Working Title: Director, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department: 100551 - College of Visual and Performing Arts

Pay Band: 

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:  

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 4/16/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University: Director, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at James Madison University (JMU) enthusiastically invites applications for the position of Director of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. This 12-month administrative appointment offers an exciting opportunity to lead one of the region’s premier performing arts venues and to contribute to the vibrant cultural life of the university and the Shenandoah Valley.
At JMU, you’ll join a community committed to artistic integrity, scholarly inquiry, and creative engagement. The Forbes Center serves as a dynamic hub for world-class performances, student and faculty productions, and community outreach, ensuring that the arts remain vital, relevant, and accessible to all.
About the Forbes Center
Opened in 2010, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is a state-of-the-art facility that hosts hundreds of performances annually, including internationally acclaimed artists, faculty and student productions, and educational programs. In 2025, the Forbes Center celebrated its 15th Anniversary Masterpiece Season, marking a decade and a half of artistic excellence and cultural leadership in the Shenandoah Valley. The Center features five performance venues and serves as a bridge between the university and the community, fostering cultural enrichment and engagement through diverse programming, masterclasses, and outreach initiatives such as Any Given Child and Forbes Family Fun.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Director provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Forbes Center, ensuring excellence in programming, audience development, and facility management. The successful candidate will curate diverse and compelling seasons, manage budgets and staff, and collaborate with faculty, students, and community partners to advance the Center’s mission. This position requires strategic thinking, strong organizational skills, and a passion for the performing arts.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, performing arts, or a related field.
Significant professional experience in performing arts programming, including artist booking and contract negotiation
Demonstrated experience managing performing arts operations, including budgeting and technical production
Proven leadership skills with experience supervising staff and fostering collaboration.
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Commitment to accessibility in programming and outreach
Ability to work evenings and weekends as required by performance schedules

Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in arts administration, performing arts, or a related field
Experience with fundraising, sponsorship development, and grant writing
Knowledge of marketing strategies and audience development, including digital and social media outreach
Familiarity with facility management and long-term maintenance planning
Experience developing educational and community engagement programs

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.