Operations Manager (STEPS Public Art)

NOW HIRING: OPERATIONS MANAGER

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, March 2, 2026, at 12 PM (NOON) Eastern Time

ANTICIPATED START DATE: Monday, April 13, 2026

WHO ARE YOU?

Are you a systems-minded operations leader who thrives on turning strategy into action?
Do you love a well-managed budget as much as you love supporting collaborative, creative teams?
Are you passionate about helping a dynamic organization stay organized, efficient, and mission-driven?
Do you believe that operational excellence is a driver of cultural and community impact?

If your answer is YES, we want to meet you.

STEPS Public Art is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Operations Manager to help steward the organization through a period of growth and transition. This is a foundational leadership role, one that blends financial acumen, systems thinking, and people-first leadership. Whether supporting budgets, streamlining workflows, or improving internal systems, you're always thinking a few steps ahead.

If you're looking to lead from behind the scenes in a fast-paced, equity-driven public art organization, we’d love to hear from you.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day functioning of STEPS’ operations, including finance, HR, technology, internal systems, compliance, and business development processes. You will work closely with staff across teams to ensure that STEPS’ internal infrastructure supports our evolving goals.

This role also plays a central part in supporting the organization’s revenue strategy, data systems, and continuity during transitions across departments. If you're excited by this opportunity to shape STEPS’ operational strategy over time, we invite you to apply.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Support development and tracking of the annual operational plan and budget, including financial forecasting, Board materials, and audit preparation.
• Oversee financial administration in collaboration with the Finance Officer, including invoicing, accounts receivable, expense tracking, and maintaining audit-ready records.
• Facilitate effective project management across the lifecycle of projects and partnerships, including coordinating kick-offs, midpoint check-ins, and wrap-ups to capture and share learnings across the team.
• Own the organization's CRM and revenue pipelines, ensuring campaign, lead generation, and proposal workflows are connected, accurate, and driving results.
• Drive strategic use of tools and systems (e.g. CRM, project management, SOPs) to support cross-team collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and operational efficiency.
• Supervise operations and communications staff, contributing to a high-performance, values-aligned workplace culture.
• Maintain and analyze CRM and proposal pipelines, ensuring that lead generation activities and revenue strategies are connected, accurate, and driving results.
• Translate marketing and business development data into recommendations for leadership.
• Support team performance and engagement through onboarding, check-ins, facilitated feedback activities, and development planning.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, insurance, vendor relations, and organizational policies.
• Participate in strategic planning and support internal knowledge sharing and succession planning initiatives.

COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL FOR THIS ROLE

• Business Development Operations: Understands how systems and outreach activities fuel lead generation, revenue growth, and stakeholder stewardship. Comfortable analyzing CRM data to track pipeline performance, inform strategy, and improve cross-team accountability.
• Strategic Thinking & Planning: Translates organizational vision into practical plans. Anticipates challenges, aligns resources, and builds infrastructure that supports long-term growth and cross-team collaboration.
• Financial Stewardship: Leads budgeting, forecasting, audit preparation, and financial reporting. Champions financial literacy across the team and supports data-informed decision-making in pursuit of strategic goals.
• Project & Workflow Management: Prioritizes competing demands and delivers complex cross-functional initiatives on time and within scope. Improves team efficiency through scalable systems, workflow templates, and SOPs.
• Team Leadership & Coaching: Supervises multidisciplinary staff, supports performance development, and fosters a values-aligned, high-accountability culture. Brings clarity and empathy to team leadership.
• Marketing & Communications Oversight: Understands how marketing supports business development, brand alignment, and engagement goals. Guides content and campaign planning to ensure integration with pipeline, strategy, and outreach metrics.
• Change Management & Succession Readiness: Provides operational continuity during periods of transition. Skilled at stabilizing teams, managing ambiguity, and reprioritizing workloads to maintain momentum.
• Stakeholder & Board Communication: Prepares and presents clear, strategic materials to internal and external stakeholders, including funders and Board members. Synthesizes complex information into actionable insights.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Maintains legal, regulatory, and financial compliance across operations. Anticipates and mitigates risks in areas such as contracting, insurance, and health and safety.
• Equity & Cultural Sensitivity: Applies equity-informed practices in systems design, decision-making, communications, and leadership. Builds inclusive processes that reflect the values of STEPS and its stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Interpersonal Skills: Builds trust-based relationships and contributes to a healthy team culture. Navigates complex dynamics with diplomacy and facilitates open, constructive feedback cycles.
• Initiative & Self-Management: Highly organized and proactive. Anticipates needs, takes ownership of responsibilities, and adapts to shifting priorities in a fast-paced, hybrid environment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Must-Haves:

• 4+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit operations or cross-functional leadership, ideally in arts, culture, or social impact sectors
• Postsecondary education in arts management, business, human resources, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience managing organizational or project budgets, with some audit or reporting experience
• Familiarity with financial tools like QuickBooks and Excel; able to interpret reports and coach others
• Comfortable with CRM platforms and digital tools (Salesforce preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and contribute to audit processes
• Experience supervising staff across functions such as finance, communications, operations, or HR
• Strong understanding of earned revenue and/or fundraising operations
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with an ability to lead multiple initiatives at once
• Confident communicator, written and verbal, across internal and external audiences
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership practices
• Valid Canadian driver’s license and clean driving record, or willingness to obtain one within 6 months of start date

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience preparing or presenting reports for Boards, funders, or government agencies
• Familiarity with arts sector permitting, insurance, or public art processes
• Working proficiency in French or another language reflective of STEPS’ communities

COMPENSATION & CULTURE

Salary Range: $60,000 - $65,000 (commensurate with experience)

Selected Benefits Include:

• Bonus program
• Group health & dental benefits, EAP, and wellness supports
• 3 weeks paid vacation, float/wellness days, and late December closure/wind-down period
• Paid professional development time and financial support for training to enable role growth potential.
• Flexible hybrid work model, flexible working arrangements, and supportive onboarding culture

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

STEPS envisions a world where artists and communities co-create meaningful, welcoming, and safe public spaces. We are a registered charity that engages and empowers artists and communities to transform public spaces into vibrant places. At STEPS, we value:

• Equity – Building an inclusive workplace and public arts sector
• Commitment – Holding ourselves to high professional standards and meaningful work
• Collaboration – Building long-term relationships through trust and co-creation
• Inspiration – Supporting creativity and experimentation at all levels of work
• Community Impact – Centering people and place in everything we do

Our team is composed of high-performing, creative professionals committed to building more equitable cities through art. For more about our work culture and benefits, visit:
👉 https://stepspublicart.org/about/careers/

APPLICATION PROCESS

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates legally able to work in Canada. We strongly encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including, but not limited to, those who identify as: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), Black, person of colour, newcomer, Disabled, and/or LGBTQQIP2SAA+.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, please indicate your needs in the application portal.

👉 Apply via our online portal by Monday, March 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM (NOON) Eastern Time.
Applications will not be accepted by email.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. First interviews will be conducted via video conferencing, with second round interviews taking place in person and including a presentation component. We expect first-round interviews to take place Thursday March 12th / Friday March 13th, with in-person second-round interviews tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 19th at our downtown Toronto offices.

AI will not be used as part of the selection process. Applicants must disclose any use of AI in the development of their application materials or the interview process.

Anticipated Start Date: Monday, April 13, 2026