A little under a year ago I became a member of Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle. Obviously I don’t live in Southern California so I don’t get to go on a regular basis, but whenever I’m in LA I make an effort to get there. As a member I can also share invitations with others and am often happy to do so. I went to do that today and what do I see??
The Magic Castle is looking for a new General Manager! The announcement is behind a login on the MagicCastle.com website, but I’ve copied it below in case you’re interested:
GENERAL MANAGER – ACADEMY OF MAGICAL ARTS, INC.
The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. (“AMA”), one of the largest magic organizations in the world, is seeking a talented, experienced and energetic General Manager to manage its day-to-day operations in its entertainment and dining facility (The Magic Castle) and work with its Board of Directors, its Board of Trustees and its President on strategic planning, marketing, implementation of new programs and membership activities and development.
The AMA is a non-profit organization formed in 1962 with a current membership of over 5,000 magician and associate members worldwide, whose overall goal is the advancement of the art of magic. The AMA is a unique club, home to many of the world’s most talented and well-known magicians, and is centered on serving the interests of its strong magician membership base.
The AMA operates the world famous “Magic Castle” in Hollywood, California, one of the premier venues for magic entertainment and dining which is open seven nights a week for AMA members and guests with magic performances in up to seven showrooms and areas, as well as Friday lunch, Saturday and Sunday brunch and special events.
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The General Manager will report to the President and the Board of Directors and will have primary managerial responsibility for accounting and finance – including budgeting and long range planning; human resources; employee relations; implementation of Board policies; communication with the membership; AMA operations at the Magic Castle; supervision of the operations of the food and beverage; coordination of activities of volunteer committees in a number of areas; marketing and promotion; membership development; and maintenance of the AMA’s facilities and resources.
JOB DUTIES
Accounting and finance: The General Manager will have primary responsibility, with direction from the AMA Treasurer and in coordination with the Controller, to manage the AMA’s finances; interface with AMA’s outside CPA firm; manage and coordinate the development of annual budgets under the supervision and direction of the Treasurer and Board of Directors and ensure that the AMA functions within its approved budgetary guidelines; develop, manage and supervise ongoing sound financial and accounting practices and procedures; manage and coordinate the development of long-range plans to be approved by the Board of Directors for the financial success of the organization; and report regularly to the Board of Directors on accounting and financial matters.Human resources: The General Manager will have primary responsibility for recruitment, employment and release of all AMA employees; ensuring compliance with all local, state and Federal laws and regulations; development of written job descriptions for all AMA employee positions; ensuring that regular, periodic reviews of performance are conducted and documented; managing employee benefits such as health insurance; developing and maintaining policies on all material aspects of employment such as vacation, personal time, benefits, etc.; developing appropriate recommendations for compensation plans, annual salary increases and bonuses for all AMA employees; and supervising the establishment and maintenance of appropriate documentation regarding employment matters and employees. The General Manager will have primary responsibility to ensure that the AMA maintains a healthy, cooperative and positive environment for its employees, members and volunteers that attracts, keeps and motivates a diverse staff of committed, motivated, talented and enthusiastic people.
Coordination of daily operations at the Magic Castle: The General Manager will have primary responsibility for coordination of the daily operations of the Magic Castle, which covers the AMA’s full service food and beverage operation, ensuring that the overall operations of the Magic Castle are integrated between food and beverage and entertainment with the overall goal of enhancement of the experience of members and guests at the Magic Castle. The General Manager will interface directly with the food and beverage staff to ensure that the overall daily operations at the Magic Castle are conducted within the guidelines set forth in the AMA’s contractual arrangements, the mission and goals of the AMA, and the policies established by the Board of Directors. The General Manager will have primary responsibility for approval of all special events and activities conducted jointly with food and beverage in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees and in a manner consistent with sound financial management and the best interests of the AMA’s members and guests. The General Manager will work directly with the AMA’s other managers to ensure that AMA operations within the Magic Castle are conducted in conformance with AMA policies and procedures as established by the Board of Directors, sound financial management and the maintenance and enhancement of a world class entertainment experience for every member and guest.
