Summary
Description
Position: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Full-time, exempt
Think 360 Arts for Learning is seeking a new executive director to move the organization’s nationally recognized mission and programming forward. Think 360 Arts is the Colorado affiliate of Young Audiences and the Greater Denver affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a history of serving K-12 schools and communities through direct services and creative experiences since 1963.
Mission: To engage Coloradans of all ages in innovative arts programming that inspires creativity, builds community, & advances equity.
Vision: All communities can experience the transformative benefits of arts education.
Job Description
The executive director is responsible for equitably delivering Think 360 Arts’ mission, vision, and values in partnership with the community, staff, and board of directors. This will be accomplished through the following responsibilities, duties, qualifications, experience, and competencies:
Responsibilities and Duties:
Leadership:
- Supervise, train and motivate a staff of diverse professionals, who work a hybrid schedule (remote and on-site); providing guidance, resources, and professional development to enhance and support the organization’s culture.
- Foster an inclusive organizational culture where equity and accessibility are embedded across leadership, programming, and community partnerships.
- Develop and execute the organization’s next strategic plan, in partnership with the board of directors and staff.
- Increase the visibility, financial resources, relevance and community impact of Think 360 Arts.
- Act as the primary ambassador of Think 360 Arts within the community at large.
- Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of Think 360’s board of directors, guiding the governing body in partnership with the board’s executive committee.
Fundraising & Engagement:
- As the primary fundraiser for the organization, actively cultivate and steward revenues of $900,000+ annually.
- Serve as the primary relationship manager with all grant funders, reviewing and/or collaboratively writing grant applications and reports in collaboration with the organization’s grant writer.
- Steward and cultivate Think 360’s Our Circle, which includes funders, supporters, partners, board of directors, volunteers and most importantly the youth, schools, artists, and communities we serve.
- Together with appropriate staff and board members, develop and execute a robust funding plan that supports revenue diversity and stability.
- Oversee the development and staff execution of a robust marketing and communications plan that is tied to the organization’s strategic and fundraising plans.
Programming & Partnerships:
- Manage a long-standing partnership with Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) and Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA), providing leadership development, resources, networking and communications aimed at Colorado educators and arts education.
- As part of the CCI and CBCA partnership, attend state and national conferences to enhance Colorado’s profile as an innovator in arts education, collecting perspectives from other state/national leaders, then disseminating findings from national organizations and networks.
- Oversee the development and staff execution of robust programming plans that provide the necessary resources to increase positive impact to our community across the state.
- Review and provide oversight to the selection and stewardship of current and new artists and school partners to ensure appropriate legal and programming standards.
- With board and staff, undertake a robust review of programs and services.
Operational Management:
- Oversee staff and contractors managing the organization’s financial, payroll and benefits processes, ensuring that records and transactions are accurate and are compliant with local, state and federal law.
- In partnership with the board’s executive committee, ensure all legal contracts and partnership agreements protect the organization and are in accordance with local, state and federal law.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience:
- While experience in executive leadership is preferred, it is not required, making this an outstanding opportunity for an emerging leader who is prepared to move to the next level in their career.
- Five+ years working in the nonprofit sector is required and experience in arts administration is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build respectful, collaborative relationships across diverse communities, including those historically underrepresented in arts education.
- Proven success in fundraising and development is required, as is grant writing experience.
- Proven experience with local and state funders is required and experience with national funders is a bonus.
- Proven experience with developing and managing an annual organizational budget is required.
- Excellent communication skills, including public speaking are required.
- Proven, prior staff supervision is required.
- This position is required to travel up to six times per year for national and state conferences. The executive director is required to attend multiple events and meetings in the Denver-metro area; therefore, it is preferred they reside in the Denver-metro area or the Front Range.
- A basic understanding of employment law and experience managing HR practices is preferred but not required.
- Experience cultivating inclusive environments and advancing equity through organizational practices is preferred
- Experience working with youth programming and/or K-12 public education is preferred.
