Job Description

Arts Center Manager

The Arts Center Manager of the Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA) will serve as a bold, community-minded leader who will elevate CCA's visibility, impact, and momentum, championing its role as a flagship cultural destination for the city of Chandler. The Arts Center Manager will provide strategic, hands-on oversight of finance, administration, public relations, and programming, and will advance long-range planning for the Arts Center Division within the City's Cultural Development Department. Reporting to the Cultural Development Director, the Arts Center Manager will align people, priorities, and resources, and will ensure high-performing daily operations.

As chief steward of the Chandler Cultural Foundation and CCA's chief ambassador, the Arts Center Manager will drive revenue growth and audience engagement through integrated budgeting, fundraising, grant development, marketing, and sales strategies. The Arts Center Manager will shape a compelling, multi-year program, spanning presented performances, youth and community engagement, co-promotions, rentals, exhibits, and City events. Serving as a confident, media-ready spokesperson and key liaison to Chandler Unified School District and community stakeholders, the Arts Center Manager will build excitement, deepen relationships, and will position CCA as an essential hub for arts and culture.

As part of the City of Chandler's Cultural Development Department, the Chandler Center for the Arts is a vibrant regional arts destination dedicated to connecting communities and inspiring people through inclusive and enriching visual and performing arts experiences. Serving more than 160,000 patrons annually, CCA presents a diverse array of nationally and internationally recognized performancesincluding music, theatre, comedy, dance, and family programmingalongside dynamic visual art exhibitions in The Gallery at CCA, a 2,000-square-foot exhibition space that features rotating exhibitions by various artists throughout the year. CCA's mission is to make the arts accessible to all, acting as a creative resource for the community while harnessing the cultural and economic vitality of the arts for residents, schools, and visitors throughout the region.

Since opening on August 25, 1989, as a shared-use facility serving both the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District, CCA has continued to grow as a hub for artistic excellence. The CCA's performance venues, the 1,500-seat Main Stage, 350-seat Hal Bogle Theatre, and 250-seat Recital Hall, host a broad and acclaimed 202526 season that highlights collaborations with celebrated ensembles and touring artists, world music showcases, contemporary dance engagements, Broadway-style musicals, and community-driven experiences that celebrate local talent and cultural diversity. Recent seasons have featured standout presentations, including internationally renowned performers, cross-disciplinary arts festivals, and expanded family arts initiatives that bring interactive experiences to audiences of all ages. Looking ahead, CCA is also undertaking a major summer 2026 renovation, scheduled from June 15 through October 15, that will enhance accessibility, comfort, and patron experience through replacement of all theatrical seating, new carpet and epoxy flooring, improved floor and chair lighting, and renumbered seats for easier wayfinding, while also addressing critical fire sprinkler, theatrical rigging, and electrical systems to support the facility's long-term reliability and service to the community.

The nonprofit Chandler Cultural Foundation, established in conjunction with the CCA's launch, partners closely with CCA to advance programming, fundraising, and audience development, strengthening organizational sustainability and creative impact. Through robust education and outreach efforts, CCA engages schools, youth ensembles, local artists, and creative partners, reinforcing its role as an essential engine for cultural engagement, artistic collaboration, and community connection.

The Chandler Cultural Foundation has a 17-member board of directors led by Chair Julia Marreel. The Arts Center Manager oversees a staff of 15, including a Development & Donor Engagement Manager, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, and Performing Arts Program Manager, among other positions. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, CCA's audited financial statements reported total revenue of $3.7 million, including 12% from contributions and 88% from earned revenue sources. The projected revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, is $3.6 million, including 79% from earned revenue sources and 21% from contributions.

Situated in the heart of the Sonoran Desert and on the ancestral lands of the Akimel O'odham (Pima) and Pee-Posh (Maricopa) peoples, Chandler, Arizona, is home to approximately 280,000 residents and is part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area of more than five million people. Located in Maricopa County's fast-growing East Valley, Chandler is recognized for its strong economy, high quality of life, and commitment to innovation. The city consistently ranks among Arizona's most desirable communities, offering safe neighborhoods, highly rated schools, expansive parks, and a business-friendly environment anchored by leading technology and advanced manufacturing companies.

Chandler blends suburban livability with a vibrant and increasingly urban downtown core. Its historic downtown district features locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, public art, and year-round festivals that foster a strong sense of place and community connection. Residents enjoy abundant recreational opportunities, including more than 60 parks, golf courses, aquatic centers, and an extensive network of walking and biking paths. Proximity to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, professional sports venues, and the natural beauty of Arizona's mountains and desert landscapes adds to the city's appeal for families and professionals alike.

Arts and culture play a central role in Chandler's civic identity. Public art initiatives and a robust calendar of community festivals reflect the city's investment in creative expression and cultural vitality. Strong partnerships among the City of Chandler, Chandler Unified School District, local businesses, and nonprofit organizations support arts education, youth engagement, and community programming. With its dynamic economy, growing and diverse population, and commitment to cultural development, Chandler offers an exceptional environment for leaders seeking to make a lasting impact in a forward-looking and connected community.

Roles and Responsibilities

Operations, Policy Compliance, and People Leadership

• Act as President of the Chandler Cultural Foundation.
• Supervise and oversee daily operations.
• Set goals and objectives for assigned areas.
• Manage schedules and establish work priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate staff performance.
• Facilitate access to resources and training opportunities.
• Provide guidance and address operational and personnel issues.
• Conduct interviews and make hiring decisions.
• Interpret policy to ensure nonprofit practices comply with municipal contracts, processes, and procedures.
• Act as liaison between the City and Chandler Unified School District, and to the community at large and stakeholders for arts and culture-related activities.
• Embrace other operations, policy compliance, and people leadership responsibilities as needed.

Relationship Management

• Build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships across all key stakeholder groups.
• Ensure relationship-building remains central to day-to-day leadership and long-term success in the role.
• Maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, board members, city officials, and community partners.
• Establish credibility with internal and external stakeholders over time.
• Strengthen CCA's existing relationships while developing new connections and confidence in leadership.

Financial Management and Planning

• Prepare budget projections and reports, and monitor revenue and expenditures.
• Assist with developing and monitoring capital improvement projects and short- and long-term division planning.
• Embrace other financial management and planning responsibilities as needed.

Programming and Presenting

• Guide multi-year program development, including contracting presented performances, youth and engagement programs, co-promotions, City events, rental events, and exhibit schedules.
• Facilitate off-site presenting at partner venues in collaboration with local, regional, and national arts centers.
• Monitor community needs and industry trends through surveys and research.
• Embrace other programming and presenting responsibilities as needed.

Revenue Development, Marketing, and Communications

• Develop and monitor fundraising, grant writing, marketing, public relations, advertising, and sales strategies for the Chandler Center for the Arts.
• Serve as spokesperson for media inquiries and promote activities through public speaking opportunities.
• Embrace other revenue development, marketing, and communications responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The Arts Center Manager will be a collaborative and community-minded leader who thrives in a supportive role, contributing to collective success with humility and a focus on shared outcomes. Guided by a harmonious and balanced approach, they will value diverse perspectives and foster an inclusive environment that reflects the vibrancy of CCA

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