Position: Artistic and Executive Director

Position: Artistic and Executive Director

Reports to Co-chairs of the Board. Oversees a professional staff, production personnel, and summer performance staff.

Description

The AED is the organization’s artistic and executive leader, the external representative and spokesperson to artists, individual donors, the business community, philanthropic and community partners, the media, and the government. Overall, the AED plays a critical role in elevating and sustaining the life changing impact of PS21.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience and skills in the two main areas expressed in the position title:

• Artistic leadership: evolving and realizing the vision of PS21 as a center for contemporary performing arts—being the driving force behind programming, and

• Leadership of the organization: managing PS21’s staff, facilities, grounds—and working with the board and focused committees to move the organization forward.

The AED will be the artistic leader, furthering the organization’s reputation as an innovative presenter of cutting-edge artistic work that engages and stretches the community and presents works of interest to national and international funders and the press. The AED will establish and develop relationships with artists, other presenters, festivals, government cultural agencies, agents, and other performance spaces, ensuring that PS21 continues to build on its brand.

The position also combines the managerial responsibility of a nonprofit organization—ensuring that it is sustainable, accessible, and relevant to the community while maintaining the highest level of ethical behavior within an atmosphere that inspires creativity. Also, and importantly, as PS21 continues its evolution—with additional spaces to be developed, within its hundred pristine acres of conserved land, and in an area of the country growing with sophisticated, informed audiences, the AED will lead the Board to realize the next iteration of the organization.

Specifically, the AED will:

• Represent PS21 externally throughout the region and on the national and international contemporary performing arts scene;

• With the assistance and collaboration of the Board and staff, serve as the front-line fundraiser for the organization, ensuring the continued success of the annual giving, planned giving, Producers Circle, other unique campaigns;

• Drive the new strategic plan, partnering with and directing the Board and senior leaders in achieving extraordinary outcomes;

• With members of the Board, develop a campus-wide capital plan for the 100-plus acres and various performance spaces;

• With the assistance and collaboration of members of the Board and staff, oversee the execution of a long-term, strategic marketing effort that capitalizes on the brand of PS21 and results in increased ticket sales, visits to the campus, and recognition in the press;

• With the Finance Committee of the Board, develop the annual budget and set policies that result in sound fiscal management and operations;

• Work closely with the Board Governance Committee to recruit and introduce new board members to ensure current Trustees remain engaged;

• Maintain PS21’s culture of collaboration among artists, Board, and staff;

• Sustain the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as critical to the future success of the organization;

• Oversee the hiring, mentoring, and management of the administrative staff;

• Ensure that PS21 is a continual learning organization, striving for excellence in all its internal and external activities;

• Communicate regularly with professional colleagues in the local arts communities and other centers of cultural activity;

• Keep current with existing and emerging artists and repertoire.

Capabilities

The next AED of PS21 must be a strategic and visionary leader with the requisite depth and breadth of relevant artistic experience and track record of success in nonprofit arts management to immediately understand and seamlessly assume responsibility for this position’s varied and complex functions. This person must demonstrate a keen skill and desire to be the chief fundraiser for the organization and comfortably and effectively represent the organization to a broad set of audiences and stakeholders: the international artistic community, board members and donors, community leaders, members of the immediate community and the growing upstate population, presenters, and prospective partners. This person must demonstrate the ability to operate within the unique and varied business model of PS21—a presenter of cutting-edge art, a valued member of the immediate community and the Columbia County artistic community, and a land conservationist. An inspiring and motivating manager, this person must collaborate with and maximize the potential of each team member. Ideally, this person will have direct experience with presenting facilities, master planning, and international artistic programs and have an impeccable and adventuresome taste.

Personal / Professional Attributes

• Demonstrated integrity and impeccable personal ethics

• Track record of identifying, cultivating, and programming artists and offerings that bring new perspectives and experiences to our community

• Transparency in all communications

• A charismatic leader with the ability to inspire, empower, and unify teams

• Ability and interest in personally engaging the public at performances, industry events, gatherings, etc.

• Visionary thinker combined with a practical approach to problemsolving

• Comfortable and confident as the face of an organization, visible in the community

• A strategic mind with an openness toward innovation, creativity, and boundary-testing

• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and personally aligned with the mission of PS21

• Poised, polished, and diplomatic with exceptional emotional intelligence

• Knows when to pivot and when to drive forward regardless of adversity

• Synthesizes and interprets data quickly while maintaining sight of “the forest for the trees.”

• Indefatigably optimistic and endlessly enthusiastic.

Compensation: commensurate with experience; mid-hundred plus benefits.

While the position will require travel and visibility in NYC and other cultural centers, maintaining a presence in the area is essential.

Please send a letter of inquiry, an application, or a nomination of a candidate to James Abruzzo, Chair, Search Committee at jgabruzzo1950@gmail.com Inquiries will be held in strictest confidence. This position will remain open until it is filled. If there is interest in your application, you will be notified.