A great job description doesn’t start with bullet points, it starts with a story. We take you inside our executive search process for Portland Center Stage’s next managing director and show how we craft a job profile that so candidates have a clear idea of what to expect and the opportunities ahead.We talk candidly about the post‑pandemic reality for theaters: season sizes have shifted, revenue mixes have inverted, and audiences and funders behave differently. That’s why we frame the role around four clear charges: strategic leadership and administration, revenue generation and enhancement, staff management and culture building, and community engagement and external relations. You’ll hear how PCS’s landmark home at the Armory, its proximity to Powell’s, and its role in a recovering downtown shape the expectations for a leader who can fund, partner, and represent the institution with credibility. We also surface what surprised us: a staff culture that lives its values, real trust across teams, and inclusion that feels natural rather than performative.This is a conversation for candidates, board members, and arts lovers who want to understand how executive search can honor both numbers and nuance. We unpack how repeated themes from stakeholders become core competencies, why storytelling is the thread through budgets and campaigns, and which soft skills such as grit, humility,  and presence are needed for success. If you’re considering the role or advising someone who is, you’ll leave with a grounded sense of the work, the city, and the partnership with Artistic Director Marissa Wolf.Ready to dive deeper or apply? Visit emcforward.com/apply, email us at [email protected]. Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more arts leaders can find it.

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