Marketing and promotion: The General Manager will take the lead in developing, promoting and implementing programs, under the overall supervision and guidance of the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, to enhance the reputation of the Magic Castle and AMA, both within the magic community worldwide and with the general public, attract interest and enthusiasm for membership in the AMA, and ensure that the mission and goals of the AMA are being consistently advanced on a ongoing basis.
Membership development and satisfaction: The General Manager will work with the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, President and appropriate AMA committees to develop, monitor and implement programs to retain existing members, attract new members and promote interest in membership in the AMA. The General Manager will have the overall responsibility of ensuring the satisfaction of the membership of the AMA with its operations and facilities, and working with the Board of Directors toward the continuing goal of increasing membership satisfaction.
Coordination of Membership activities: The General Manager will coordinate all activities of AMA committees and volunteer groups; supervise the scheduling of activities, assisting and facilitating the establishment of realistic goals and programs; ensure the availability of resources for approved activities and monitoring and facilitate volunteer activities to maximize their effectiveness and efficiency in accomplishing stated goals.
Internal organizational activities. The General Manager will, in conjunction with the AMA Secretary, coordinate and facilitate communications between the AMA and its members; in consultation with outside legal counsel, and under the direction and supervision of the President and Board of Directors, negotiate, review and execute necessary legal documents, contracts and agreements; ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and maintain necessary and appropriate corporate and organizational files, documents, records and procedures.
Communications. The General Manager will ensure that the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and officers are kept fully informed of all important matters affecting the AMA, ensure timely communication between the AMA and its members regarding matters of interest, promote and publicize the activities of the AMA, and establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with other magic organizations and community groups.
Facilities management. The General Manager will manage and coordinate all maintenance and repair activities within the Magic Castle, and will interface directly with the food & beverage staff, the AMA’s landlord and maintenance staff to ensure that the AMA’s facilities are kept in sound physical condition, in compliance with all local, state and Federal laws and regulations and that the traditional ambience and overall visual appeal of the Magic Castle is maintained and enhanced.
JOB REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPENSATION
The position of General Manager will be a full-time professional position which will require management on the premises of the Magic Castle, at a minimum, five days a week. The General Manager will frequently be required to be present at other times and will need the flexibility to be available, as necessary, during evenings and on weekends when the Magic Castle is in operation.The ideal candidate will have: Formal education and training, or substantial work-related experience, in finance and budgeting; Minimum 8 to 10 years senior management responsibility (General Manager, COO or CEO) in restaurant, retail, hospitality or club management; Excellent written and oral communication skills; Excellent management skills which motivate staff and volunteers and promote a “team” environment; Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret and report on financial documents, statements, contracts, etc.; Strong financial/accounting background including experience managing accounting functions, budgeting, strategic planning and sound fiscal management; Strong organizational skills which promote effective and efficient coordination and use of staff, volunteers and outside consultants; Experience in negotiating vendor contracts; Ability to coordinate activities in a positive manner of varied groups, including committees, volunteers, vendors, consultants, staff and others to effectively accomplish identified goals in a timely way; Demonstrated ability to follow through on completion of projects, monitor ongoing activities of staff, volunteers and consultants in completion of projects and timely reporting on progress; Excellent problem solving, analytical and critical thinking skills; Intermediate computer skill levels with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
The General Manager will be compensated with an annual salary commensurate with the candidate’s experience and competitive salaries for management of an organization of comparable complexity and size, plus bonus potential. Health and other benefits commensurate with comparable positions will be provided together with a promotional food and beverage allowance at the Magic Castle.
To be considered for this position, please send by mail, email or fax, a cover letter describing your interest and special qualifications together with a detailed resume, salary history and references to:
ApplicantsAcademy of Magical Arts, Inc.
7001 Franklin Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
GenMgrSearch@MagicCastle.com
