Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has announced the search for an executive director who will help lead the organization through its next chapter of growth.
The executive director will work in close partnership with Wagon Wheel Executive Artistic Director Scott Michaels with both leaders reporting directly to the Board of Directors and sharing executive authority for the overall health and mission of the organization, according to a provided news release.
“It’s an exciting time at Wagon Wheel,” said Michaels. “In my 31 years here, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more excitement and momentum around the organization — from our staff and Board to our donors, patrons and community.”
“I think this is a perfect time to bring in an executive director who can help us build on that momentum and work alongside our existing leadership team as we continue to grow,” he said. “With our programming expanding and so many really exciting improvements coming to the theatre, there is a lot to look forward to. I’m excited to welcome a new executive director and work together to build on what makes Wagon Wheel so special, while making sure it continues to grow and thrive for many years to come.”
Under the shared leadership structure, the executive director and executive artistic director will have distinct areas of primary accountability while collaborating on matters that significantly affect the organization as a whole.
The executive director will lead Wagon Wheel’s organizational operations and strategy, while the executive artistic director will lead its artistic vision and programming. The two executives will collaborate on major decisions affecting the organization’s artistic, financial, operational and strategic direction.
“This structure reflects exciting transformational growth and recognizes that artistic excellence and organizational strength are both essential to Wagon Wheel's future,” said Sea Grandon, president of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Board of Directors. “Wagon Wheel has an extraordinary artistic legacy and a deep connection to this community. The major wins we have had over the past year are a result of the exceptional artistic programming and services Wagon Wheel provides, our significant community impact and our national reputation as a premier training ground for performing arts talent. Our grantors have charged us with building out our capacities even further for the benefit of Warsaw and the creative economy of Indiana. Adding an executive director provides focused leadership around organizational capacity, fundraising, financial sustainability, people, facilities and the systems needed to support our mission well into the future.”
The search follows on the heels of an incredibly successful year for the organization, including a $1.4 million READI award from the state of Indiana and a $250,000 award from the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative. These awards were granted to Wagon Wheel for significant capital improvements, expanded programming and audience building.
Candidates with leadership experience in nonprofit management, arts administration, fundraising, community development or related fields are encouraged to apply.
A complete position description and application information are available at wagonwheelcenter.org/about/employment-internships/.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with an anticipated start date of Jan. 1, 2027.
