President & Executive Producer – Merger of Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater via TOC Arts Partners

President & Executive Producer

About the Opportunity

Two Institutions, One Mission

Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO — together representing more than a century of service to the region — voted in March 2026 to merge into a single new organization centered on locally produced theater and educational programming, with a planned launch in January 2027.

Pittsburgh Public Theater has been a cornerstone of the city’s cultural identity since 1974, producing acclaimed work at the O’Reilly Theater, including the complete ten-play August Wilson Century Cycle. Pittsburgh CLO has been the region’s home for professional musical theater since 1939 and operates CLO Academy, one of the most respected youth theater education programs in the country, alongside the long-running Gene Kelly Awards.

Both organizations enter the merger from a position of mission focused strength while facing many of the same financial pressures common across the nonprofit theater field nationally. The merger offers a pathway to creating greater financial stability, but more importantly it is grounded in a civic case: theater as an irreplaceable community anchor. Locally produced theater keeps working artists living, teaching, and raising families in Pittsburgh; sustains the region’s creative economy; and provides shared cultural touchstones — like PPT’s stewardship of August Wilson’s work — that cannot be reconstructed once lost.

The two organizations concluded that Pittsburgh’s theater community is better served by one stronger, more resourced institution than by two organizations competing for the same audiences, donors, venues, and talent. And while the economic numbers behind the decision are indeed compelling, the civic argument is powerfully inspiring and has generated the kind of excitement that comes from the community’s heartfelt investment in Pittsburgh’s cultural life.

About The New Company

The new PCLO/PPT merged company will launch as an approximately $8M organization. Programming will run across the O’Reilly, Byham, and Greer theaters downtown, with a 7-production inaugural season composed of musicals, classics, and contemporary works. The season is designed under a “MADE in Pittsburgh” framework (Meaningful, Artistically Excellent, Data-Led, Equitable) to create multiple points of entry for new and existing audiences.

Opportunities and Challenges for the first leader of this project

• A unique role leading an organization with a plan, structure, and experienced staff in place, charged with building on the legacies of two significant organizations from whom it was formed.
• To build on an existing foundation of a credible financial model and strong support for this enterprise, with a cohort of committed board leadership and philanthropic investment.
• To serve the mission and vision of this project, rooted in civic commitment, expanded education opportunities, and a clear artistic vision while encompassing dedication to financial sustainability.
• The opportunity to execute a sustainable operating model for regional producing theaters — one other cities and companies may look to as a template.
• Strong history of working in the complexity of a multi-space, union artistic workforce
• The charge to honor the mission and legacy of two theaters with long, accomplished, and distinct institutional histories.
• Building trust with a local arts community that will be watching closely to see whether the merger strengthens and honors what each organization stood for.
• Establishing a clear identity and audience share in a market with competing cultural entities in the downtown core.

Prioritized Experience & Qualifications

• Experienced arts leader capable of fulfilling the vision and mission of a newly unified theater company
• Operational and financial management at significant scale
• Organizational change management and/or start up experience
• Successful track record of fundraising in all forms: Individual, major gifts, foundations, corporations, government
• Artistic/programming leadership in performing arts; musical theater background valued
• Strong external relations skills and experience; with press, funders, community of supporters and artists
• Regional knowledge and Pittsburgh/SW Pennsylvania relationships appreciated

About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a premier cultural powerhouse, combining a world-class formal arts scene with an eccentric, grassroots creative community. Driven by Gilded Age philanthropy and reimagined through modern urban design, the city offers major artistic institutions alongside a thriving neighborhood-level “maker scene.” Living in Pittsburgh is defined by its dramatic topography, affordable cost of living, and strong community identity. The city features 90 unique neighborhoods, distinct architectural charm, and a booming tech and healthcare-driven economy—all anchored by major institutions like Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. The Cultural District is a fourteen-square-block area in Downtown Pittsburgh bordered by the Allegheny River on the north, Tenth Street on the east, Stanwix Street on the west, and Liberty Avenue on the south. The Cultural District features six theaters offering some 1,500 shows annually, as well as art galleries, restaurants, and retail shops.

Job Description

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Vision

• Lead the company in a manner that centers the art and programs of the company while valuing the people who make them possible.
• In partnership with the staff and board, create and lead annual business plans that allow the organization to thrive through a commitment to artistic quality, equity, financial health, and fulfilling the company’s mission, vision, and values.
• In collaboration with the Board of Directors, align business strategies with the company goals as articulated in the plan developed in conjunction with the merger.
• Directly supervise the leadership team/department heads, encompassing Development, General Management, Production, Artistic and Marketing Departments, including guiding collaborative goal setting, ongoing coaching, and assisting with problem-solving, as well as annual performance reviews.
• Create and instill throughout the company communication practices that ensure that key stakeholders in all areas of the organization – staff, board and others – are well-versed in annual operations plans and long-term goals.
• Lead multi-year financial forecasting, development of overall financial strategy, and systems of budget accountability with the leadership team and board finance leadership.
• Support collaboration among all departments of the company by connecting each of them to the central work of the company and through concepts of shared outcomes.
• Be a mentor and advisor to staff, with a focus on recruitment and retention of team members in a challenging era of changing employee expectations and needs.

