The Executive Director (ED) will guide the strategic vision and direction of the Durham Arts Council. The ED will be responsible for all aspects of strategic planning, fundraising, public visibility, and operational and financial oversight. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will lead and mentor a professional staff, navigating change, building relationships, and fostering an environment of excellence in the arts. The ED will cultivate DAC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, bringing diverse groups together towards a common goal and creating a synergistic community impact.

Roles and Responsibilities

Visionary and Transformational Leadership/Fiscal Management

• Provide the vision and strategy for DAC to ensure the citizens of Durham and surrounding regions have access and engagement with a thriving arts culture enhancing the region’s quality of life and economic vibrancy.
• Foster a culture of innovation at the DAC to realize new ideas, concepts, and strategies that amplify the cultural vitality of the Durham region. Cultivate a collaborative organizational structure and culture with cohesive, creative, communicative, and productive partnerships for internal and external stakeholders, and build upon the significant growth and success that has been achieved by DAC.
• Conduct periodic assessments of strategic priorities, resources, and direction, with analysis of program success, performance, financial position, ongoing relevance, and mission achievement. Lead and support community-wide planning initiatives for the arts and cultural sector.
• Guide staff in the development and delivery of excellent mission-based programs and services in response to the needs of the arts and cultural sector and the public.
• Oversee and direct the financial operations team and department heads, ensuring that accurate and timely financial procedures, monthly and year-end reporting, and audit processes are accomplished. Direct cash flow management and resource allocation. Develop and monitor annual organizational and department budgets working with department staff and finance team. Ensure DAC is appropriately insured for all operations, facilities, and programs. Build and maintain a viable and sustainable financial model.
• Supervise the effective development and use of operational systems needed to achieve strategic goals and objectives, with a focus on human and financial resources, governance, communications, community relations, and technology.
• Perform other visionary and transformational leadership duties and fiscal management duties as needed.

Board Development/Governance and Community/External Relations

• Serve as chief spokesperson and advocate for Durham Arts Council and the value and needs of the organization and the arts and cultural sector more broadly, speaking passionately about the power of the arts to positively change lives and the community.
• Build a deep partnership with the Board of Directors and staff to support the advancement of Durham Arts Council while honoring its legacy and charting a course for a dynamic future.
• Compile annual performance data of DAC and ensure that appropriate reports are generated, including annual reports and major funder reports.
• Assess and prioritize fundraising capacity and needs of Durham Arts Council while structuring and pursuing contributed and earned revenue goals, including donor campaigns, major gifts, sponsorships, fundraising events, grants, work-place campaigns, local, state and federal government funding, and other development and program efforts that increase the number and depth of supporters and participants in partnership with the board of trustees and staff.
• Ensure that DAC achieves annual Charitable Solicitation License and complies with all requirements.
• Work with staff to engineer and drive strategies in fundraising, resource development, marketing, and communications to significantly enhance revenues and create a wider base of support from the community.
• Provide fundraising leadership for DAC and the sector in times of emergency response or other special needs.
• Oversee and manage endowed and restricted funds and related reporting to ensure donor directives are met.
• Perform other board development, governance, fundraising, and community/external relations duties as needed.

Personnel, Programs, and Facilities Management

• Recruit, screen, hire, train, and evaluate DAC staff and specialized contract outsource teams, ensuring all appropriate personnel policies, benefits, practices, and training are implemented and supported.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, and be able to attract and retain high-performing staff and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Work with department heads to support the hiring of teaching artists, visual, performing, and literary artists in 800+ contract positions annually, ensuring that all appropriate recruitment, background checks, and contract procedures are followed.
• Initiate and negotiate multi-year facility management contracts and extensions with City of Durham for the DAC building and ensure that all aspects of facility management and facility maintenance plan are accomplished by facility staff for the DAC building and any ancillary facilities.
• Work with DAC Director of Facilities and City of Durham to plan and advocate for major capital repairs or improvements while ensuring all annual contractual performance objectives and required reporting are accomplished in the facility management contract with the City of Durham.
• Support staff in the management of more than 5,000 events and programs in the building annually.
• Provide leadership and overall direction for major organization-wide programs and initiatives such as CenterFest Arts Festival, Art Walk, Music Friendly City program, and DPLEX program. Ensure that appropriate permits, risk management, resources, volunteers, and staffing teams are secured and directed appropriately.
• Perform other personnel, programs, and facilities management duties as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

A creative, collaborative, and visionary leader, the Executive Director will be recognized for their ability to engage with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, driving action that advances the impact of the Durham Arts Council. An effective consensus builder, communicator, and negotiator, the ED will inspire trust and confidence with a respectful and diplomatic approach to varying points of view. The ED will value collaboration, have a history of personal involvement in and appreciation for local and regional arts councils, and possess a deep awareness of issues and trends impacting the arts and culture sector regionally and nationally.

Other key competencies include the following:

• Leadership & Personal Accountability – The clarity to use positional and relational influence to organize people to pursue a collective vision, managed with a sense of purpose and direction.
• Diplomacy & Interpersonal Skills – The integrity to uphold the highest ethical standards while exhibiting tact when communicating with all members of the DAC and Durham community.
• Problem Solving & Time and Priority Management – The resiliency to solve problems from a variety of vantage points while understanding the limited capacity of the organization and that resources must be allocated to solve these issues in a planned, measured, and orderly fashion.
• Teamwork and Employee Development/Coaching – The dexterity to organize and motivate staff members, mentoring and assisting in professional development throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Seven to 10 years of increasing responsibility in arts administration is required. A proven track record of strategic leadership, with experience in strategic fundraising, program planning, and implementation in comparable grant making and community service organizations is preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of visual and performing arts, arts education, festival and event planning, fundraising, community engagement, human relations, and nonprofit financial management and governance practices is ideal. Superior oral and written communication skills and the ability to engage diverse audiences and stakeholders at every level of local, regional, statewide, and national influence is needed.

Compensation and Benefits

The Durham Arts Council offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including an annual salary range of $120,000 to $130,000. DAC offers a generous benefits package (after 90 days) for full time employees with 100% employer paid medical insurance, paid time off and holidays, long and short-term disability, dental, life insurance, FSA plan, retirement IRA with 3% employer match, and professional development opportunities.

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments, please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/durham-arts-council-seeks-executive-director/.

Durham Arts Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Durham Arts Council is committed to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Durham Arts Council serves a diverse community and is committed to workplace equity through ongoing learning, discussion, investment in training, and continual recommitment to our core values. Our organization considers applicants equally of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, age, gender, gender identity, disability, hairstyle, or sexual orientation.