AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

from Franklin Furnace

Artist Communities Alliance Seeks Managing Director of External Affairs

Desired Start Date: March 1, 2023

How To Apply: Submit your application package including a resume, cover letter, and 1-2 work samples. Cover Letter should address why this role is in alignment with your current goals and trajectory at this time, mission alignment, your core competencies, and what you will bring and gain from ACA.

Please email your application packet to search@unlockcreative.org.

Where To Apply: Unlock Creative: Coaching & Management Solutions LLC is conducting this search. If you have any questions, please email Ashley Walden Davis at ashley@unlockcreative.org or call 404.236.6222. Label the email “ACA MD Search questions." All applications and expressed interest in this position will remain confidential.

About ACA: The Artist Communities Alliance (ACA) is an international nonprofit association, providing services to more than 400 organizational and individual members working in the field of artist residencies. Based in Providence, RI and operating fully remote, ACA conducts research about artist residencies, hosts field-wide discussions and professional development convenings, manages several grantmaking programs, offers consulting services, develops informational tools, and advocates on behalf of artist residencies and artists.

Founded in 1991, ACA maintains a staff of 6-9 employees and a national/international Board of Trustees. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace.

A full description can be found at: https://artistcommunities.org/about/employment/managing-director 

Position Title: Managing Director of External Affairs

Employment Status: Full-time, W-2 status, permanent, exempt, 40 Hours per week

Compensation: $85,000 - $95,000 / per year

Reports To: President + CEO

Benefits: Paid holidays, accrued vacation + sick time, 401k after one year with 3% employer contribution, intermittent travel for staff and board retreats, convenings or discovery trips, employer contribution towards insurance, quarterly work from home stipend, at minimum participation in 3 community rest weeks.

Location & Office: Fully remote office. The majority of administrative work and meetings are conducted virtually and majority of staff work from a home office except when required to be on-site for programs and meetings.

Managing Director Role

The Managing Director of External Affairs will provide strong leadership, programs operations management, and management for the programs team – individually and collectively. This newly created role of External Affairs comes at a critical time for the organization. A key member of the leadership team with the CEO and Managing Director of Finance + Operations, this individual will collaboratively advance the organization’s strategic vision and bolster plans to achieve our long-term growth goals by securing revenue in addition to expanding our organizational profile and impact. The role will oversee fundraising, marketing/communications, advocacy, and programs in pursuit of ACA’s mission.

The Managing Director of External Affairs will initially manage a team of coordinators and managers. They will develop a plan to grow their 3 person team by 2-3 positions within 2023, as needed to help meet ACA’s strategic priorities.

Successful Candidates

The successful candidate will have 8-10 years of relevant advancement experience in an organization that centers artists including managing team members and must have a demonstrated ability to manage, mentor, and promote strong collaboration in a dynamic environment. They will be open-minded, possess strong listening and written communication skills, be self-directed but have good judgment when consultation is required and communicate openly and effectively across multiple constituencies. They will also have experience with a commitment to racial and gender equity in both a national and global context. An ability to align resources to simultaneously address both current operational needs and future priorities as determined by the President + CEO. Evidence of innovative, proactive thinking, coupled with knowledge of best practices and decision making, based on data and strategy is strongly desired.

Top candidates will have a penchant for action while also consistently demonstrating a transparent and consultative style of decision-making with the President + CEO and Managing Director of Finance + Operations. They will be an exceptional communicator, possess the ability to inspire and motivate staff, demonstrating a strong consistent work ethic. They will view leadership through a growth mindset and will relish the opportunity to support and develop staff to drive maximum operational effectiveness while fostering a positive work environment.

Thank you.