ATLANTA BALLET CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Ballet seeks a strategic and disciplined Chief Administrative Officer to help guide one of the nation’s premier ballet companies through its next chapter of growth and institutional strength. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will serve as the operational anchor of Atlanta Ballet ensuring the organization runs efficiently while translating strategy into disciplined, measurable execution. The CAO ensures the organization operates with strong governance, disciplined fiscal stewardship, effective internal systems, and clear cross functional alignment in support of its artistic mission and long-term sustainability.
Atlanta Ballet combines artistic excellence with ambitious programming and deep community engagement. As the organization continues to evolve, the Chief Administrative Officer will play a critical role in reinforcing the operational and financial foundation that sustains performance, education, and growth. This is an opportunity to shape the infrastructure behind the art while ensuring strong governance, financial discipline, and organizational effectiveness.
This is a full time, salaried, exempt executive position.
Key Responsibilities
- Administrative Operations and Infrastructure
- Oversee administrative functions including Human Resources, Information Technology, facilities management, procurement, and corporate services.
- Optimize operating model and cross-functional workflows.
- Collaborate with and guide department heads to ensure execution of the Ballet’s strategic plan.
- Establish and oversee operational benchmarks aligned with institutional goals.
- Implement policies that reinforce organizational culture and accountability.
- Oversee facilities and physical infrastructure supporting performances, rehearsals, and administrative operations.
- Lead contingency planning and institutional resilience efforts.
Financial Leadership and Stewardship
- Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of the Ballet’s financial management in partnership with the Controller.
- Lead development of the annual operating budget and long range financial plans; review and approve financial forecasts prepared by the Controller.
- Oversee cash flow strategy and ensure adequate liquidity and capital planning
- Establish and strengthen fiscal policies and internal control frameworks; the Controller executes day to day accounting operations.
- Review financial reports and analyses prepared by the Controller and present consolidated financial performance to the Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Board.
- Serve as primary liaison to the Finance Committee and Board on financial strategy, risk, and long term sustainability.
- Maintain executive relationships with auditors, banks, insurers, and financial partners; the Controller manages audit preparation and technical accounting compliance.
Governance, Risk and Institutional Integrity
- Oversee enterprise risk management across operational and financial domains.
- Ensure effective governance frameworks and financial oversight processes are in place.
- Support Board and committee reporting related to financial performance, operational risk, and institutional sustainability.
Talent and Organizational Effectiveness
- Oversee Human Resources strategy including talent acquisition, performance management, succession planning, and workforce development.
- Oversee development and administration of employee benefit programs.
- Establish clear roles and responsibilities for staff in conjunction with department heads
- Mentor and support staff to facilitate professional growth. The department heads will take on this role for their staff, the CAO for administrative staff.
- Set objectives consistent with best practices and linked to performance outcomes.
- Align organizational structure with institutional growth and strategic priorities.
- Participate in negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements as required.
The Ideal Candidate
- Senior executive experience leading administrative functions, operations and financial leadership.
- Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management and governance.
- Experience leading a Controller and accounting team in budgeting and financial strategy
- Experience partnering with Boards and Finance Committees.
- Proven ability to strengthen organizational systems in growing institutions.
- Sound judgment, operational discipline, and steady leadership.
- Appreciation for performing arts and mission driven work.
Impact of the Role
The Chief Administrative Officer will ensure the Ballet operates with financial integrity and operational rigor, translate strategy into measurable execution, strengthen governance and risk management, build the institutional foundation that enables artistic excellence, and enable the Executive Director to focus on artistic leadership, fundraising, and community engagement.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume for consideration to HRinfo@atlantaballet.com.
Atlanta Ballet believes that diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are critical to our success and growth as an institution as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain uniquely qualified and talented candidates from a diverse pool. Our goal is to be reflective, both onstage and off, and at all job levels, of the audiences we engage. Atlanta Ballet is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and existing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship status, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal law.