About the Opportunity
For more than ninety years, The Apollo has stood as a living symbol of Black excellence, artistic innovation, and cultural leadership. From legendary performances that reshaped American culture to new works that challenge, inspire, and unite, The Apollo has never been simply a theater; it has been a proving ground for brilliance, a gathering place for community, and a home for Black artists.
As The Apollo completes The Apollo Rising 2.0 campaign, the organization prepares for a transformation. Upon reopening in early 2027 (after an extended 21-month renovation and reconstruction period), The Apollo will operate a full campus for the first time in its history, encompassing six distinct venues, including multiple performance spaces, new streaming capabilities, an expanded publicly accessible lobby, and a café. Once the Historic Theater reopens, The Apollo anticipates welcoming upwards of 25,000 visitors each week, whether attending events in the Historic Theater (capacity: 1,500), participating in programs within the two new black-box theaters at the Apollo Stages at The Victoria — Theater 1 (199-seat) and the Jonelle Procope Theater (99-seat) — or engaging with its public spaces. Further, The Apollo will stand as the artistic home this era demands—a place where historically marginalized voices don’t just survive, but flourish; where artists create work that bridges divisions; where the next generation discovers what’s possible when given a stage.
To meet this moment, The Apollo will hire the newly created and pivotal position of General Manager, Campus and Event Operations. This leader will oversee the operational engine that powers The Apollo’s artistic programming, guest experiences, revenue-generating activities, and venue operations, while ensuring the organization remains positioned for long-term growth, impact, and sustainability. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this executive will hold enterprise-wide responsibility for theater operations, guest operations, production, facilities, retail, catering & concessions, venue rentals, and event execution. As part of this moment of transformation, The Apollo will also be hiring a new head of Programming, another central role for the organization and key member of the senior leadership team. These two leaders will not only work closely with one another and CEO Michelle Ebanks, but will also have the opportunity to establish important management practices around programming and contribute to the forward momentum currently underway for this iconic organization.
About The Apollo
Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. In December 2024, The Apollo Theater became the first organization honored by the Kennedy Center Awards, underscoring its enduring impact on American culture and the performing arts. Today, The Apollo is the nation’s largest performing arts institution dedicated to Black culture and creativity.
From the Historic Apollo Theater to the Apollo Stages at The Victoria, The Apollo produces and presents artists at every stage of their career, tells stories of communities too often overlooked, and celebrates Black excellence in all its forms. Encompassing Arts and Ideas, Music and Comedy, Theater and Dance, Film, and the legendary Amateur Night, The Apollo’s programming re-envisions the organization’s legacy in forward-looking and contemporary ways, creates forums for emerging artists and curators, supports mid-career and established artists, develops and presents new and cutting-edge multi-disciplinary work, uplifts culturally diverse artists and audiences, and creates an intimate and engaged experience for audiences.
The recent Apollo Rising 2.0 $100 million capital campaign affirms the organization’s commitment to honor what The Apollo has always been, while ensuring what it must become. At the heart of this campaign is the renovation and restoration of the Historic Theater. However, these investments do more than preserve a landmark and light a marquee; they position The Apollo to lead with purpose, relevance, and impact for the next ninety years and beyond.
Job Description
The Apollo seeks an accomplished and visionary executive to serve as General Manager, Campus and Event Operations, a critical member of the executive leadership team responsible for leading the institution’s operational strategy, revenue-generating businesses, and venue management functions.
As the senior operational leader of the organization, the General Manager, Campus and Event Operations will balance artistic ambition with sound business practices, ensuring that The Apollo continues to deliver world-class experiences, while strengthening earned revenue streams and organizational sustainability. This individual will be a key part of The Apollo’s continued evolution, collaborating with senior leadership to envision and establish the right infrastructure and staffing team in a new era of achievement.
The General Manager, Campus and Event Operations will oversee four direct reports, who in total, supervise the following departments:
Guest Operations
Box Office and Ticketing Services
Facilities
Security
Theater Operations
Production
Retail Operations
Catering & Concessions Revenue & Operations
Rentals Revenue & Operations
Together, these functions represent the theater’s core operational, guest-facing, and key revenue-generating areas of the organization and require strong leadership, cross-functional coordination, and strategic oversight.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Commercial Performance
- Oversee P&L performance across The Apollo’s operational and live events portfolio, collaborating closely with the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Growth Officer to ensure the organization is meeting key financial targets and increasing the profit margin over time.
- Lead revenue strategy for earned income channels (outside of performance ticket sales), and including venue rentals, catering, and concessions.
- Identify and develop new revenue opportunities that align with The Apollo’s mission and audience engagement goals and capitalize on The Apollo’s new venues.
- Partner with the Growth & Engagement team to drive revenue growth through ticketing strategy, pricing optimization, dynamic packaging, and innovative monetization models via the Box Office team.
- Oversee departmental budget development, financial forecasting, labor planning, and expense management.
- Monitor operating performance and ensure accountability for financial results across all reporting divisions.
- Lead post-event financial reconciliation and operational reviews to continuously improve profitability and efficiency.
Venue Operations, Catering & Concessions
- Provide executive oversight of all venue operations across The Apollo’s portfolio of performance, event, and gathering spaces.
- Ensure seamless venue utilization, scheduling optimization, and operational excellence.
- Oversee catering & concessions operations, including food and beverage service, café, bar, and lounge operations.
- Establish service standards that deliver exceptional guest experiences while maximizing operational efficiency and profitability.
- Lead retail operations, including merchandise strategy, inventory management, sales performance, and customer experience.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable fire, health, building, labor, liquor licensing, and operational regulations.
