Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer, VisArts

VisArts’ mission is to foster creativity, accessibility, and community through visual arts education. Founded in 1987 by a group of artists as a grassroots organization, VisArts is a nonprofit arts hub and incubator located in Rockville, Maryland. One of the region’s only organizations focused exclusively on the visual arts and the largest employer of visual artists in Montgomery County, VisArts offers a wide range of programs for all ages and abilities.

Through art classes, camps, five contemporary art galleries, artist residencies and fellowships, the VisAbility Art Lab—a specialized studio program for artists with disabilities—and community outreach initiatives, VisArts provides children, teens, and adults with opportunities to express themselves, develop their skills, connect with others, and enrich their lives. Located in the heart of Rockville Town Square, VisArts serves more than 30,000 students, artists, and visitors each year. Learn more at visartscenter.org.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a new senior leadership role that will serve as the operational backbone of VisArts, partnering with the CEO to strengthen the organization’s internal infrastructure so that VisArts can operate smoothly, sustainably, and at scale. Operating on a $3.5 million annual budget, the COO will build efficient systems, safeguard the organization’s financial health and legal compliance, and oversee finance, human resources, facilities, technology, and compliance.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who brings rigor and structure to a creative, mission-driven environment while remaining flexible and responsive to the unique rhythms of a working arts organization. The COO will supervise and develop the Business Manager and Facilities Manager and oversee the IT Consultant, while guiding and teaching colleagues with varying levels of financial and operational experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Compliance

• Lead accounting, financial reporting, payroll, benefits administration, tax compliance, and the annual audit.
• Prepare the annual budget with the CEO and division heads; monitor spending, forecast cash flow, and provide transparent reporting that strengthens financial literacy across the organization.
• Own financial and regulatory compliance for grants and maintain relationships with auditors, insurers, and financial institutions.

Operations and Facilities

• Ensure safe, well-maintained, and efficient offices, galleries, studios, classrooms, storage spaces, and event spaces.
• Oversee capital planning, maintenance schedules, vendor relationships, building systems, and technology infrastructure.
• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures and negotiate vendor contracts to promote consistency, efficiency, and compliance.

Human Resources and Administration

• Oversee hiring, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, performance management, personnel policies, and employment law compliance.
• Serve as the point of escalation for accommodation requests, harassment and whistleblower reports, and other sensitive personnel matters.
• Develop the organizational professional development framework and oversee staff and payroll databases, file management, and administrative workflows.

Organizational Leadership and Technology

• Serve as a key thought partner to the CEO and member of the Leadership Team on organizational strategy, annual planning, operational decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
• Supervise and develop operational staff and oversee the IT Consultant, with clear accountability and professional development support.
• Guide technology strategy, cybersecurity, data management, backup and recovery, system implementation, data privacy, and the technology budget.

Experience, Skills, and Qualities

VisArts’ mission is to foster creativity, accessibility, and community through visual arts education.

• 7+ years of operations, financial management, or nonprofit administration experience, including P&L responsibility and team leadership.
• Demonstrated nonprofit finance and accounting experience, including budgeting, financial analysis, GAAP, audits, and grant/contract compliance.
• Experience with nonprofit accounting systems and software such as QuickBooks Online.
• Experience managing human resources functions, employment law compliance, benefits, and staff development.
• Working knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure sufficient to guide vendor selection, budgeting, and data security decisions.
• Experience with facilities management, vendor negotiation, and contract administration, ideally in a public-facing or multi-use space.
• Ability to manage multiple teams, vendors, and complex projects with attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain financial and operational information to non-financial colleagues.
• Strong financial acumen and the ability to guide and teach colleagues.
• A hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving.
• Flexibility and responsiveness within a creative, mission-driven environment.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Compensation

The budgeted salary for this role is $125,000, with benefits that include health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, parking reimbursement, and class and camp discounts.

Working Location

VisArts is located in Rockville, Maryland, in Metro-accessible Rockville Town Center. The work environment is in-person at the office and at venues throughout the region. Some events and programs require evening and weekend hours.

Application Process

VisArts has retained the services of Good Insight, a national executive search firm that exclusively serves the nonprofit sector. Interested applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter that describes their interest in and qualifications for this role. Direct confidential inquiries to VisArts@good-insight.org. Upload application materials at good-insight.org/careers.

Resume reviews begin immediately. For best consideration, please apply by mid-October. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search.

Equal Opportunity Employer

VisArts provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability.