Executive Director

Executive Director 502 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534 $90,000

• $120,000 a year
• Full-time $90,000
• $120,000 a year
• Full-time About The Spark of Hudson The Spark of Hudson is dedicated to sparking curiosity, teaching life and work skills and nurturing a thriving community.

The Spark's motto is "Learn together." Programming at the Spark is community driven. Based at 502 Union Street in Hudson, NY, The Spark building, our three-story, state-of-the-art headquarters, is the home of the CoLab coworking space, an apprenticeship program and Circle Bagels as well as beautifully designed event spaces available for everything from corporate offsites and board meetings to book launches, film screenings, and community gatherings. The Spark belongs to a group of local community initiatives, including a Universal Basic Income pilot (HudsonUP), an affordable housing program (HudsonDOTS), a skilled trades workforce training program (HudsonSTEP), and communal housing (HudsonNEST). All of these initiatives seek to contribute to a world in which advanced technological capabilities enable the thriving of individuals and communities. A Third Space Funded by Commercial Activity A "third space" is a social environment outside of the home ("first place") and the workplace ("second place") where people gather to connect, socialize, and build community. The Spark offers such a third space: a place where coworking, learning, socializing, and civic life coexist under one roof, open to everyone from freelancers and entrepreneurs to families, artists, and longtime Hudson residents. The Spark is home to a broad range of community activities. Here are just some examples of recent and upcoming events: Cold Case Club, Improv Class, Lapcraft Circle, Agentic AI Workshop, Zine Making, and many more. Spark programming is aimed at providing a sense of optimism, (re)establishing human connection, and sparking curiosity. The Spark embraces the use of technology while also actively counteracting its negative effects, such as increased loneliness. The Spark's funding model is also distinctive. Rather than depending indefinitely on grants and donations, The Spark is pioneering a self-sustaining economic model in which commercial activity within the building generates the revenue needed to keep the space open and accessible. Three revenue streams support financial sustainability:

The CoLab:

a flexible coworking space offering day passes and monthly memberships to independent professionals, remote workers, and small teams.

Corporate Offsites & Event Rentals:

three distinctive floors with flexible configurations that host corporate retreats, board meetings, celebrations, and milestone events.

Paid Programming & Events:

ticketed workshops, classes, and curated experiences that draw participants from across the region. Every dollar that comes into the building goes back into the mission. There is no profit extracted. The commercial revenue funds the community programming—not the other way around. The Executive Director will be responsible for building these revenue streams to achieve financial self-sustainability within five years, with steady, measurable progress each year. The Opportunity We are looking for an entrepreneurial Executive Director who combines the operational instincts of a hospitality or commercial venue leader with a genuine passion for community impact.

This is a rare role:

