Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the organization's mission, strategic vision, financial sustainability, and public impact. The ideal candidate will be a community builder who inspires collaboration, synergy, and consensus among all stakeholders. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director leads a talented staff including a senior leadership team consisting of a Deputy Director for Strategic Operations, Senior Director of Finance, and Director of Development and Communications. They will also work closely with program directors who work with teaching artists, school, and cultural partners.

The next Executive Director will build on ArtsConnection's 45+ year legacy as a leader in the arts education field in New York city, while positioning the organization for its next phase of growth, innovation, and impact as it moves towards its 50th anniversary. The successful candidate will be an inspiring leader with a deep commitment to educational equity, youth development, and the transformative power of the arts.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the continual evolution and implementation of ArtsConnection's strategic vision.
• Foster innovation in arts education programming and partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to expand impact and deepen community engagement.
• Ensure alignment between mission, strategy, programs, and operations.

Fundraising and External Relations

• Serve as the organization's chief fundraiser and public spokesperson.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community partners.
• Work closely with development staff and board members to meet and exceed annual fundraising goals.
• Represent the organization in public forums, policy discussions, media, and arts education advocacy efforts, both locally and nationally.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing staff, championing leadership growth throughout the organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, learning, and inclusion.
• Lead senior staff in setting priorities and achieving organizational goals.

Financial and Operational Stewardship

• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and organizational performance and up to date reporting to the Board.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to support effective governance, strategic decision-making, and risk management practices.
• Maintain operational excellence and financial sustainability.

Equity and Community Impact

• Advance ArtsConnection's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and community care.
• Ensure programs reflect and affirm the experiences and identities of New York City's youth.
• Build authentic relationships with students, educators, artists, families, and community stakeholders.
• Stay connected to the programmatic work and strengthen ArtsConnection's role as a leader in the arts education field.

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in a nonprofit, educational, arts, cultural, or youth-serving organization.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and revenue generation.
• Experience managing budgets, teams, and complex organizational operations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication abilities across a wide range of audiences.
• Deep passion for, and demonstrated experience in arts education, youth development, or public education.
• Strong knowledge of New York City's educational and cultural sectors, and government.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and governance structures.
• Track record of leading organizational growth and change.

About the Organization

Since its founding in 1979, ArtsConnection (AC) has been one of New York City's most comprehensive arts education organizations with programs in the performing, visual, and media arts. We provide arts education that taps into students' individuality and creativity to help them forge new pathways in their education while building critical thinking, creative problem solving, heightened self-esteem, literacy, and strong communication abilities. Programs are led by over 100 culturally diverse teaching artists whose distinctive and varied artistic perspectives inspire, guide and support students. Each year, AC partners with over 70 NYC public schools (grades pre-K through 12) across the five boroughs, providing artist residencies, professional development for teachers and artists, and family arts events under our ArtsConnection Framework, encouraging student autonomy through the artistic process. Out-of-school-time (OST) Teen Programs link the city’s cultural resources to the developmental and educational needs of teens, while providing space for artistic expression, experiential learning, career exploration, and leadership development. Our work, while rooted in New York City, is an award-winning and sought-after model on a national scale.

To achieve our mission, ArtsConnection:

• Draws from its many years of experience to develop long-term relationships with public schools, providing customized arts education programs for students, families, and the community.
• Trains teaching artists to engage students in active learning through authentic arts experiences, allowing children to experience the arts first-hand and build creative and educational skills.
• Continually evaluates and refines programs to ensure high-quality experiences that exceed city, state, and federally-mandated learning standards for the Arts, English Language Arts, and other curricular areas.
• Provides arts-based programming to teens in out-of-school programs, encouraging connections with the arts, artists, and peers; and allowing young people to define their voice while developing pre-college and career skills.
• Leverages over 30 years of research to create arts-based professional learning models and resources for educators, youth service providers, and the arts education field.

This position contemplates in-person attendance (in the office or out in the field) at a minimum of 4 days per week. After 60 days of full-time employment, ArtsConnection employees are eligible for elective benefits including medical (Oxford / United HealthCare), dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. All employees are eligible to contribute to a 401k retirement plan, as well as elective supplemental insurance products, Flexible Spending Account, and transit withholding. Employees receive 10 paid vacation days in their first year, as well as 13 paid holidays, 3 personal days, and paid sick leave.