Executive Director, Flagship Playhouse – Hoffman Estates

The Executive Director, Flagship Playhouse is a business-minded leader who ensures the long-term sustainability, prominence, and operational excellence of GiGi's Playhouse Hoffman Estates – the network's flagship location. This includes helping to ensure the operation has the right team, is fully funded, and that the community is aware of the scope and impact of programs offered. Given the scale and visibility of the flagship location, this role also serves as a key strategic partner to the National Office: co-leading select national events and development campaigns, and piloting new programs and initiatives on behalf of the network.

The Executive Director will be fundraising activities, driving community members to the Playhouse, and building a strong community presence and local donations through donor outreach, developing media contacts, grant writing, budget development and control, overseeing financial operations, and other related activities. This role also oversees the Gi Gi Works  Cafe and Gift Shop operating out of the Hoffman Estates location.

The role is estimated to be roughly 70% development, outreach, and National Office partnership; 30% playhouse and retail (Gi Gi Works  Cafe and Gift Shop) management.

• Increase funding through individual donors, grants, sponsor ships, in-kind, and corporate support.
• Maximize awareness of GiGi's Playhouse and Down syndrome across the local community and, given the flagship location's visibility, across the broader GiGi's network.
• Lead the team to ensure delivery of the highest quality operational execution and outstanding customer experience to deepen family engagement and connection with the Playhouse.
• Partner with the National Office to pilot new programs, initiatives, and operational models, and to co-lead select national events and development campaigns.
• Oversee the Gi Gi Works  Cafe and Gift Shop to ensure a high-quality, on-brand customer experience and sound financial performance.

• Strategic Leadership and National Office Partnership
• Drive the flagship Playhouse's strategic plan with the National Office, ensuring alignment with mission and growth goals.
• Serve as primary liaison between the National Office and the Playhouse, providing regular updates on performance, opportunities, and risks.
• Partner with the Executive Leadership Team and National Office on network-wide strategy and initiatives, and serve as pilot site lead for new programs and operational models, providing feedback to inform network-wide rollout.
• Fundraising, Financial Management, and Development Partnership
• Oversee financial operations and budget development in alignment with the strategic plan, ensuring financial sustainability.
• Develop and execute a fundraising plan with the National Development team and local fundraising committee, achieving revenue targets through grants, donors, corporations, and events.
• Manage a donor and volunteer stewardship strategy.
• Co-lead select national development campaigns and signature events with the National Office; support local event chairs with marketing, in-kind donations, and volunteer engagement.
• Staff Leadership and Operations
• Staff and manage one of the network's largest, busiest Playhouses (99% volunteer-run), including hiring, training, and evaluating employees and volunteers.
• Drive achievement of GiGi's Standards of Execution to ensure a high-quality experience for families, volunteers, donors, and community members.
• Gi Gi Works  Cafe and Gift Shop:
  Oversee day-to-day operations, staffing, inventory, vendor relationships, and customer experience.
• Marketing & Community Engagement
• Represent the organization to media, donors, schools, and community stakeholders, building…