Description

The Managing Director will serve as MECCA’s chief operations and strategy officer, ensuring that the organization’s internal systems, resources, and culture are as bold and intentional as its artistry. Working closely with the Founder and Executive Artistic Director, this leader will translate MECCA’s five-year strategic plan into daily practice: leading operations, finances, fundraising, and organizational development while fostering a workplace rooted in equity, care, and collaboration. 

In the first 12-18 months, the Managing Director will focus on turning the MECCA vision into durable systems, operationalizing the strategic plan into annual goals and work plans; strengthening core infrastructure across finance, HR, fundraising, and administration; supporting the transition from founder-led to shared leadership, and preparing MECCA for thoughtful growth connected to neighborhood activations, establishing a dance school, and expanding national visibility. 

This is a hands-on role for a leader energized by building, aligning, and stewarding systems in a dynamic, community-rooted environment. Success in the first two months looks like strong relationships built with staff, Board, and community partners; clear visibility into MECCA’s

current operations and priorities; and early momentum on stabilizing systems and work rhythms that support both artistic leadership and organizational health. 

Requirements

Organizational Leadership and Strategy 

Implement MECCA’s strategic directions, aligning operations with community-rooted mission and values. 

Build and maintain a responsive, joyful, and equitable organizational culture. 

Occasionally represent MECCA with funders, partners, and civic leaders as needed, centering Mantua voices and values, while primarily focusing on internal leadership, operations, and strategy. 

Develop and design a starting assessment of organizational impact to establish baseline data–focused on organizational key performance indicators (KPIs) and readiness–that can be used in future evaluation efforts. 

Operations and Financial Stewardship 

Supervise day-to-day operations, including HR, finance, and compliance, with support from external consultants. 

Lead annual budgeting, financial planning, and transparent reporting processes. Manage contracts, policies, and procedures to ensure sustainability and accountability. 

Fundraising 

Supervise development staff and oversee execution of a five-year fundraising plan. Partner with the Executive Artistic Director and Board on major donor cultivation, institutional giving, and capital campaign planning. 

Explore new revenue opportunities, including earned income models aligned with MECCA’s mission. 

Team and Board Development 

Hire, support, and evaluate staff; provide professional growth opportunities. 
Collaborate with the Board on governance, fundraising, and strategic oversight. 

Qualifications 

5-7 years of progressive leadership in arts, cultural, or justice-oriented organizations. Experience building humane, anti-oppressive workplace systems 

Comfort navigating power, feedback, and accountability in a Black-led, community-rooted organization 

Ability to hold structure without flattening creativity 

Demonstrated ability to manage staff, budgets, and complex projects. 
Strong fundraising experience, with a track record in donor relations, institutional giving, and campaigns.

Commitment to racial justice, equity, and working in partnership with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

Skilled communicator and relationship-builder across diverse constituencies.