Executive Director

The Black Reconstruction Collective is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead the organization as it transitions from a founding board to a governing board to continue our mission to provide funding, design, and intellectual support to BRC Prize recipients. Founded in 2020, the Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC) is committed to multi-scalar and multi-disciplinary work dedicated to dismantling systemic white supremacy and hegemonic whiteness within art, design, and academia. The founding members of the BRC have produced work for an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and received significant grants from the Graham Foundation, Open Society, and the Mellon Foundation.  

The BRC engages the public through an annual process of identifying overlooked but talented thinkers and makers whose work aligns with the mission of the organization. Through a rigorous nomination and review process we provide critical and financial support to projects that have been selected by the Collective. The fellows' work will manifest in built commissions, research funding, exhibitions, events, and publications, that in aggregate, collectively imagine transformations to the built environment in the Black Radical Tradition. A biennial convening allows further opportunities for collaboration between past and future fellows.

Key responsibilities of the Executive Director include: 

• Leadership:  Visionary leader; guides the Board of Directors’ work and leads the organization to fulfill the mission of dismantling systemic white supremacy and hegemonic whiteness within art, design, and academia and to amplify knowledge production and spatial practices by individuals and organizations that further the reconstruction project. Grow the organization's infrastructure to match the needs of its mission.
• Financial Management:  Assume day-to-day fiscal responsibility for operations and calendar of programs; prepare and manage annual budgets; execute bookkeeping; prepare quarterly and annual fiscal reports; review and approve payables and receivables. 
• Fundraising:  Develop a funding strategy that's commensurate with our ambition to become a fully autonomous organization. Research and prepare grant proposals, and direct grant-writing process; diversity funding mechanisms that go beyond the grantmaking system; to include investing, donations, memberships, sponsorships, programming, etc.
• Communications: Supervise the work of a Social Media Coordinator to approve all communications efforts via all channels, including Mailing List, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; develop or direct language around programming and institutional work; clarify and improve institutional voice and branding; manage BRC website and update online archives. 

Reports to:  BRC Board of Directors on a regular basis (determined by the executive board members.)

• Coordinating with the Board to establish priorities, scope, and attitudes for BRC project selection and execution
• Directing an annual committee to select projects for funding and support via the BRC Prize, which includes drafting guidelines for the selection and work that will prioritize emancipation for the African Diaspora and dismantling white supremacy     
• Developing a team and strategy to deepen and expand the BRC through mission-driven practices 
• Coordinating biennial convening of BRC Prize Awardees, scholars, and members of the BRC ecosystem to discuss goals in the field related to emancipation and provide spaces for mentorship and elevation work by BRC Awardees.

The ideal candidate is: 

• An established leader in nonprofit management within the culture space, with an emphasis in visual arts, design and/or architecture, who is looking to help guide the BRC through its current chapter of institutional development and is dedicated to establishing a collaborative organization with empathy, intellectual rigor, and spirited energy. 
• Highly motivated to initiate resourceful and strategic approaches to re-envisioning the non-profit organization on both the front and back ends, with a commitment to rethink institutional practices and systems in response to national dialogues in the arts and cultural sectors.
• Deeply invested in the potentials of a small non-profit arts organization, with experience of and/or willingness to develop knowledge in non-profit organizational leadership, fundraising and grant writing, and curation and programming in contemporary art, design, and architecture. 
• Experience in managing a team with competing priorities and navigating strong-willed individuals.
• Dedicated to community-building within art, design, and architecture in the United States as well as globally with similar institutions dedicated to the liberation of the African diaspora.
• Committed to values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at all levels of the organization, emancipation for the African Diaspora, and dismantling white supremacy.

A Master's degree in Arts Management, Non-Profit Management, or comparable experience is desired. The preferred candidate will have at least 3 years of leadership as an Executive Director, or entrepreneurial experience. A graduate-level degree in the Arts, Curatorial Practices, Architecture, or a related field is welcome but not required. 

The BRC offers an equitable and competitive compensation package with an anticipated annual salary range of $85,000 - $100,000 with an expected 40 hours per week schedule. The benefits package includes health insurance (including vision), dental insurance, 10 days paid vacation, 10 sick days, and all federal holidays.

By May 15, 2024, please submit a letter of interest articulating “why you, why now” in 300 words or less, resume/CV, and three professional references, by email in a single PDF file to info@blackreconstructioncollective.org - please include “Full Name - Application Executive Director” as your subject line.