About the Role
The Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation seeks a dynamic and visionary Executive Director to lead our historic venues into their next chapter. This is an opportunity to shape the cultural landscape of our region while stewarding a cherished landmark that honors the past and embraces the future.
As Executive Director, you'll serve as the chief strategist, connector, and advocate for the Historic Masonic Theatre (HMT)—building relationships with artists, community partners, funders, and government officials while ensuring operational excellence across our venues and programming.
Core Responsibilities
Leadership & Vision
- Develop and implement strategic initiatives that position the HMT as a premier regional arts
destination - Cultivate relationships with artists, agents, arts organizations, and a variety of community
stakeholders - Build strong partnerships with local and county government, funding organizations, and private
sector supporters
Programming & Artistic Direction
- Oversee programming strategy for the Historic Masonic Theatre and Masonic Amphitheatre that
reflects community interests and artistic excellence - Balance artistic vision with financial sustainability in programming decisions
Development & Fundraising
- Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy leveraging local, regional, and national resources
- Build and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors
- Lead capital and operations fundraising campaigns
- Identify grant opportunities and oversee proposal development
Financial Management
- Develop and manage annual budgets aligned with our three-year business plan
- Oversee financial operations to maintain healthy balance between revenue generation and expenses
- Provide regular financial reporting to the Board of Directors
- Monitor assets and ensure fiscal responsibility across all operations
Marketing & Community Engagement
- Establish the HMT as a recognized brand and cultural leader in the region
- Create and execute strategic marketing campaigns across digital and traditional platforms
- Develop partnerships with local businesses, arts providers, and community leaders
- Ensure consistent, engaging communication with patrons, partners, and stakeholders
Education & Workforce Development
- Explore opportunities to develop a distinctive education component that leverages unique learning opportunities the HMT can provide
- Pursue collaborations with locals/regional schools, community colleges, and universities
- Create pathways for the next generation of arts leaders and technicians
Operations & Team Leadership
- Oversee daily operations of all HMT venues, facilities, and grounds
- Develop, recruit (as needed), and manage staff and volunteers
- Establish policies and best practices for venue management
- Report regularly to the Board of Directors and participate in board and committee meetings
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in theatre management, arts administration, nonprofit management, business, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
- Demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising and development
- Strong financial acumen with budget development and management experience
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Proficiency with modern software, digital platforms, and management systems
- Experience leading teams and managing complex operations
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in arts programming and theatre management, including artist/agent negotiations and
contracting - Knowledge of capital project management and/or historic venues
- Established network within regional or national arts communities
Essential Competencies
- Strategic thinking with attention to operational detail
- Collaborative leadership style that empowers teams
- Creative problem-solving and adaptability
- Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive programming
- Entrepreneurial mindset balanced with fiscal responsibility
- Passion for the arts and community development
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary ranging from $70,000 – 85,000, to commensurate with experience and qualifications. Comprehensive benefits package included.
To Apply
The Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation has retained the services of Janet Starke and J Starke Consulting LLC to serve as our recruitment partner. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Janet Starke, Principal and Owner of J Starke Consulting LLC, at jstarkeconsulting@gmail.com.
The Historic Masonic Theatre is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.
About the Historic Masonic Theatre & Amphitheatre
Imagine leading one of Virginia's most storied cultural landmarks—a place where history breathes through every corner and the future is being written every day. The Historic Masonic Theatre, a three-story Beaux-Arts architectural treasure designed by Lynchburg's Frye and Chesterman firm, opened in September 1906 as the Masonic Hall and Opera House. For over eight decades, from 1906 until its temporary closure in 1987, this beloved venue served as a cultural cornerstone for the community.
The theatre's storied past includes legendary performances by Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Burl Ives, the Drifters, and Count Basie Orchestra, alongside political speeches by William Jennings Bryan. After years of dedicated community effort, a $6.9 million renovation was completed in July 2016, meticulously restoring all four floors, from the third-floor ballroom to the underground lounge overlooking Smith Creek.
Today, the complex comprises the intimate 545-seat Historic Masonic Theatre; the 500-seat outdoor Masonic Amphitheatre; the industrial-designed Underground Lounge & Café; and the WestRock Community
Room. The theatre hosts films, concerts, theatrical performances, the Virginia Opry, Southern Gospel Review, conferences, weddings, and community gatherings. The Amphitheatre provides a versatile outdoor space for concerts, movies under the stars, festivals, and community events.
The Underground is an intimate space, ideal for acoustic, jazz, or Cabaret performers, as well as special events, and the WestRock Community room is primed for business, civic, and private events accommodating 150 to 225 persons.
A 2019 economic impact study showed the theatre supports $2.3 million in economic impact for the Alleghany Highlands, with a 30% increase in restaurant revenue on performance days. More than an entertainment venue, these spaces are catalysts for community connection and regional vitality.
About the Alleghany Highlands
The Alleghany Highlands of Virginia is where mountain beauty meets authentic small-town culture—a place that redefines what quality of life can mean. Nestled in the heart of Virginia's Mountain Region along the West Virginia border, this four-county area encompasses Clifton Forge, Covington, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Blue Ridge.
A Paradise for Outdoor Enthusiasts
The region offers nearly 40 miles of mountain biking trails in Douthat State Park, one of Virginia's finest biking destinations, plus the Jackson River Scenic Trail—a 16-mile rails-to-trails experience along pristine waters that's quickly becoming one of western Virginia's most beloved outdoor attractions. The Alleghany Highlands Blueway connects the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers with Lake Moomaw and Lake Douthat, offering everything from class I and II rapids to tranquil fishing and wooded shoreline exploration. Falling Spring Falls, an 80-foot cascade once praised by Thomas Jefferson, ranks among Virginia's most photographed natural landmarks. Whether you hike, bike, paddle, fish, or simply want to breathe mountain air, adventure is always minutes away.
A Thriving Arts Community
What truly distinguishes the Alleghany Highlands is its remarkable artistic vitality in such an intimate setting. The Masonic Theatre Complex stands as a premier pillar within Clifton Forge's singular downtown cultural triangle. Other peer arts organizations include the Alleghany Highlands
Arts and Crafts Center, operating since 1984, welcomed over 10,000 national and international visitors annually—impressive for any community, remarkable for one of this size. The Clifton Forge School of the Arts opened in 2011, offering music lessons, bluegrass jams, blacksmithing, woodturning, stained glass, and papermaking workshops, with annual festivals drawing thousands of visitors. Add the C&O Railway Heritage Center, multiple galleries, dance studios, and the Historic Masonic Theatre
itself, and you have an arts ecosystem that rivals cities many times larger.
This is a town that transformed itself from railroad center to arts destination through sheer community will and creativity. When diesel engines replaced steam and the railroad moved on, Clifton Forge didn't fade—it reinvented itself. Today, downtown Clifton Forge pulses with locally-owned restaurants, craft breweries, coffee shops, galleries, and artisan markets where neighbors and visitors mingle freely.
An Exceptional Place to Live
Here, you can step away from hectic urban life into a world that embraces rich heritage, celebrates the arts, and treasures neighbors and community with open arms.
Housing is affordable. Commutes are measured in minutes, not hours. The pedestrian-friendly downtowns of Covington and Clifton Forge offer locally-owned dining and shopping, while natural beauty surrounds you in every direction. You're close enough to major metros for occasional city excursions but far enough to enjoy genuine peace and a true sense of place.
For someone ready to trade rush hour for mountain trails, chain restaurants for artisan taverns, and anonymous urban living for genuine community connection, the Alleghany Highlands offers something increasingly rare: a place where your work directly shapes the community you call home.
