Executive Director, The Pocantico Center

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director of The Pocantico Center, a 200-acre campus located in the scenic Hudson Valley of New York where thought leaders and practitioners, both individually and collectively, have the opportunity to push boundaries, imagine the future, and become agents for change across the broad spectrum of the arts, culture, public affairs, and contemporary thought.

The current Executive Director, who has served Pocantico with distinction, will step down at the end of 2024. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has engaged the Catherine French Group to assist them in identifying and recruiting the Center's next Executive Director.  

About the Rockefeller Brothers Fund

www.rbf.org

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) advances social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. As a private foundation rooted in the Rockefeller family tradition of philanthropy, the Fund takes the long view to experiment and take risks, to share learning, and to leverage all resources for the common good. Through grantmaking, mission-aligned investing, convening, performances, public engagement, and philanthropic leadership, the RBF supports people and organizations in building lasting solutions to the challenges facing today’s increasingly interdependent world. 

About the Culture

The RBF is committed to deepening anti-racism, anti-sexism, and anti-bigotry. This commitment is central to the RBF's mission and impact. The Fund has historically examined and supported causes that entrench inclusion and equity to advance systemic change. In recent years, the Fund has focused on cultivating an internal learning and transformation disposition that has resulted in shared language and understanding and a commitment to achieving an external impact that recognizes the centrality of multiculturalism.

About The Pocantico Center

Once home to the Rockefeller Family, The Pocantico Center is a thoughtfully designed and curated retreat that offers guests an immersive experience of inspiring beauty, with breathtaking gardens and grounds, historic architecture, and a renowned art collection in which to find inspiration and respite. Pocantico has hosted some of the last century's most influential leaders, thinkers, and creative minds. Beginning in 1979, Nelson, Laurance, and David Rockefeller each bequeathed their shares of the family estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Under a special arrangement with the Trust, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has maintained and operated these properties since 1994.

Today, through robust programming that includes conferences, artist residencies, performances, exhibitions, and educational programs for the broader community, Pocantico continues to bring together people from near and far to learn, share, and imagine a better future.  

The Opportunity

The Executive Director of The Pocantico Center (ED) brings leadership, vision, and oversight to all aspects of a campus comprised of 14 buildings and 200 acres of property. The ED is responsible and accountable for leading the strategic planning, management, budgeting, and staffing of the Center. The ED oversees Pocantico’s activities and stewardship of its historic buildings, grounds, and accredited museum collection of fine and decorative art. The ED actively participates in the broader community surrounding the campus.

The ED's responsibilities include:

·    Ensuring the highest standards of excellence and service in all Pocantico's convenings, programming, and activities.

·   Collaborating with the Fund’s Culpepper Arts & Culture team to provide leadership and vision for public programming at The Pocantico Center, including artists residencies, performances, and exhibits.

·   Ensuring that The Pocantico Center is managed in a fiscally responsible manner. This includes operations, programming, conservation, and capital needs.  The ED oversees the development of all Pocantico-related budgets, monitors performance against budgets, and achieves approved financial outcomes.

·   Monitoring the administrative, maintenance, and security services provided by the Greenrock Corporation. 

·   Representing the Fund in contractual relationships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Hudson Valley.

·   Deepening relationships with local, regional, and national non-profit and philanthropic partner organizations. 

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Finance, Operations, and Pocantico, the ED additionally works with the Fund’s President and CEO, a cross-section of the institution's staff, the Board of Trustees, and Pocantico Committee and interfaces with members of the Rockefeller Family and their staff. The ED may serve on the boards of institutions that partner with The Pocantico Center.

The ED supervises the Director of Pocantico Operations and Administration, the Curator, the Manager, Public Programs and Residencies, and consultants as needed. They also co-supervise the Administrative Assistant.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the demonstrated ability to analyze problems, recognize opportunities, and develop and implement short- and long-term plans to achieve programmatic and institutional goals. The candidate will have substantial prior experience in executive leadership and management positions, preferably with mission-based not-for-profit organizations in the arts, cultural, philanthropic, historic preservation, or academic fields. Specific experience in financial management, program management, and administration is required.

The successful candidate will have substantial knowledge and experience in one or more areas of focus in the performing arts, visual arts, historic preservation, or other related fields. An advanced degree or equivalent experience in a specific discipline or subject area is preferred. 

The successful candidate will have a work history that reflects a deep personal commitment to anti-racism, anti-sexism, and the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the grace and diplomatic skills to work effectively with people of all economic, social, and educational backgrounds.

The successful candidate will be creative, innovative, curious, and persistent. They will have the ability to recruit, motivate, and inspire others to meet and exceed expectations. They will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards. The successful candidate will fully embrace the mission of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and accept the challenge to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

Compensation

The range of compensation for this position is $200,000 to $250,000 based on qualifications and experience. RBF offers comprehensive benefits including medical insurance; a generous 401(k) plan; significant paid time off to ensure work-life balance; matching gifts benefits of up to $8,000 per year; and up to $4,000 per year for personal career advancement.

The Pocantico Center also offers benefits that are both unique and immeasurable, including exposure to internationally significant collections of visual and decorative arts; attendance at music, dance, and theatre performances of the highest quality; and the opportunity to listen, observe, and participate in discussions with RBF partners, including some of the most influential leaders and thinkers of our time.  

Applications

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Applicants should submit a letter that speaks to specific interest in the position and qualifications as described in the position specifications. Please include a resume and contact information for at least three references. All applications will be treated as confidential, and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s agreement. Electronic submissions in Adobe Acrobat PDF format are requested. 

The position will remain open until filled. Review of credentials will begin in mid-May.

Please submit application material to:

applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com

The range of compensation for this position is $200,000 to $250,000 based on qualifications and experience. RBF offers comprehensive benefits including medical insurance; a generous 401(k) plan; significant paid time off to ensure work-life balance; matching gifts benefits of up to $8,000 per year; and up to $4,000 per year for personal career advancement.

The Pocantico Center also offers benefits that are both unique and immeasurable, including exposure to internationally significant collections of visual and decorative arts; attendance at music, dance, and theatre performances of the highest quality; and the opportunity to listen, observe, and participate in discussions with RBF partners, including some of the most influential leaders and thinkers of our time.

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Applicants should submit a letter that speaks to specific interest in the position and qualifications as described in the position specifications. Please include a resume and contact information for at least three references. All applications will be treated as confidential, and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s agreement. Electronic submissions in Adobe Acrobat PDF format are requested. 

The position will remain open until filled. Review of credentials will begin in mid-May.

Please submit application material to: applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com