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South Shore Arts

Executive Director

South Shore Arts, Munster, Indiana, United States, 46321


Overview South Shore Arts envisions a progressive region that employees the arts to transform lives and strengthen communities. The mission of South Shore Arts is to transform the South Shore region through the arts. We recognize our region’s diversity, its widely dispersed population and the need for revitalization and improved quality of life throughout the communities that we serve. We provide programs that showcase self-expression and nurture creativity in individuals and act as a catalyst by promoting the arts as a tool for revitalization of communities. We reach new audiences through collaborations with a wide range of community partners, including schools, nonprofits, units of local government, businesses and artists; our programs are provided on a large and accessible scale, often at no cost.

South Shore Arts has been a successful nonprofit arts provider for 85 years. From a modest beginning with an art exhibit in the lady’s hat department of Minas Department Store in downtown Hammond in 1936, we have grown to become the regional leader for arts support and promotion in Northwest Indiana, directly serving approximately 80,000 people every year. Year-round visual arts programming, including exhibits, classes and art appreciation activities, began in downtown Hammond with the purchase of a former Christian Science Church in 1970. When the property was sold for the expansion of neighboring St. Margaret Hospital in the early 1980s, Northern Indiana Arts Association, as we were known, relocated to a storefront in Munster, later moving into the Center for Visual and Performing Arts upon its completion in 1989. Here, we occupy 16,000 square feet, approximately one third of the building, including a 5,000-square-foot main gallery, classrooms, art storage, offices and a gift shop. Our programs consist of 1) the "everykid" education outreach program serving students with free instruction in visual and performing arts; 2) exhibits of local, regional, national and international artists and cultures in six venues; 3) fee-based classes in all media for children teens, adults and seniors; and 4) art appreciation programs for people of all ages. We also manage the over 80-year-old Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

Since 2008, South Shore Arts entered into an agreement with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra that makes South Shore Arts the exclusive management and operations agent for the Symphony. Per the agreement, South Shore Arts has operational control of the Symphony, including planning, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, governance, education, administration, accounting, and contract negotiations. The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra is located in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts along with the South Shore Arts.

Position Available

South Shore Arts seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as Executive Director to advance the mission and agenda of the organization. Recognized as a model statewide, South Shore Arts provides innovative programs and services to artists, arts organizations, educators, youth, and the general public. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this position oversees all aspects of business related to South Shore Arts and the management of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. The Executive Director is the public face of both organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the health of these organizations by working with staff, the Board of Directors and key constituents to implement a shared vision, form partnerships and secure funding from a variety of sources. The Executive Director is responsible for creating a positive internal culture that aligns with programmatic objectives and that treats everyone with dignity. The Executive Director exudes hope, optimism, and bold vision for the organization and its mission.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Administration

General supervision of all business and operations of South Shore Arts, including management of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra;

Supervise staff of South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra according to the combined organizational chart;

Sustain and strengthen a culture of compliance with office policies and procedures;

Recruit, hire, evaluate, terminate staff;

Oversee and monitor operations, goals, and objectives to effectively guide the business operations and staff;

Manage the organization by communicating goals, vision and mission to inspire and motivate staff, implementing any necessary action plans to lead individual and organizational objectives;

Collaborate with governance and leadership to develop and implement succession plans for key organizational roles.

Fundraising

In collaboration with the Director of Development, plan, implement, and oversee all fundraising efforts of South Shore Arts, including individual, corporate and foundation giving; the annual fund campaign, grants, capital and endowment appeals, and other special needs;

Ensure that the Director of Development is setting and maintains all fundraising campaign deadlines— production of materials, creation of lists, issuing of acknowledgments, reporting and recognition;

Maintain excellent relationships with potential, current and past donors; • Provide fundraising leadership to ensure funds are there to execute the budget;

Expand local revenue generating activities to create a culture of fundraising.

