CAREERS

Position Summary
The Deputy Director is a leadership position serving as the operational and strategic partner to the Executive Director. This role drives outstanding programming, staff excellence, and organizational effectiveness, while directly supporting PACI’s development, fundraising, and community engagement efforts. As the Executive Director focuses on an impending capital campaign and major fundraising, the Deputy Director leads day-to-day operations and talent buying, supervises cross-functional staff, and helps build the council’s next generation of leadership capacity. The role may, at the board’s discretion, serve as a pathway to future executive leadership within PACI.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership and Operations

• Serve as the Executive Director’s primary partner in implementing PACI’s three-year strategic plan, translating priorities into annual goals, deliverables, performance metrics, and budgets.​

• Lead day-to-day operations, coordinating across programs, marketing, education, rentals/hospitality, patron services, and audience development.

• Direct all staff except finance/admin (those remain reporting to the Executive Director), fostering collaboration, innovation, professional growth, and a positive, inclusive culture.

• Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director and board committees on issues of strategy, risk management, and organizational learning, occasionally representing the organization in the Executive Director’s absence as assigned.

Fundraising, Development, and Campaign Support

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and development partners to expand contributed revenue from individuals, sponsors, and members, ensuring integration of fundraising across programs and communications.

• Manage a portfolio of donors, assist with major gift and campaign meetings, and take the lead on select stewardship and fundraising events.

• Support the capital campaign through prospect research, reporting, campaign communication, and tracking donor engagement, as assigned.​

• Assist in preparing grant applications, managing grant deliverables, and ensuring compliance for government and private funders.

Programming and Talent Buying

• Take primary responsibility for programming and talent buying for the Alhambra Theater series and other PACI-produced events, including artist research, contract negotiation, show advancing, and monitoring event margins.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director on program budgeting and with education staff to ensure offerings serve diverse, multigenerational audiences.

• Evaluate program effectiveness, collecting and analyzing data to inform future programming decisions and ensure alignment with PACI’s mission and audience goals.

Staff Management, Culture, and Accountability

• Supervise department leads for programming, education, marketing, patron services, community engagement, and hospitality/rentals.

• Lead hiring, onboarding, goal-setting, performance reviews, staff meetings, and professional development activities.

• Foster an environment of learning, inclusion, and transparent communication, organizing annual retreats and teambuilding initiatives.

Community Partnerships and External Relations

• In collaboration with education staff, cultivate partnerships with area schools, youth-serving organizations, civic groups, and local businesses to deepen community access and expand geographic reach.

• Represent PACI at community and industry events as assigned, sharing the organization’s vision, impact, and opportunities for engagement.

• Support board committees and key volunteers with responsive staff liaison duties, materials preparation, and follow-up on action items.

Data, Evaluation, and Process Improvement

• Oversee and continuously improve data collection systems and protocols for measuring organizational impact, supporting grant and contract compliance.

• Develop and implement program improvement frameworks and support cross-department accountability for annual and strategic goals.

Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; advanced degree or equivalent experience in arts administration, nonprofit management, or business preferred.

• Minimum 5–7 years’ progressively responsible experience in nonprofit, arts, or cultural administration, including supervision of multi-functional teams.​

• Demonstrated fundraising/development experience, including donor relations or direct solicitation, event-based fundraising, and campaign or grant support.

• Direct experience in programming, talent buying, or live event booking for a venue, festival, or similar organization preferred, but not required.

• Strong track record in professional staff management, team-building, and workplace culture development.

• Proven ability with budget oversight, financial management, and grant or contract compliance.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and public representation skills; experience developing cross-functional internal/external partnerships.

Work Environment and Other Requirements

• The Deputy Director role requires flexibility and the ability to work nights and weekends for performances, special events, and outreach activities as part of the regular schedule.​

• Occasional local travel may be needed for meetings, outreach, or partnership development.

• Regularly moves within the theatre, office, and event venues; may occasionally need to lift or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds.​

• Frequently required to set up for events, support front-of-house operations, and navigate historic facilities with multiple levels or stairs.​

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position and operate a computer for extended periods.​

• Consistent and punctual attendance is essential, including some evenings and weekends as determined by the performance and programming calendar.​

Reporting, Employment Status, and Compensation

• Reports to: Executive Director

• Direct Reports: Arts Education Coordinator, Patron Services Manager, Rental & Hospitality Manager, Operations & Marketing Manager, Theatre Assistant

• Employment Status: Full-time, exempt

• Advancement: PACI seeks to develop internal leadership capacity; this position may, at the board’s discretion, be considered for future executive leadership opportunities. Employment is at will and nothing in this description shall be construed as a contract or guarantee of continued employment or future promotion.

About the Pennyroyal Arts Council

The Pennyroyal Arts Council (PACI), founded in 1977, is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing arts, culture, and education in Hopkinsville and the surrounding region. Operating the historic Alhambra Theatre, PACI presents live music, theater, and arts education programs that reach more than 40,000 patrons and 15,000 students annually. With a mission to foster creativity, inclusivity, and community connection, PACI is recognized as a cornerstone of Hopkinsville’s vibrant cultural life.