Posted on October 17, 2011

print

Executive Director

The arts-in-action organization, Global Arts Corps, seeks a dynamic non-profit administrator to serve as Executive Director (ED). Working with the Corps’ founders and artistic leadership, the Executive Director will establish and oversee an organizational structure and operations to implement a plan for growth, which will build upon the Global Arts Corps’ portfolio of initiatives and partnerships and strategic plan.

THE ORGANIZATION

Global Arts Corps’ mission is to offer innovative strategies for communities in conflict to process the past in order to thrive in the future. The Corps brings together world-class artists from opposite sides of civil, religious, and racial conflict, who, together, create theatrical productions that tour the world’s conflict zones to advance the cause of reconciliation. Global Arts Corps works with artists who either once looked down the barrel of a gun at each other or, as children of conflict, still deal with memories not yet healed. In so doing we create theatre ensembles out of people who fundamentally disagree with each other; who are suspicious of each other; who see each other as the “us” and “them”. The resulting piece of theatre tells the story of a conflict within a shared collective consciousness – reconciliation in and of itself. We then take this production to audiences living their own memories of recent violence and oppression but having the same need to break the revenge and vengeance cycle. In the dialogue that ensues, two totally different cultures of violence are exposed to each other. The production becomes a means for linking survivors of violence within and across borders. We have found that through live theatre, forged and performed by artists who have lived through their own conflict and violence, Global Arts Corps can achieve remarkable non-threatening platforms allowing for uncensored dialogue and constructive engagement across all sorts of divides.

The Global Arts Corps has an annual operating budget of $1 million and a small headquarters staff of four, including the Executive Director position and the two founders, the Executive Assistant/Project Coordinator, and a part-time Associate Artistic Director located overseas.

Following ten years of success and growth as a volunteer-driven organization, the Corps now requires a more permanent structure and operations staff to support its growth and multiple productions, in the United States and several overseas locations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Development

• Lead the development and implementation of an organizational structure for the Global Arts Corps, in accordance with the Corps’ strategic plan for expanding programs and ensuring long-term program sustainability and human resource development;
• Develop the infrastructure to support the expansion of programs, including providing technical expertise for the headquarters; and
• Expand opportunities to collaborate with other international arts and human rights organizations.

Fund Raising

• Work with Artistic Director and Board to develop a multi-year fund development plan to secure the support and resources necessary for planned productions, general operations, communications and organizational growth;
• Enable effective use of founders and creative team in engaging donors;
• Expand the existing donor base, engage new foundation and corporate partners, and government support where feasible with the goal of securing general operating support for three years while ensuring sufficient funds for multiple productions and future growth.

Management

• Manage and supervise staff;
• Bring an overall business discipline to the operations of the organization including effective project management, evaluation of operations and achievement of goals;
• Hire and oversee consultants as needed, ensuring coordination of efforts and efficient delivery of contracted services.

Finance and Administration

• Develop annual budgets, oversee financial expenditures, and provide financial and budgetary oversight.

Promotion and Representation

• Serve as a spokesperson for Global Arts Corps as needed, while supporting and maximizing opportunities for the founders to promote its mission, publicize its programs, and engage a diverse audience of operational partners and policy makers in its initiatives;
• Work with leadership in developing a communications plan and structure to implement it, including print materials, web site, on-line communications (blogs, social media campaigns) and promotional events.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A person who is passionate about the Global Arts Corps’ mission with a "can do" attitude.
• Senior level management experience in an operations environment; has worked in a non-profit or similar organization and understands the nuances of the not for profit environment. Hands on and strategic.
• Operations management experience, including start-up of new initiatives, development of structures in support of program implementation, systems to monitor and evaluate progress, and planning for future development, preferably in an international setting.
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead by example and get results through others, and drive change through disciplined goal setting and the measurement of results.
• Substantial fundraising experience with a proven track record for securing funding for programs through a variety of means, including preparation of grant proposals and engagement of individual donors.
• Financial management experience including the responsibility for budgets, and tracking and reporting of expenditures.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communications skills, including group presentations and public speaking.
• Advanced degree, preferably one of MPA, MBA, or MIA.

Application Instructions

Send CV and cover letter with salary history by mail to: info@globalartscorps.org with “Executive Director Search” in subject line. No phone calls please.