Cirque du Soleil

General Manager - Resident & Touring Shows

Cirque du Soleil$125K — $150K *
Hospitality & Recreation
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of business leadership experience in the entertainment or related industry
  • Strong understanding of P&L management and financial accountability
  • Proven track record in revenue optimization and commercial growth
  • Exceptional leadership capabilities with a focus on team development
  • Excellent communication skills for stakeholder engagement and team alignment

Responsibilities

  • Own and manage the annual P&L for the show, ensuring profitability and cash flow
  • Lead the development of annual business plans, forecasts, and KPI performance management
  • Drive sustainable revenue growth across various revenue streams, including ticket sales and sponsorships
  • Ensure a world-class guest experience while enhancing brand satisfaction
  • Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability and innovation
  • Serve as the primary ambassador for the show, engaging with local stakeholders and community

Benefits

  • Full-time position with opportunities for relocation and travel
  • Leadership role in one of the world’s most iconic live entertainment brands
  • Chance to influence and elevate the guest experience in a dynamic environment
  • Engagement with diverse stakeholders, enhancing market presence and partnerships
  • Opportunity to innovate operational strategies and enhance profitability
Full Job Description
***Le poste étant situé aux États-Unis, la description de poste est disponible uniquement en anglais.***

***As this position in based in the United States, the job description is available in English only.***

General Manager - Resident & Touring Shows

Operations Support

Full-Time Position

This General Manager position applies to both our resident shows and our touring productions. Depending on the specific opening, the role may be based in one market long-term or involve relocation and travel as part of a touring production. Specific location and format details will be shared during the process.

ROLE SUMMARY

This is a key leadership role at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and a unique opportunity to lead one of the world's most iconic live entertainment experiences. We are seeking top talent with the ambition, commercial mindset and leadership maturity to own a business, mobilize teams and create long-term enterprise value. Candidates assuming full P&L accountability for the first time are welcome to apply, provided they bring a strong track record of business leadership, commercial acumen, disciplined execution and influence.

Reporting to the Vice President, Commercial, the General Manager is the enterprise leader accountable for maximizing the long-term value of their show through commercial growth, disciplined P&L management, operational excellence, talent leadership and an exceptional guest experience.

The General Manager owns the show's full P&L and leads through influence in a matrix environment, aligning Centers of Expertise and local teams around clear business priorities, performance outcomes and brand standards.

This leader is expected to run the show through data, insight and disciplined business rhythms, including forecasting, business reviews, KPI management, revenue optimization and proactive risk management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
  1. Full P&L Ownership & Business Leadership
    • Own and deliver the show's annual revenue, EBITDA, profitability, cash flow and operating objectives.
    • Develop the annual business plan and lead forecasting, monthly business reviews and KPI performance management.
    • Identify risks and opportunities early and take corrective action to maximize business results.
    • Foster a culture of accountability, commercial discipline and continuous improvement.
      Success measures: Revenue versus budget; EBITDA versus budget; Forecast accuracy; Margin improvement; Cash flow performance.
  2. Commercial Growth & Revenue Optimization
    • Drive sustainable revenue growth across ticket sales, premium experiences, sponsorships, merchandise, food & beverage and ancillary revenue streams.
    • Own local revenue optimization, including pricing, yield, inventory, premium product strategy and demand generation, in partnership with centralized commercial teams.
    • Use market insights, business intelligence and customer analytics to inform decisions and maximize profitability.
    • Expand the show's market position through strategic commercial partnerships and business development initiatives.
      Success measures: Revenue growth; Attendance and occupancy; Revenue yield; Guest spend; Market share.
  3. Guest Experience & Brand Excellence
    • Ensure delivery of a world-class guest experience that further elevates the Cirque du Soleil brand.
    • Partner across functions to enhance the customer journey, improve guest satisfaction and strengthen repeat attendance.
    • Use proactive communication, storytelling and market activation to attract new audiences, create buzz and position the show as the must-see entertainment experience in its market.
    • Balance commercial performance with artistic integrity, operational reliability and premium brand standards.
      Success measures: Guest satisfaction; NPS; Repeat attendance; Premium revenue growth; Experience KPI achievement; Audience growth and market visibility.
  4. People Leadership & Cross-Functional Execution
    • Build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, innovation and Cirque values.
    • Develop leadership capability and succession pipelines across the show organization.
    • Align Centers of Expertise around show priorities and hold functional leaders accountable for agreed outcomes.
    • Lead effectively through influence in a matrix environment.
      Success measures: Employee engagement; Retention of key talent; Succession readiness; Leadership effectiveness; Cross-functional execution.
  5. Stakeholder & Market Leadership
    • Serve as the primary ambassador for the show within the local market.
    • Build and maintain strategic relationships with venue operators, sponsors, tourism organizations, government representatives and community stakeholders.
    • Communicate the show's value proposition with clarity and energy to strengthen its reputation, attract new audiences and support long-term commercial success.
    • Strengthen Cirque du Soleil's reputation and support long-term commercial success.
      Success measures: Stakeholder satisfaction; Strategic partnership growth; Partner retention; Community reputation; Market awareness.
  6. Operational Excellence, Innovation & Risk Management
    • Ensure safe, efficient and reliable show operations.
    • Champion innovation, technology adoption and process improvement initiatives that enhance profitability and guest experience.
    • Identify and mitigate operational, commercial, talent, reputational and regulatory risks.
    • Maintain strong compliance, governance and business continuity practices.
      Success measures: Safety performance; Operational KPI achievement; Business continuity readiness; Productivity improvement; Risk mitigation effectiveness.


LEADERSHIP PROFILE

The successful General Manager will be:

Commercially Driven - Relentlessly focused on growth, profitability and enterprise value.

Data-Driven - Uses insights, analytics and KPIs to make informed business decisions.

Innovative & Opportunistic - Identifies opportunities, challenges assumptions and turns ideas into growth, performance and enterprise value.

Influential - Leads through collaboration, clarity and influence in a matrix environment.

Accountable - Owns outcomes and holds self and others responsible for delivery.

Strategic - Connects day-to-day execution to long-term business success.

Guest-Centric - Understands that exceptional experiences drive sustainable growth.

Risk-Aware - Balances growth ambition with sound judgement and enterprise risk management.

About Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company that specializes in circus arts. The company was founded in 1984 by Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix and has since become one of the largest and most successful circus companies in the world. Cirque du Soleil is known for its elaborate and visually stunning productions, which combine acrobatics, dance, music, and theater. The company has performed in more than 450 cities around the world and has been seen by over 180 million people. In addition to its live shows, Cirque du Soleil also produces films, television programs, and other multimedia content.
Learn more about Cirque du Soleil
Size
4,000 employees
Industry

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