyce," Executive Director, Linda Shelton), a nonprofit organization, has proudly served the dance community for over three decades. Under the direction of founders Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, Ballet Tech Foundation acquired and The Joyce renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. Opening as The Joyce Theater in 1982, it was named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther’s clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to build the theater. Ownership was secured by The Joyce in 2015. The theater is one of the only theaters built by dancers for dance and has provided an intimate and elegant home for over 400 U.S.-based and international companies. The Joyce has also expanded its reach beyond its Chelsea home through off-site presentations at venues ranging in scope from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, to Brooklyn’s Invisible Dog Art Center, and to outdoor programming in spaces such as Hudson River Park. To further support the creation of new work, The Joyce maintains longstanding commissioning and residency programs. Local students and teachers (K–12th grade) benefit from its school program, and family and adult audiences get closer to dance with access to artists. The Joyce’s annual season of about 48 weeks of dance now includes over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 150,000 patrons. Visit Joyce.org for more information.

Joyce Theater Foundation employees share a rich work experience with colleagues who embrace the institution’s mission of programming and promoting a wide spectrum of dance. An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, The Joyce Theater is committed to an inclusive work environment.

No phone calls or solicitations please. Due to the volume of applications anticipated, only those candidates that most directly meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.