Artistic Curation, Producing, and Education

• Articulate and implement an annual artistic plan for the company reflective of a transparent process of selection
• Ensure the company’s artistic productions, education programs, experiences, activities and events meet or exceed existing or newly established artistic goals
• Lead a robust, open and collaborative process for curating work that connects with the community and cultural pulse of the time
• Serve as lead producer for all productions and ensure production values and work culture meet or exceed goals
• Develop programming and production budgets as part of company’s annual program budgeting process in collaboration with the production, artistic and management teams
• Develop and implement an annual educational plan in coordination with the Director of Education ensuring it’s in dialogue with our community, our on-stage work, and / or mission for creative work and community engagement
• Proactively seek co-production and other partnership opportunities
• Identify opportunities for the company to develop and/or participate in the cultivation of new work.
• Grow, nurture, and maintain a network of directors, designers, playwrights, and other theatre artists, with an emphasis on local and regional artists

Culture and Community

• In partnership with the Leadership Team, oversee and model the company vision and values in all theater operations and relationships.
• Lead an organizational culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, mutual respect, and creative problem solving—all while centering the artistic quality and financial responsibility needed to support these values.
• Provide leadership, space, and time for long-term planning and goal setting, as part of developing team capacity for growth and change.
• Provide leadership for scaffolding the necessary conversations, training, and evaluation of progress to ensure that company goals are mission-aligned and kept in focus during competing priorities.

Resource Development & Board Engagement

• Provide leadership to the development team and Board to generate overall strategy for fundraising and engage in direct personal engagement in major gift cultivation and solicitation for annual funds and investment strategies
• Take an active role in fundraising in collaboration with the Director of Development and manage a portfolio of major donors, including high engagement during the inaugural years of the new company
• Provide leadership and support to the marketing department and be an advocate for the team and its strategic needs, in a company with a significant reliance on ensuring budget goals for earned revenue.
• With board leadership, work to deepen engagement of the board, creating opportunities to grow into an even stronger and more impactful group in support of the work of the company. Collaborate with board leadership to assess and further develop current and future board capacities (included but not limited to financial capacity).
• Manage overall administrative operations through direct reports, including finance and HR needs, to track the organization’s health on an ongoing basis, in both financial terms and in people terms.

Qualifications

Skills and experience:

• Demonstrated leadership skills in leading a team with distinct areas of expertise and responsibility, while fostering collaboration among those teams needed to effectively and efficiently fulfill the theater’s needs.
• Strong non-profit financial literacy, with ability to lead budget creation, understand forecasting models, and ensure accuracy of tracking and reporting.
• Experience with or understanding of the role of the non-profit theater in connection to the commercial producing world, and how those partnerships could benefit the company and the field.
• Comfort and success with fundraising and a strategic fundraising approach that aligns with belief in the impact of theater both historically and currently, and both locally and nationally.
• Experience in artistic leadership and programming rooted in understanding the audience and the community, and the need to invest in both for company success and growth.
• Experience in or demonstrated understanding of the position of an executive in a non-profit organization, reporting to a Board of Directors, holding the organization in trust for the community.
• Experience managing competing priorities in complex, often fast-paced settings.
• Strong and persuasive communication skills, with the authenticity to effectively inspire excitement for the company across a range of constituents, from board and staff to audiences, volunteers, and donors.
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusivity, and a dedication to staying abreast of best practices around creating equity and access and applying them to the work of running a theater.

Qualities and Characteristics:

• A firm belief in the power of theater and the impact it can have on our world.
• An appreciation for the legacy of the merged companies, from the historic value of the work produced over the years and the role the companies played in building the cultural richness of Pittsburgh.
• Organized and attentive to deadlines and immediate needs of operations but also maintains long-term focus to support the vision of the strategic plan.
• Understanding that growth and change bring occasional discomfort but can lead through those times with the larger goal in mind.
• Has an open and inquisitive mind that values differing perspectives.
• Ability to build trust and loyalty with multiple stakeholder groups: staff, artists, donors, and the larger community in which the theater lives, both in Pittsburgh and with the national theater field.
• Believes in the strength of collaboration and is adept in and committed to resolving conflicts that can arise in collaborative groups.
• A vision for a collaborative, business intelligence driven future.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $175,000-200,000. The company provides comprehensive benefits including a broad health care package, a retirement plan, a generous time off policy that includes PTO, family medical leave, bereavement leave, and eight paid holidays, plus a company-wide week off at the end of December.

The organization is committed to a workplace where everyone is free from bias, prejudice, discrimination, and harassment. We strive to foster a welcoming work environment where everyone belongs and is valued for their unique contributions. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all to apply.

Application Instructions

The President & Executive Producer search is being conducted on behalf of the organization by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Vice President Cynthia Fuhrman, in consultation with and support from the TOC Arts Partners search team.

To apply, visit the online application and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume. Applications will be accepted until this role is filled.

For general questions or nominations of prospective candidates, please contact searchteam@tocartspartners.com. We kindly request no phone calls.

Specific questions about the position may be directed to:

Cynthia Fuhrman
VP, Executive Search
cynthia@tocartspartners.com

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

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