Theater General Manager | Film Society Center

Transforming Philadelphia through the power of film.

As the producer of the Philadelphia Film Festival and creative force behind the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East, the Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) raises awareness of film as an important art form in Philadelphia and serves as a vital piece of the city’s arts and culture community.

The General Manager will be responsible for the overall operation of the assigned theatre location. This includes proactively leading the venue team to ensure the achievement of business goals in revenue, expense, profitability, guest satisfaction, inventory control, facilities repair & maintenance, employee morale as well as acting as a representative of the Philadelphia Film Society in a way that is consistent with our mission statement and policies.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee all venue operations including programmed maintenance and repairs. This includes competitive bidding for sub-contracted services, contract editing/approval, insurance certificate issuance, and work scheduling consistent with permissible timings. Solicit bids, evaluate/select, and coordinate work activities of building services contractors, as needed.
• Negotiate contracts with rental customers; budget and manage rental events, and interface/contract with caterers and other third-party vendors, as needed, to provide desired services. Coordinate planning with other PFS managers to minimize the impact of conflict/interruption on other business operations.
• Ensure that all applicable operating permits/licenses are obtained and kept up-to-date and that rental insurance requirements are appropriately covered
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, prepare annual budgets and financial operating reports; exercise significant financial control by monitoring monthly financial results against budget and managing staff and third-party service contracts; monitor purchasing and vendor contracts to ensure cost-effectiveness and anticipated service delivery
• Purchase and order concession and bar stock and any other supplies needed for daily operations, as well as the inventory and auditing processes involved in tracking those supplies
• Monitor risk management as it pertains to the theatre, i.e., employee and guest safety, loss prevention, emergency situations, and the proper handling, reporting, and investigating of accidents
• Uphold and administer all Philadelphia Film Society policies
• Supervise all venue staff positions, as well as hire, train, schedule, coach, and disciple employees in accordance with organizational policies
• Coordinate scheduling of movie showtimes and the timely delivery of showtimes to all proper channels
• Ensure that customer service is delivered with excellence and appropriately handle guest concerns
• Deliver the best movie picture and sound quality possible
• Ensure the overall cleanliness and safety of the building
• Other duties as assigned

SKILLS

• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others; is adept at creating a positive, collaborative and entrepreneurial work environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to details
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and make decisions based on business and financial data
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Proficiency with Agile Ticketing Software a plus
• Success as a respected leader in recruiting and retaining staff
• Maintains professional growth and development through continuing education, including participation in conferences, workshops, and professional affiliations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree, ideally in business or related management degree, or equivalent work experience required
• At least three years of experience in a team management role
• Experience managing a movie theater and knowledge of movie projection and sound equipment preferred
• Experience of having worked with a high-performance, collaborative, constructive peer group
• Applicants must be able to pass training programs and obtain food handling and alcohol service permits, if applicable
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for PFS's mission
• Experience and familiarity with Philadelphia and the cultural community a plus