Job Title: Executive Director​

Company: Spirit of Atlanta, Inc.

Location: Atlanta Metro: 50% in office, 40% remote, 10% travel

Duration: Full Time, Exempt

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About Us
Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps is a world-class performance ensemble comprised of 165
members performing a touring show each summer as part of Drum Corps International.
Members rehearse hundreds of hours to produce a challenging and entertaining show comprised
of brass, percussion, color guard (flags and rifles) along with dance and other exciting
performance elements. This intense experience helps builds character, self-discipline, strong
health and wellness, mental toughness, leadership qualities, and exceptional abilities to perform
at high levels under extreme circumstances. Supporting the membership is an educational staff
of highly trained musical educators, an athletic training staff, operations staff, administrative
staff, and volunteers who collectively lead the drum corps during training and during a national
summer tour. Our activity aims to prepare young people to succeed in everything they do.

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Description

Spirit of Atlanta, Inc., a 501(c)(3), is a youth and young adult development and performing arts
organization. Our mission is to enrich our communities by offering performing arts programs
focused on diversity, character, leadership and lifelong excellence. We’re looking for a highly
skilled, transformational leader to serve as our Executive Director to help us to fulfill this
important undertaking.

For 50 years Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps has been a proud member of Drum Corps
International (DCI) and the Executive Director will be the primary point of contact for Spirit of
Atlanta within the DCI community. The Executive Director will be a visionary who is passionate
about serving young adults, the Arts, the DCI activity, and representing Atlanta, Georgia in the
marching arts at the highest level. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director
will oversee the strategic and operational efficiency and effectiveness of our programs and staff.
This seasoned leader will represent the organization within the educational, philanthropic,
artistic, and business communities in the Atlanta area.

The Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors. The Director of the drum
and bugle corps will report directly to the Executive Director. The Executive Director is the
most important internal leader who works closely with the Corps leadership team and Board of
Directors to keep the organization strategically aligned and successfully advancing the mission
statement.

Key skills include

• Strong communications skills: Verbal, written, public speaking and one-on-one

• Proven organizational and people leadership skills

• Strong intra- and interpersonal abilities in the areas of culture building, operations, and logistics

• Community Engagement, Revenue Generation, and Partnership with like non-profits

• Ability to direct a finance team and provide leadership for financial and operational planning

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Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning

  • In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develop, maintain and execute a strategic plan for Spirit of Atlanta. This plan will set the vision of the future state of the organization and include planning for the growth and development of Board of Directors, leadership roles, membership, and programs of Spirit.

  • Provide leadership on business strategies, community outreach programs, and plans consistent with the organization’s short term and long-term objectives.

  • Identify growth opportunities for Spirit to develop deep relationships within the Atlanta arts, educational, and performance communities to further the mission.

  • Identify growth opportunities for Spirit to develop deep relationships within underrepresented communities to meet their artistic educational needs and introduce Spirit of Atlanta as a potential opportunity for membership or participation as an educator.

• Organizational and Human Resources Leadership

  • Lead a culture of physical safety and mental well-being for our members, staff, and volunteers. All decisions are made with the health and safety of members of the organization prioritized.

  • Responsible and accountable for developing and enforcing policies and procedures to support legal and ethical operations of Spirit.

  • Lead coordination and planning with the Corps Director to foster best in class performance on and off of the field of competition.

  • Responsible and accountable for monitoring operations and responding appropriately to resolve issues.

  • Will serve as the key point of contact between DCI and Spirit for all DCI member corps meetings, discussions, and issues. The Executive Director will also maintain an awareness of developments within the drum corps activity and share these with the Board and leadership.

  • Develop a high performing management and leadership team fostering an environment for high staff retention, member retention, volunteer performance, and morale.

  • Recruit, hire, onboard, and mentor key staff positions.

  • Communicate serious issues including potential harassment, bullying, illegal activity, or endangerment of individuals to Board of Directors.

• Organization Administrative Support

  • Collaborates with Board of Directors and Corps Director for all contracts and agreements for Spirit of Atlanta. Will coordinate legal and risk review of contracts and agreements with the Board of Directors Legal Risk Committee.

  • Will have signature and approval authority for all contracts, agreements, expenses after internal review by accounting and legal support.

  • Provide strategic leadership (scheduling/coordination) for the Spirit social media and online marketing presence.

  • Provide leadership, planning, and support for executing Spirit of Atlanta educational programs such as Spirit U.

• Fundraising, Donor Relations, Support of Funding Opportunities (Grants)

  • Provide fundraising leadership, oversight and support for the organization including planning, communications, tracking, and execution working with the Board Fundraising Committee.

  • Pursue diverse funding sources for the organization including corporate gifts, recurring gifts, fundraising event contributions, planned giving, matching gifts, and loan/grant opportunities.

  • Explore, develop, and potentially manage recurring revenue opportunities.

• Financial Management and Organization Profit and Loss

  • Will work closely with the Board Treasurer and the Spirit accounting team to monitor financial performance and seek corrective actions when needed.

  • Will participate and provide leadership in the annual budgeting process.

  • Responsible for managing and executing the annual budget in coordination with the Board Treasurer. Will monitor budget variances and seek all opportunities to meet or exceed budget revenue and expense targets.

  • Oversight and management of Spirit merchandising planning and execution.​

 

Qualifications
Experience with marching arts or a nonprofit organization highly desirable.

• 5-7+ years in a management position (including direct and indirect reports)

• Demonstrated fundraising success with a 501(c)(3) organization

• Volunteer management

• Budget management

• Vendor management

• Public speaking experience.

 

Special physical, mental, and environmental requirements: Travel, including intermittent presence and observation with each program. Evening, night, and weekend work required. Operational vehicle capable of long-distance travel and valid driver’s license required. Candidates located in the metro Atlanta area are preferred. Candidates not located in Atlanta with the ability to move to metro Atlanta will be considered. No moving allowance.

 

Education

Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university. Master’s degree a plus.

 

Compensation

Salary of $70,000-$80,000. No benefits except paid holidays and vacation time off.

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Application Process:​

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Spirit of Atlanta, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants
for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,
color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status,

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal,
state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring,
placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and
training.

To apply for this position, send an email with the subject line “Executive Director – Your
Name” to Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director, at vferrenceray@spiritdrumcorps.org by September 15, 2026 and attach your resume, cover
letter, and list of three references.