Open Staff Positions
Finance Manager
OVERVIEW
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival entered its 25th anniversary season having matured into one of the cultural gems of the bi-state region. Its summer Shakespeare productions play to thousands of residents and visitors every night, offering world-class artistry and an unmatched sense of community in one of America’s great urban parks. Its innovative Shakespeare in the Streets program builds bridges all across the St. Louis metro area by empowering local residents to tell and own the unique stories of their neighborhoods. And recently the organization has committed itself to developing and nurturing new work in an effort to elevate Midwestern voices in the national cultural conversation.
OPPORTUNITY
The Festival headed into its 25th anniversary with tremendous momentum. The 2024 season was the most successful in its history. It’s COVID-era innovations dramatically boosted its profile both locally and nationally. The organization has grown over 30% since the pandemic and over 80% since the current administration began in 2018. As the team works to shape a vision and plan for the next chapter in the life of the Festival, a highly skilled Finance Manager will play a crucial role in developing and executing that strategy. Providing a backbone of support through accurate financial reporting, payroll processes and systems management, the Finance Manager will be a key part of expanding and elevating the deeply connective, life-affirming and innovative experiences that the Festival offers to St. Louis and its entire surrounding region.
POSITION
The Finance Manager will serve as a key member of the Festival’s team and oversee its day-to-day and long-range financial operations. Building on established best practices and innovating boldly within the unique context of the Festival, the Finance Manager will enhance and coordinate internal financial systems; cultivate a workplace culture of support, inclusion and empowerment; and collaborate with the staff on realizing truly transformative plans for the Festival and St. Louis.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Finance
- Create and maintain effective systems for managing cash flow, payroll and accounting.
- Prepare and present clear and informative reports on current and future positions for internal and external constituents. These reports must be timely, accurate and represent a clear picture of the organization’s financial standing throughout the fiscal year.
- Take the lead on budgeting, working with Festival staff to set annual fiscal estimates.
- Provide valuable forecasts to Festival leadership to guide important decision-making. Use historical financial patterns along with the input of Festival teammates to forecast year end results for the Festival.
- Build and nurture strong relationships with outside vendors and contractors. Create and enact detailed payment schedule, prioritizing staff and vendor relationships.
- Maintain and optimize all insurance and benefits programs.
- Oversee the annual audit in conjunction with the Producing Artistic Director, Finance Committee and outside accounting firm.
Administration
- Develop systems for budgetary control over physical production processes.
- Manage information technology needs, coordinating installation, maintenance and repair of computers, telephones, software and backend systems.
Human Resources
- Work with Business Manager to execute all contracts and agreements with Festival staff, artists, contractors and unions.
- Administer all payroll and employee benefit programs.
- Collaborate with staff to cultivate an organizational culture that is both ambitious and rigorous while also remaining playful and supportive.
QUALIFICATIONS
We are actively seeking a diverse applicant pool. The ideal candidate will have the following:
- A four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
- Strong attention to detail and rigorous review for accuracy.
- Experience working at cultural or mission-driven organizations.
- Training in nonprofit administration or theater management.
- Strong quantitative skills, including past experience managing budgets, banking and accounting.
As well as:
- A positive and optimistic outlook.
- A desire to nurture and bring out the best in those around them.
- A brisk internal tempo and bias toward action coupled with a genuine and generous patience.
- A growth mindset, candid self-assessment and resilient constitution.
- A deep love for St. Louis, its many neighborhoods and surrounding regions.
COMPENSATION:
$60,000 – $70,000
PROCEDURE:
Please send cover letter/resume to jobs@stlshakes.org by October 22.
Actors
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is now accepting audition sign ups and video submissions from equity and non-equity members for this year’s 2025 Shakespeare in the Streets production written by Deasia Page and directed by Kathryn Bentley. SITS is a theatrical experience that combines the history of one St Louis community with a Shakespeare play. This year’s project honors the historic East St Louis neighborhood and is adapted from Shakespeare’s play Richard III. The new play will be inspired by stories of people ESTL and performed on stage in the streets in September 2025
STL Auditions: July 15th. 3-9pm
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45A5AF2EABFACF8-57304988-shakespeare
Please come prepared with a monologue (classical or contemporary) no longer than 2 min
ESTL Auditions: August 4th 6-9pm and August 5th 5-9pm
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45A5AF2EABFACF8-57365916-shakespeare#/
Please come prepared with a monologue (classical or contemporary) or poem no longer than 2 min. If you don’t have a memorized monologue or poem, there will be material there for you to read. If you do not have a headshot and resume we will take a picture of you at the audition for our reference.
Video submissions (along with a resume) should be sent to carolyn@stlshakes.org in the form of an unlisted youtube link. (Only unlisted youtube links will be accepted).
Directors & Designers
Directors and designers interested in working with us should submit their resumes and bios to casting@stlshakes.org.
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