Full Time | Staten Island, NY

WHO WE ARE

Snug Harbor is an expansive culture park on Staten Island where arts, nature, education, and history converge to offer dynamic programming, events, and festivals to our diverse community. Located less than 1.5 miles from the Staten Island Ferry and easily accessible by public transportation, Snug Harbor welcomes nearly 500,000 visitors each year. Visitors can explore multiple museums, performances, festivals, a farm, and 83 acres of gardens, parkland, woodland, and wetlands.

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, Snug Harbor is one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in America, transforming a 19th-century charitable rest home for sailors into a vibrant hub of contemporary culture and community connection. Today, Snug Harbor’s mission is dedicated to creating a vibrant culture park in Staten Island offering arts, nature, history, education and events for all.

THE POSITION
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Senior Director, Arts & Event Production is a senior leadership role overseeing Snug Harbor’s Arts & Events business unit. This team manages both internal and third-party programming, rentals, and exhibitions across venues including the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Music Hall, Carpenter’s Shop, the South Meadow stage, as well as other non-traditional spaces across the campus. The team also cultivates a vibrant and growing artist residency program for visual and performing artists and organizations.  

This role ensures the successful execution of all team programming by managing production timelines, budgets, and vendor relationships. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of multidisciplinary creative production, a network of industry contacts, and the ability to support and elevate the work of fellow department leaders. They will cultivate external partnerships and implement effective production processes that enhance program quality and impact.

As the executive in charge of all Snug Harbor production operations, the Senior Director manages budgets, develops staff, and facilitates cross-departmental coordination. They provide hands-on support during events and maintain regular communication with Executive leadership colleagues, Arts & Events team members and other cross departmental staff supporting the work of the business unit. The role requires strong problem-solving skills, the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and a deep understanding of multi-venue arts operations.

The Senior Director serves as a member of Snug Harbor’s Strategy Team, and will co-lead strategic initiative working groups as assigned by the President & CEO.  These strategic projects will include developing and implementing a phased reopening programming plan for the Snug Harbor Music Hall.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Arts & Events Team Leadership

• Drive an entrepreneurial vision by creating and implementing innovative, cost-effective business plans to attract clients, sponsors, donors and audiences.
• Lead the development of efficient management systems for the Arts & Events Business Unit’s annual calendar, ensuring alignment with other departments and staffing capacity.
• Collaborate with Arts & Events leadership to streamline and improve rental inquiries, contracts, and program execution processes and procedures.
• Develop and oversee procedures for managing production equipment inventory, procurement, maintenance, disposal, and interdepartmental use.
• Collaborate with Sr. Director Marketing & Brand Experience on procedures development for assigned box office and ticketing staff
• Coordinate with External Affairs and Campus Administration teams to boost market presence for Arts & Events business unit.
• Ensure ongoing maintenance efforts by cross departmental teams and lead by example to establish a robust workplace safety culture for all event teams, arts & event spaces and equipment users.
• Set annual performance goals for direct reports, monitor progress, and address challenges.

Planning and Budgeting

• Advise the CEO on long-term strategic goals and contribute to organizational planning.
• Achieve business unit goals and financial targets; implement evaluation systems and report outcomes to leadership.
• Serve as lead negotiator for all Arts & Events contracting needs with external parties including leading contract adjustments and negotiations on rental bookings, residencies, and performance bookings.  Oversee the development and updating of all Arts & Events contract boilerplates.
• In collaboration with the Arts & Events management team, develop and manage short- and long-term budgets and plans for Arts & Events programming.
• Establish and monitor operational systems and procedures for efficiency.
• Stay informed on trends in visual and performing arts, festivals, and outdoor events to drive innovation.
• Document all planning, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency and sustainability.
• Design and track program outcomes and evaluation metrics.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to build partnerships that expand programming and operational capacity (e.g., internships, workforce development, volunteer programs).

Organizational Strategy & Leadership

• Partner with staff and volunteers to align programs and services with organizational goals and community needs.
• Promote and uphold Snug Harbor’s mission, vision, and values across all operations.
• Gather stakeholder feedback to ensure program relevance and quality.
• Support policy development and institutional integrity.
• Serve as an internal consultant to address strategic priorities and lead cross-functional teams.
• Lead strategic management working groups as assigned by the CEO.

Staff Management

• Supervise and support the Director & Sr. Curator of the Newhouse Center, the Sr. Manager, Events & Business Services, the Technical Specialist, and other Arts & Events indirect reports, and freelance staff.
• Provide Executive leadership and support to external partners, clients, and vendors including booking agents, press agents, and technical vendors. 
• Lead over-hire production staff and cross-department personnel to achieve Arts & Events team goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with External Affairs, Campus Administration and Community Impact team leads to meet strategic organizational objectives.
• Foster a positive, high-performing team culture for staff and volunteers.
• Oversee recruitment, training, evaluation, and professional development of direct reports
• Ensure effective internal communication and succession planning for Arts & Event team
• Empower staff and volunteers by:
  • Communicating vision and values
  • Encouraging ownership and accountability
  • Supporting skill development and collaboration
  • Facilitating conflict resolution and strategic thinking

Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

• Ensure team collaborates effectively with relevant cross departmental staff on organizational fundraising, marketing and communication objectives, and support in de-escalating and mediating conflicts when required.
• Ensure consistent adherence to Snug Harbor brand guidelines and brand directives across all Arts & Events activities and publications.
• Oversee team submission processes for marketing, communications, and web content requests to ensure collaboration, accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide and track impact data for use by the Development team
• Collaborate on grant writing and fundraising strategies to grow individual and corporate support.
• Collaborate on site visits, fundraising events, and donor relationship building as directed.
• Contribute to funder reports and support fundraising efforts for SHCCBG programs.

 QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Arts Administration, Performing Arts Theater Management, or comparable professional experience
• Experience with a variety of event and cultural production types, specifically live music, theater,  dance, and visual art installation best practices.
• Prior senior manager or director level experience in a performing arts center, a multi-faceted non-profit cultural environment or a multi-faceted visual arts or entertainment venue preferred
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required