Chief Executive Officer – Performing Arts

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Augusta Players and The Imperial Theatre are seeking a seasoned and values-driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to provide leadership during a pivotal period of transition, reflection, and opportunity for Augusta’s performing arts community.

This moment follows the profound and unexpected loss of The Augusta Players’ Executive Director, whose leadership, artistry, and vision left an enduring mark not only on The Augusta Players, but on the cultural fabric of Augusta. His passing is deeply felt across the organization and the broader arts community, and it underscores the importance of thoughtful, steady leadership that honors legacy while guiding institutions forward with care and purpose.

In parallel, The Imperial Theatre is preparing for a planned leadership transition, as its Executive Director has announced retirement at the end of the first quarter of this year. The Imperial Theatre is actively working to appoint an interim Executive Director to ensure continuity of operations and artistic excellence while the CEO search is underway.

Against this backdrop, the two institutions have announced their intent to come together as a unified performing arts organization; one designed to strengthen the performing arts ecosystem across the CSRA while honoring and preserving the distinct histories, artistic identities, and missions that have long defined each organization. This proposed partnership follows more than two years of thoughtful dialogue, exploration, and strategic analysis, supported by the engagement of an independent consultant.

The organizations are currently engaged in good-faith merger discussions and remain in the planning and due diligence phase, subject to final approval by both boards and any required legal or regulatory review. During this period, both organizations will continue to operate independently, maintaining current programming and operations while leaders carefully evaluate the optimal path forward.

Within this context, the CEO will play a central role in shaping the future of the proposed combined organization. The role requires strategic leadership, strong financial stewardship, and the ability to support board-level decision-making related to potential integration. Upon finalization of the partnership, the CEO will help align operations, support artistic leadership, and deepen relationships with patrons, donors, artists, community partners, and other stakeholders.

This role calls for a leader with exceptional financial acumen, demonstrated fundraising success, and the emotional intelligence to guide people through uncertainty with clarity, steadiness, and respect. The CEO will help advance the partnership’s goals of long-term sustainability, artistic excellence, educational opportunity, and expanded community impact—while honoring the people, stories, and traditions that make these institutions deeply meaningful to the community they serve.

CORE LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES
The CEO will be expected to:
Stabilize and strengthen the organization’s financial foundation
Provide disciplined, transparent leadership during a period of change and possibility
Honor the organization’s artistic legacy while preparing it for a sustainable future

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy & Stewardship (Primary Focus)
– Serve as the organization’s chief financial strategist, with direct oversight of:
– Annual and multi-year budgeting
– Cash flow management and forecasting
– Accounting systems, internal controls, and financial reporting
– Audit preparation and compliance
– Develop and implement financial models and scenario analyses, including merger-related due diligence
– Ensure the organization operates with strong fiscal discipline while supporting artistic mission
Development & Revenue Generation
– Lead and support fundraising strategies across individual giving, corporate sponsorships, grants, and special campaigns
– Demonstrated experience planning, launching, or leading major gifts or capital campaigns strongly preferred
– Partner with the Board and development staff to cultivate high-capacity donors and institutional funders
– Serve as a confident external representative to funders and community stakeholders
Strategic & Organizational Leadership
– Work closely with the Board of Directors to support strategic planning, governance, and fiduciary responsibility
– Provide leadership and analysis related to potential organizational integration or merger
– Translate strategy into executable operational plans with measurable outcomes
People-Centered Leadership & Legacy Stewardship
– Lead staff with empathy, transparency, and consistency during a period of organizational transition
– Foster trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose
– Honor the organization’s history, values, and community relationships while guiding necessary change
Operations & Systems Oversight
– Oversee policies, procedures, and systems that support accountability and efficiency
– Ensure operational alignment across programming, facilities, staffing, and patron services

QUALIFICATIONS
– Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business, finance, nonprofit management, or arts administration preferred
– 7–10+ years of executive or senior leadership experience is required.
– Experience working closely with boards on fiduciary, financial, and strategic matters is required.
– Experience in designing or leading fundraising is required. Capital campaign experience is preferred.
– Leadership philosophy that incorporates human-centered values is required.

WHY THIS ROLE IS UNIQUE
This is an opportunity to lead not only an organization but lead a legacy moment. The CEO will help determine what sustainability, collaboration, and stewardship look like for Augusta’s performing arts future.

The Augusta Players self-produce 15 shows annually across 4 programs, hold 4 annual events, have a summer theatre camp, and an immersive, inclusive summer camp for those on the autism spectrum. The Augusta Players is not presently looking to expand programming, but to grow the processes and procedures that will give a stable underpinning to their current operations.

The Imperial Theatre is rented for an average of 90 days per year. The Imperial Theatre’s goal is to expand utilization and programming to drive forward crucial revenue.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé and references (3-5) should be emailed to search@augustaplayers.org. Professional references will be held in strict confidence and will not be contacted without the candidate’s explicit permission. Please be sure to detail relevant financial leadership, fundraising experience, and leadership philosophy.

Priority review will be given to those whose applications have been received by February 15th, 2026. The application window will close on March 1st, 2026.