you will run a stunning physical space as a business while ensuring it remains a welcoming third space for all of Hudson. The right candidate will be energized—not daunted—by the challenge of building revenue from coworking, events, and programming in a small city setting, and will see the commercial and community dimensions of the building as mutually reinforcing: a vibrant calendar of community programming makes the space more attractive to coworking members and event clients, while commercial revenue ensures the community programming can flourish. You will inherit a beautifully renovated building, an engaged community, a small and dedicated team, a set of proven community initiatives, and the beginnings of paid events. Your job will be to make the whole enterprise thrive. Key ResponsibilitiesRevenue & Financial Sustainability Own the P&L for The Spark. Develop and execute strategies to grow revenue across coworking memberships, event rentals/corporate offsites, and paid programming. Build a multi-year financial plan with annual milestones on the path to full self-sustainability within five years. Set pricing, manage the operating budget (approximately $500K annually, excluding ED compensation), and make resource allocation decisions that balance growth with fiscal discipline. Develop sales and marketing strategies to attract corporate clients, event hosts, and coworking members to the building. Track and report on financial performance to the founders (and eventually, Board of Directors). Building Operations & Hospitality Oversee day-to-day operations of The Spark, ensuring a high-quality experience for every person who walks through the door—whether a coworking participant, event guest, community member, or visitor. Manage the facilities, including coordination with the on-site Facilities Manager and any vendors or contractors. Develop and refine operational systems for space booking, event logistics, member onboarding, and building management. Cultivate a culture of hospitality and warmth that reflects the Spark's values. Programming & Community Engagement Curate and oversee a calendar of community programming—free and paid—that reflects the diverse interests of Hudson residents and draws participants from the broader region. Balance free community programming with revenue-generating events and experiences, recognizing that both strengthen the third space. Build and maintain relationships with local organizations, schools, artists, and civic leaders to keep the Spark deeply connected to Hudson. Serve as a public ambassador for the Spark of Hudson, representing the organization at community events, in the press, and with potential partners and funders. Team Leadership Lead a lean team of 2-3 full-time staff plus part-time support, including a marketing/programming coordinator, a Facilities Manager, and part-time event and operations staff. Foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture where every person understands how their work connects to both the commercial and community sides of the mission. Hire, develop, and manage staff as the organization evolves. Broader Initiatives Participate in the Spark of Hudson's broader initiatives (HudsonUP, HudsonDOTS, HudsonSTEP, HudsonNEST), providing input on strategy and ensuring alignment between building operations and the organization's mission. Identify opportunities for the building to support and amplify these initiatives—for example, hosting HudsonSTEP events or showcasing HudsonDOTS at community gatherings. QualificationsRequired 5+ years of leadership experience in hospitality, events, coworking, venue management, or a related commercial operation; ideally in a setting that required building revenue and managing a P&L. Demonstrated track record of growing revenue and achieving financial targets.

Strong operational skills:

you can manage a building, run events, oversee budgets, and keep a complex operation running smoothly. Genuine interest in community development, learning, and social impact and a desire to channel your commercial skills toward mission-driven work. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect authentically with a wide range of people, from corporate clients to Hudson residents to local artists. Comfort with a lean, startup-like environment where you will need to be hands-on and resourceful. Early adopter of technology, with demonstrated skills using agentic AI tools Residence in or willingness to relocate to the Hudson, NY area. Preferred Experience with coworking space operations, membership models, or subscription-based businesses. Background in corporate event sales, retreat planning, or group hospitality. Familiarity with Hudson and the broader Columbia County community. Experience working with or reporting to a board of directors. Marketing and brand-building skills, particularly in a local/regional context. What Success Looks Like In the First Year Establish baseline revenue metrics and build a credible five-year financial plan with annual targets. Grow CoLab membership and utilization. Develop a pipeline and close sales of corporate offsite and paid event bookings. Maintain the level of community programming, track feedback and engagement, and build relationships with community members. Work closely with the team and the founders; identify potential board members. Create operational systems that make the building run efficiently and deliver a consistently excellent experience. By Year Three Revenue from the three commercial streams covers a substantial and growing share of operating costs. The Spark Building is recognized regionally as a premier venue for corporate offsites, events, and coworking. Community programming is thriving, with strong attendance and deep community engagement. By Year Five The Spark Building is financially self-sustaining through its commercial revenue streams. The commercially funded third space model is proven and documented as a replicable framework for other communities. Free community programming flourishes, supported entirely by the building's earned revenue. Why This Role This is a chance to build something genuinely new. Third spaces—places that blend work, community, and learning—are an idea whose time has come. But making a third space financially self-sustaining through its own commercial activity, rather than through perpetual grants, is a model that has not yet been proven. It requires an exceptional leader to make it real. You will have a stunning building, a clear mission, the backing of committed founders, and the freedom to shape how this model comes to life. If you have spent your career in hospitality or commercial venues and are ready to apply those skills to something with deep community purpose, this role was designed for you. The Spark of Hudson is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Pay:

$90,000.00

• $120,000.

00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off

Work Location:

In person