World Music Institute Executive Dir ector

Position: Executive Director

The World Music Institute, Inc. ("WMI") is seeking a new Executive Director with strong strategic, financial, fundraising and technology skills to guide the organization while staying true to our mission. The current Executive Director of WMI intends to retire this summer.

WMI

Founded in 1985 as a not-forprofit corporation, World Music Institute has been one of the leading presenters of world music and dance in the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world to enrich lives through the arts, promote awareness and appreciation of the world’s rich cultural traditions, and encourage cross-cultural dialogue and exchange. WMI presents virtually and at venues throughout New York City and relies on public and private funding to accomplish its mission.

For more information about WMI, and to see the current season’s offerings, visit our website at www.worldmusicinstitute.org

The Executive Director

WMI is looking for someone who will build on its strengths and traditions. This full-time job reports directly to the Board of Directors and provides a chance to lead fundraising, finances, and daily operations of an organization that champions the best in global music and dance. WMI has a yearly budget of approximately $1 million. As Executive Director, you will assume a hands-on leadership role and will work closely with the Board and senior staff to set goals and make sure the organization is both financially healthy and artistically vibrant. Your role will be to advance the artistic vision through operational excellence, cultivating a high-trust workplace that inspires team members, drives strategic growth and deepens WMI’s impact in the community.

Key Responsibilities

Organization and Financial Management: The Executive Director is the organization’s chief executive and manages the organization's affairs, oversees its operations and finances, prepares budgets, maintains financial records, oversees adherence to human resources policies, manages day-to-day operations, and supervises the staff of three. The Executive Director manages the approximately $1 million annual budget and oversees related financial record keeping and reporting to ensure accuracy and a proper financial control environment. Strong leadership, critical thinking and organizational skills are requirements for the position.

Donor Development: The Executive Director is the primary fundraiser for the organization, responsible for maintaining and growing current funding relationships and seeking new funding opportunities, including from corporate donors and sponsors. The Executive Director must be highly motivated to engage in fundraising activities and to develop strategies for enlarging the individual, corporate, government, and foundation donor base and increasing donations from each; build outreach efforts; and cultivate new donors. The Executive Director will work with the Board to oversee audience cultivation and fundraising events and lead staff and engage the Board to develop new sources for private and public institutional funding.

Strategic Planning: Develop strategic plans in consultation with the Board, provide vision for growth and sustainability of the organization, and maintain the operational infrastructure to implement and support goals.

Governance: Act as intermediary between staff and Board, and facilitate goal setting, fundraising, and program development. Provide the Board with relevant information and insights to support the strategic planning process and implementation of sound governance practices. Support the Board in governance and strategic decision-making. Utilize the Board's resources and talent to achieve the organization’s broader goals. Ensure alignment of programming and operations with strategic goals.

Leadership: Develop and lead a three-member staff, consultants, and volunteers to cultivate a high-performance efficient organization. Promote a productive and supportive work environment through consistent procedures, personnel guidelines, and regular staff reviews. Lead Board recruitment and cultivation efforts. Organizing and spearheading meetings with the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board.

Program Strategy and Management: Collaborate with the Artistic Director to develop, execute and evaluate WMI’s performance seasons and programs in a manner that balances fiscal responsibility with artistic ambition.

Marketing and Promotion: Serve as a brand ambassador for the organization, building key partnerships with artists, members, supporters, funders, media, and the public. Represent and advocate for WMI in diverse public and private settings and seek creative outreach opportunities to elevate WMI's brand. Work with the Marketing Director, the Artistic Director and the Board to create and execute effective short- and long-term marketing plans to raise WMI's profile, expand audiences, keep efforts technologically current, and increase earned revenue streams.

Key Attributes of the Executive Director

• At least ten years of leadership or equivalent experience in the administration of a non-profit organization, ideally within an arts organization.
• Highly motivated individual with a proven track record of fundraising, including large and small, public and corporate funders and government agencies; experience cultivating individual donor relationships, corporate sponsorships, and partnerships.
• Experience developing and implementing a strategic plan, ideally for an arts organization.
• Financial acumen, experience, and ability to manage and maintain budgets, oversee financial audits, and maintain financial records.
• Tech-forward focus and facility, including the strategic application of AI and digital tools including social media.
• Marketing and promotional skills demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to address and engage audiences while introducing concerts and to prepare grant applications.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact effectively with the Board, funders, donors, staff and diverse constituents of WMI.
• Deft organizational skills – ensuring the smooth running of operations and maximization of resources.
• Strong supervisory record with proven ability to hire and mentor high-performing teams in a lean hands-on environment.
• Strong interest in traditional and contemporary music, dance, and culture from around the world and familiarity with the New York City arts and cultural landscape.
• Ability to attend most WMI concerts throughout the season, many of which are on weekend nights.
• Familiarity with social media, marketing and promotional skills demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness.
• Multiple language skills and cross-cultural experience are desirable.

The Successful Candidate:

The successful candidate will share WMI’s core values: building a strong community, fostering collaboration, and responding thoughtfully to challenges. This person will bring innovative ideas to grow WMI’s audience and donor base and will help build a sustainable future for the organization. The successful candidate will also demonstrate comfort and skill in engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, possess clear communication skills, and be willing to take thoughtful risks that help WMI advance its mission.

WMI Employment Policy:

WMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal, state, and local laws about fair employment practices. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and do not discriminate based on an individual's actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, alienage or citizenship status, genetic disposition or carrier status, actual or perceived status as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, or any other legally impermissible factor in any employment decision, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Though we welcome applicants from outside the New York area, no travel expenses or relocation compensation are offered.

• Three weeks of vacation
• Five personal days
• Health insurance
• 403(b) plan available through TIAA for tax deferred wage contributions after 6 months of employment
• Access to world music and dance

English - fluent. Multiple language skills and cross-cultural experience are desirable.