Washington Project for the Arts seeks Executive Director

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Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) seeks to fill their Executive Director role!

WPA has created a unique program model and organizational structure that inspires other arts organizations to be more collaborative when supporting artists. As a thought leader among alternative art spaces, the Executive Director shepherds WPA’s artist-organized projects, and identifies and secures funding to sustain the organization as a leader in contemporary art locally, nationally, and internationally. The Executive Director guides a team of 5-10 full-time and part-time staff and contractors to manage programs and daily operations.

Responsibilities:

Leadership

  • Set strategic direction for WPA’s mission, vision, and goals in collaboration with the board of directors, staff, and stakeholders.
  • Maintain an organizational culture of care. Hire, manage, and mentor staff so that WPA has the skills and expertise to administer programs with a high degree of inclusion, integrity, curiosity and creativity.

Fundraising

  • Serve as chief fundraiser, setting strategy with annual and long-term plans that cultivate and maintain relationships with a broad range of supporters, including individuals, institutional funders, and corporate sponsors.

Communication and Public Relations

  • Serve as chief spokesperson, representing WPA to a broad constituency of local and regional governmental and elected officials, staff, and commissions; funders; community groups; individual donors; and the media.

Finance, Operations, and Facilities

  • Create and manage complex annual budgets of approximately $1M.
  • Manage finances in collaboration with contracted bookkeeper and the board’s finance committee: budget and track expenses and develop clear financial reporting.

For a complete list of responsibilities, please see the full job description here.

Requirements:

  • 7+ years of progressive leadership in contemporary art, nonprofit, or advocacy settings.
  • Skilled fundraiser able to secure long-term relationships with foundations, corporations, and individuals through annual giving, signature events, and capital campaigns. A broad network within the local, national and international art and funding communities is considered a plus.
  • Networked across multiple contemporary art disciplines on a regional, national and/or international level.

For a complete list of requirements, please see the full job description here.

To Apply:

The WPA Board of Directors has retained the services of Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving small nonprofits, to conduct this search. Interested applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter that describes their interest in and qualifications for this role, emphasizing related leadership experience. Visit Good Insight's website to upload application materials. Email Claire Huschle at WPA@good-insight.org for confidential inquiries.

For best consideration, apply by March 3.

Qualified applicants will be contacted on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search.


If you have a job or internship opportunity to share with Arts Management students and alumni, email a full description to amgtgmu@gmu.edu for posting.

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