- Experience working with professional artists is preferred but not required.
- Experience working with rural communities is a bonus.
- Experience with developing and executing strategic plans is preferred but not required.
- Past work with board development, board governance and board fundraising are preferred
- Experience in marketing and public relations is preferred but not required.
- A bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field is preferred.
Desired Competencies:
Leadership:
- Demonstrates a capacity for leadership that places the needs of others and the organization first, while helping individuals develop and grow.
- Earns the trust of stakeholders by stewarding the organization through an approach centering on values, integrity, transparency, and consistency.
- Ability to develop good working relationships to build a cohesive and engaged community, in a positive and equitable environment.
- Ability to gain others’ support for ideas, proposals and solutions and actively engages others to take action to advance organizational objectives.
- Takes responsibility for own actions, as well as the actions of others in the organization.
- Actively communicates the purpose of the organization and a compelling future vision, while placing it ahead of any self-interests.
Team Management:
- Empathizes and listens to the concerns of team members and understands how best to handle situations professionally.
- Delegates effectively by building the knowledge and leadership skills of team members through mentoring and coaching.
- Understands a team’s emotional and power dynamics and predicts how new situations will affect individuals and the organization.
- Sets clear expectations, provides constructive and timely feedback/guidance and holds individuals accountable.
- Ability to foster and inspire the creative potential of the team and organization.
Planning & Organization:
- Ability to plan and execute goals/processes, then review outcomes for progress, identify areas of improvement, and revise when necessary.
- Allocates resources, including personnel, property, and money to achieve the goals of the organization.
- Accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely and cost-effective results.
Managing Change:
- Ability to successfully navigate change through agility and adaptability.
- Works to identify, mitigate and resolve conflicts.
- Balances and addresses competing priorities without becoming overwhelmed.
- Remains focused, composed and optimistic when faced with adversity, disappointment, or opposition.
Decision Making:
- Makes sound, independent decisions, while understanding when consensus and collaborative decision making are necessary.
- Utilizes critical thinking to strategically make decisions using objectivity, analysis, collaboration, and due diligence.
- Generates and evaluates alternative solutions.
Culture Building:
- Values cultural humility and demonstrates openness to learning from others’ lived experiences.
- Actively works to create inclusive spaces where all individuals feel seen, heard, and respected.
- Understands how social identities and systemic inequities shape organizational culture and decision-making.
- Collaborates with others to identify and address barriers to access and participation.
Communication:
- Conveys information clearly and effectively and keeps stakeholders well informed.
- Balances listening and talking, using active listening techniques.
Think 360 Arts is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and identities, and we value lived experience alongside professional qualifications.
Additional Position Details and Application Directions:
Salary: $85,000 to $105,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and competencies.
Benefits: Includes health and dental insurance with 100% individual premiums covered by the organization and options to include family at an additional cost, as well as a simple IRA with a match and paid professional development opportunities. Time off includes three holiday weeks (Thanksgiving & Winter Breaks, aligned with Denver Public Schools Calendar) plus 6 paid holidays yearly. Think 360 Arts has a self-managed time off policy to allow for healthy work-life balance; each employee is encouraged to take at least 1 week off quarterly.
Preferred geographic location: The executive director is required to attend multiple events and meetings in the Denver-metro area; therefore, it is preferred they reside in the Denver-metro area or the Front Range. If the selected candidate lives outside this area, a flat-rate relocation stipend will be included as part of the compensation package.
Starting date: early-November (but timing is negotiable)
How to apply: Please e-mail a resume and cover letter to careers@think360arts.org with the subject line: executive director applicant. No phone calls or mailed copies, please.
Deadline to apply: The organization’s application review and selection process will begin October 3, although the job posting will remain active and applications will continue to be accepted until the new Executive Director is hired.
Think 360 Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Should an offer of employment be extended to an applicant, employment with Think 360 Arts is at-will and is subject to all Denver City & County, Colorado State and Federal laws.
