Job ID: 70919855
Workplace Type: On-Site
Location: New York, New York, United States
Company Name For Job: The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts
Position Title: Executive Director
Job Function: Directors/Administrators
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Duration: Indefinite
Salary: $110,000.00 – $150,000.00 (Yearly Salary)
Description
The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts (EFA) is dedicated to providing artists across all disciplines the space, tools, and a cooperative forum for the development of individual practice. EFA is a catalyst for cultural growth, stimulating new interactions between artists, creative communities, and the public.
Established in 1992, EFA is a multi-program leader in support of emerging and mid-career artists. Located in its 12-story building in midtown Manhattan, EFA is committed to its mission of encouraging open exchange among artists, curators, critics, and the public in order to advance the invaluable contribution of art and artists in the New York City community.
EFA’s three major programs are:
EFA Studio Program – An open-submission, juried membership program that provides affordable private studio space, facilitates career development, and promotes public and critical exposure for its artists. Today, highly skilled artists work in the 90 subsidized individual studios of the EFA Center community.
EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop Program – A fully equipped, professional, cooperative print workspace. Inspired by Robert Blackburn’s vision of a culturally diverse artistic community, the EFA Printmaking Workshop Program provides affordable workshop access and unique learning opportunities. It publishes the work of underrepresented and established artists to expand the creation, understanding, and collection of fine art prints.
EFA Project Space Program – A collaborative cross-disciplinary arts venue founded on the belief that art is directly connected to the individuals who produce it, communities that arise because of it, and everyday life. EFA Project Space provides an arena for these connections and empowers artists to forge new partnerships and expand ideas through exhibitions, projects, performances, seminars, residencies, and events.
EFA is governed by an eight-member board. The organization has a staff of 15 and an annual operating budget of $2.5 million. Additional information about EFA and its programs can be found at
https://www.efanyc.org.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Executive Director will be a visionary and innovative leader who will oversee and guide EFA at a pivotal point in its history. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will advance the organization as a leading voice in the artist community, ensuring the achievement of EFA’s mission through the understanding of the organization’s core values, culture, policies, history, programs, finances, and fundraising efforts. The Executive Director will provide the strategic direction and vision necessary to strengthen EFA’s resiliency and sustainability, expand the capacity to serve diverse communities, and position the organization for the future.
The Executive Director will lead and support EFA’s arts programs while balancing current institutional and programmatic strengths and interests. Specifically, the Executive Director will be responsible for establishing the organization’s vision, and overseeing the financial operations, fundraising, and programmatic strategies while giving direction and supervising a close-knit team of talented professionals.
PRIORITIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will understand and embrace EFA’s legacy and culture and have the following priorities:
Chart EFA’s course for the future by taking a principal role in developing and implementing a strategic plan; ensure that the plan’s structure, goals, and sources for support are congruent with the organization’s mission.
Work closely with and gain the support of EFA’s Board of Directors; keep Board members well informed and up to date on the organization’s programmatic and fiscal standing; take a lead role in Board development, helping to identify and attract new Board members; work collaboratively with the Board President on organizational governance and policies.
Maintain organizational cohesiveness and transparency; foster an atmosphere of communication and collaboration among programs; motivate, encourage, integrate, and guide the entire team.
Manage EFA in a fiscally responsible manner; take ownership of the budget, ensuring it is balanced and the organization achieves and remains on stable financial footing from an operational perspective; become familiar with the current sources of support and allocation of resources; ensure financial transparency and encourage ownership and fiscal responsibility at the departmental level.
Other key responsibilities include:
Resource Development
Initiate and oversee fundraising initiatives and campaign and engage potential donors in support of EFA’s strategic direction and programming; expand partnerships and develop unique revenue-generating opportunities to grow and diversify EFA’s funding sources.
Supervise and participate in fundraising and development activities including relationships with government agencies, foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
External Engagement and Partnerships
Serve as spokesperson and chief advocate for EFA; provide executive leadership to all marketing, communications, and branding initiatives and establish strong relationships with networks in arts and cultural agencies on local, national, and international levels.
Seek opportunities to enhance EFA’s impact and increase the visibility of the organization by leveraging existing relationships and creating strategic relationships.
Raise awareness of EFA and its programs through traditional an digital platforms; develop an understanding of and appreciation for what the artist community values in EFA’s programming and engagement.
Staff and Program Management
Promote positive interaction and exchange between the three EFA programs and program staff; cultivate an engaging, open, and inspiring culture; advise and approve program activities, presentations, and scheduling.
Oversee human resources; strengthen policies and procedures; instill and clarify best practices, lines of responsibility, work ethics and values, and a sense of fairness and accountability.
Prioritize and champion key policies, procedures, and training efforts which reflect EFA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Operations and Financial Management
Oversee and manage EFA’s real estate assets, including the physical management of the structure, necessary improvements, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, mortgage refinancing, and lease renewal for ground-floor retail space.
Oversee finances and record keeping including budgets, financial statements, and all other necessary financial filings with outside auditors.
Requirements
IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The Executive Director will have or be:
Proven managerial and leadership capabilities, ideally in a public or nonprofit arts-related setting or real estate organization focused on developing the creative work and careers of artists while cultivating community and public participation; able to set and coalesce others around a vision for EFA, its goals, and their successful achievement.
Deep knowledge of the arts sector, including programming, community engagement, and advocacy, ideally with a network of contacts in the artistic community; passion for the arts and a commitment to promoting access, diversity, and equity in the arts.
A proven fundraiser who appreciates the importance of relationship building; able to connect with untapped philanthropic resources, identify potential partnerships, engage donors, and build constituency and support.
A record of success in directing and working closely with an engaged and committed staff; the ability to oversee others without dictating artistic/programmatic decisions; able to seek input from others, reach
consensus, and/or make unilateral decisions when needed; ability to set goals and expectations and then delegate; a commitment to transparency and accountability.
The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both in writing and verbally.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills; decisiveness and confidence; inclusive, flexible, and grounded.
EFA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic, disability, age, or veteran status.
Compensation range: $110,000 to $150,000.
Please send applications, including cover letters and resumes, or nominations to Mark Tarnacki at EFA@PhillipsOppenheim.com.
Essye Klempner
Director of Programming and Partnerships
EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop
323 W 39th St. 2nd Floor – New York, NY 10018