Rentals & Event Management
- Lead the strategy, operational planning, and execution of venue rentals and external events, including corporate events, private functions, media productions, broadcasts, and special activations.
- Work in close collaboration with sales, development, partnerships, and programming teams to maximize venue utilization and revenue generation.
- Develop pricing strategies and operational frameworks that support revenue growth, while maintaining mission alignment.
- Ensure exceptional client service from contract execution through event delivery and post-event evaluation.
- Establish systems and processes that support scalable growth in rental and event business opportunities.
Production & Event Execution
- Provide executive leadership to the Production department, ensuring world-class technical execution across all performances, rentals, and special events.
- Oversee production planning, logistics, staffing, vendor relationships, and event execution.
- Ensure operational readiness and coordination across all departments involved in live event production.
- Guide technical rider negotiation, labor planning, and crew deployment strategies.
- Ensure production operations maintain the highest standards of artistic quality, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Support the successful delivery of a complex calendar of performances, community programs, institutional events, and commercial activities.
Guest Experience & Front-of-House Operations
- Champion a best-in-class audience and guest experience across all Apollo touchpoints.
- Oversee front-of-house operations, including ticket scanning, ushering, accessibility services, security coordination, and guest relations.
- Establish and monitor service excellence standards and key performance metrics.
- Ensure staff training programs support exceptional customer service and operational consistency.
- Address escalated guest issues and implement effective service recovery processes.
- Continuously evaluate and improve the guest journey to enhance satisfaction, loyalty, and audience engagement.
Box Office Operations
- Provide executive oversight of all Box Office operations across The Apollo’s venue portfolio, ensuring exceptional patron service and efficient ticket fulfillment processes.
- Lead Box Office staffing, training, scheduling, service standards, and performance management.
- Partner closely with the Growth & Engagement team on ticketing strategy, pricing implementation, subscription and membership fulfillment, promotional offers, and audience development initiatives.
- Ensure accurate ticket inventory management, event builds, settlement processes, financial controls, and reporting.
- Oversee will-call, customer service, ticket scanning coordination, accessibility accommodations, and issue resolution for audience members.
- Establish key performance metrics related to conversion, customer satisfaction, transaction efficiency, and patron retention.
- Evaluate and implement technologies and operational improvements that enhance the purchasing experience and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure seamless coordination between Box Office, Front of House, Programming, Finance, and Marketing teams to support all performances, rentals, and special events.
Facilities, Operations & Safety
- Provide executive oversight of facilities management, building operations, capital maintenance planning, and infrastructure stewardship.
- Ensure the venue portfolio is maintained to the highest standards of safety, functionality, and presentation.
- Oversee security operations and emergency preparedness planning in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead operational risk management initiatives and business continuity planning.
- Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations related to workplace safety, accessibility, and public assembly.
- Direct long-term operational planning related to facility improvements and capital investments.
Team Leadership & Labor Relations
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Directors across Guest Operations, Facilities, Production, Retail Operations, Catering & Concessions, and Rentals & Events.
- Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, retain, and develop exceptional talent across all operational functions.
- Navigate complex unionized labor environments, including Local One, Local 802, Local 751, and other represented workforce groups.
- Work in collaboration with People & Culture to ensure compliance with employment laws, labor agreements, and HR best practices.
- Foster strong communication and collaboration across departments and stakeholder groups.
Strategic Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Serve as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the Chief Executive Officer.
- Own the master scheduling and utilization strategy across all Apollo venues and event spaces.
- Create a strong collaborative partnership with the new head of Programming.
- Balance performance schedules, external rentals, catering & concessions opportunities, and institutional priorities.
- Collaborate closely with Development, Marketing, Finance, Advancement, Partnerships, Education, and Community Engagement teams.
- Contribute to organizational strategic planning and long-term growth initiatives.
- Develop scalable operational models that support future expansion and organizational sustainability.
- Represent The Apollo with clients, donors, community leaders, industry partners, government agencies, and other external stakeholders as needed.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in live events, entertainment, performing arts, venue management, catering, concessions, experiential operations, or related industries.
- Significant hands-on experience leading complex event operations in New York City.
- Demonstrated success managing large-scale operational teams and multiple business units.
- Strong history of full P&L ownership and accountability across revenue-generating functions.
- Experience overseeing venue operations, production, facilities, retail, rentals, catering & concessions, or comparable operating divisions.
- Deep expertise working within unionized environments and managing multi-union workforces.
- Experience serving in a senior executive or enterprise-level operational leadership role.
- Exceptional operational and business leadership capabilities.
- Strong financial acumen with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, revenue growth, and cost optimization.
- Deep understanding of NYC venue operations, permitting, labor relations, and event logistics.
- Ability to balance creative ambition with operational discipline and financial stewardship.
- Outstanding organizational leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Proven ability to lead through complexity, manage competing priorities, and drive organizational results.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Compensation
The salary for this position is $250,000-275,000. The Apollo provides comprehensive benefits, including providing health, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, accident, critical illness, and company-paid life insurance. Employees have access to a 401k plan and match, employee assistance program, optional volunteer benefits, and generous paid time off.
The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, disability, age, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, New York State, or New York City law.
Application Instructions
The General Manager, Campus and Event Operations search is being conducted on behalf of The Apollo by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Senior Strategist Brenna Thomas, 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.
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:
Brenna Thomas, Senior Strategist
brenna@tocartspartners.com
Applications will be accepted until this role is filled. We encourage you to apply by October 16, 2026, for priority consideration. Interviews may begin at any time, and we encourage you to apply as early as possible for best consideration. Please note that applying before the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview, and all applicants will receive a response regarding the consideration and status of their candidacy.
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.