Studio Operations Manager
En L’air Academy of Dance & Aerial is a busy, growing dance and aerial arts studio in Calgary. We offer dance, acrobatics, aerial arts, circus programming, recreational classes, competitive programs, camps, intensives and special events for children and youth.
We are looking for an experienced, organized and confident Studio Operations Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the studio and help create an environment where our students, families and staff can thrive.
This is a hands-on management position. We are looking for someone who doesn’t simply complete tasks—they notice what needs to be done, take initiative, communicate clearly, solve problems and follow things through to completion.
The Role
The Studio Operations Manager will be responsible for keeping the studio running smoothly on a daily basis and will serve as the primary operational support for the owner and studio team.
You will oversee day-to-day studio operations, staff communication, scheduling, customer service, administrative systems and the many details required to keep a busy children’s performing arts business running effectively.
The goal of this position is simple: the owner should not have to chase down every detail for the studio to function.
Key Responsibilities
Studio Operations
- Oversee the daily operation of the studio
- Ensure the studio is organized, prepared and functioning smoothly
- Identify operational problems and take ownership of solving them
- Maintain studio procedures, systems and standards
- Coordinate opening and closing procedures
- Monitor supplies, equipment and studio needs
- Coordinate repairs, maintenance and other facility issues
- Ensure policies and procedures are consistently followed
- Keep track of deadlines, tasks and follow-up items
Staff Management
- Act as a primary point of contact for studio staff
- Coordinate staff schedules, substitutions and coverage
- Communicate expectations, updates and important information to employees
- Support onboarding and training of new staff
- Monitor attendance, punctuality and performance
- Address staff concerns and performance issues promptly and professionally
- Hold staff accountable to studio standards
- Help foster a positive, respectful and professional workplace culture
- Recognize when staff need additional support, training or intervention
- Escalate significant issues to the owner when appropriate
Parent & Student Experience
- Provide excellent customer service to students and families
- Respond to parent questions and concerns
- Resolve routine concerns independently whenever possible
- Handle difficult conversations calmly and professionally
- Ensure families receive timely and accurate information
- Identify recurring parent/student concerns and recommend improvements
Administration
- Manage day-to-day administrative tasks and follow-up
- Assist with class schedules, registration and studio communications
- Maintain accurate records and documentation
- Coordinate important dates, deadlines and studio events
- Ensure administrative tasks are completed accurately and on time
- Communicate with instructors, families and external contacts as required
- Support the owner with projects and initiatives when needed
Programs & Events
- Support the successful operation of recreational and competitive programming
- Assist with camps, intensives, recitals, competitions, showcases and special events
- Coordinate operational details and staff needs
- Ensure staff have the information and resources required to do their jobs
- Help identify opportunities to improve studio systems and programming
What We’re Looking For
The right person will be:
- Highly organized and exceptionally reliable
- Proactive rather than reactive
- Comfortable managing multiple priorities
- Confident managing adults and having difficult conversations
- A strong communicator
- Calm under pressure
- Comfortable making decisions independently
- Excellent at follow-through
- Detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture
- Professional, approachable and personable
- Able to recognize problems before they become emergencies
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
- Someone who naturally takes ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do
Required Experience
- Previous experience managing staff or a team
- Previous experience in operations, administration, recreation, education, hospitality, fitness, childcare, performing arts or a similar environment
- Demonstrated ability to organize people, schedules and competing priorities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong computer and administrative skills
- Experience handling customer service concerns professionally
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
- Ability to work independently and make sound decisions
Dance/Aerial Experience
Dance or aerial experience is not required.
Experience in a dance studio, gymnastics facility, cheerleading gym, fitness facility, recreation centre, children’s program, performing arts organization or similar environment is an asset.
We can teach you our studio, our programs and our terminology.
We are looking for someone who already knows how to manage people, solve problems and run operations.
This Position Is a Good Fit If…
You are the person who:
- Notices that something needs to be done and just does it
- Keeps lists and actually finishes them
- Follows up when someone hasn’t completed something
- Isn’t afraid to have a difficult conversation
- Can walk into a chaotic situation and figure out what needs to happen first
- Can manage people while still treating them with respect
- Takes responsibility instead of making excuses
- Enjoys creating systems that make everyone’s job easier
- Likes being the person who makes things work
This Position Is NOT a Good Fit If…
- You need constant direction to stay productive
- You avoid difficult conversations
- You struggle to prioritize independently
- You frequently miss deadlines or forget follow-ups
- You prefer to focus only on your own tasks rather than the overall operation
- You are uncomfortable managing staff performance
- You need the owner to make every operational decision
Schedule
This is a full-time position based primarily at our Calgary studio.
Because dance and aerial programming takes place during afternoons, evenings and some weekends, the successful candidate must be comfortable working a schedule that reflects the operating hours of a busy children’s studio.
Some flexibility in hours will be required during camps, competitions, recitals and major studio events.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- Your resume
- A brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position
- Three examples of situations where you have successfully managed a difficult person, solved an operational problem, or taken ownership of a situation that was not going well.
We are particularly interested in hearing what you personally did, not just what your team accomplished.
We are looking for someone who wants to become an integral part of our studio and help us build an organized, positive and sustainable environment for our students and staff.
If you are a natural problem-solver, strong communicator and someone who makes organizations run better simply by being there, we’d love to hear from you.
Pay: $40,000.00-$70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Flexible schedule
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Calgary, AB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- Must have or be willing to obtain First aid and police check (vulnerable sector)
Experience:
- Management: 2 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