Board of Directors

Schedule and attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and other board committees;

Provide reports on all matters of business and operations as requested by the Board of Directors;

In collaboration with the Finance Committee, present a proposed annual budget for the next fiscal year at the Annual Meeting held in June;

Identify and recruit new directors in collaboration with the Board of Directors;

Maintain professional relationships with all members of the Board of Directors;

In collaboration with the Board President, provide support and guidance to ensure that the board members successfully fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Planning & Evaluation

Coordinate strategic planning for South Shore Arts with the Board of Directors;

Based on data gathered from staff, key stakeholders, Board of Directors and any contracted consultant during strategic planning, articulate scope and emphasis of strategic plan

Ensure implementation of strategic plan

Evaluate organizational operational effectiveness based on alignment with strategic plan;

Establish standards and measures for performance and monitoring productivity in all operational areas, including contracts, grants administration, database management, personnel policies that uphold the organization’s stated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.

Financial Management

Familiarity with 990s, audits, and compliance;

Competence in reading, creating, and understanding financial statements including budgets, cash flow, income statements, balance sheets, and expense reports;

Develop an annual budget through collaboration across all departments of the organization;

Monitor the adherence to the budget once adopted.

Programs

Ensure that staff are developing, implementing and reviewing programs that align with the mission, strategic plan, and budget of South Shore Arts;

Develop, implement, and oversee programming that meets the needs of the constituents;

Ensure that the Gallery Manager is successfully managing all aspects of program implementation in the areas of exhibits;

Ensure that the Director of Education is successfully managing all aspects of program implementation in the areas of classes, performances, educational outreach, and fee for service contracts.

Community Relations/Marketing

The Executive Director is the public face of the organization and serves as the chief spokesperson to the media for South Shore Arts;

Perform public speaking duties;

Serve as the South Shore Arts representative at community meetings;

Maintain communication with various local, state, regional and federal agencies whose programs and services are relevant to South Shore Arts;

Work with staff and board to market and promote the public image of South Shore Arts, including effective and responsive methods of marketing and promotion that shift and adapt to marketing trends;

Review and approve all marketing materials and campaigns (e.g. print publications, direct mail campaigns, newsletters, postcards, digital advertising, billboards, etc.).

Preferred Candidate Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university;

Professional experience in the arts and experience in an administrative capacity;

Abilities in the areas of public relations and public speaking;

Professional experience with fundraising, cultivating donors and managing endowment campaigns;

Professional experience in federal, state or local government in the arts and/or national, state, regional or local arts not-for-profit services is highly preferred;

Experience in organization management, including three (3) years of experience in supervision and staff management;

Specialized training and/or experience in negotiation, meeting convening, and organizational development;

Ability to communicate with constituents and staff at all levels;

Proven track record of leadership as a strategic thinker with a hands-on style in executing change;

Proficiency in MS Office Professional and standard office IT systems;

Must have access to a reliable mode of transportation.

Difficulty of Work

Work requires a high degree of concentration, self-direction, creativity, interpersonal and time management skills. Work requires the ability to develop and maintain an effective working relationship with a wide variety of people, including internal and external customers. Employee must be skilled in conflict resolution and have well-developed diplomatic skills. Employee must be willing to represent the organization to the public at all times.

Responsibility

Employee must be able to manage effectively multiple projects and competing priorities.

Employee must be able to manage and motivate staff and be skilled as a change agent.

Employee must be able to conceptualize work related to program and project design, development and evaluation.

Employee must be able to analyze data and trends, and recommend strategies to achieve organization goals.

Employee makes decisions related to recommendations about allocation and utilization of federal and state funds.

Employee makes decisions in accordance with organization policies and procedures and is responsible for hiring and firing of personnel.

Working Conditions

May be required to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally.

Work may be performed in an office environment and remotely.

Some work may be performed in the field and require some overnight travel (no greater than 10% of the time).

Work will involve attendance at community events, social occasions, meals, and other local events.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance

Employee discount

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

Munster, IN 46321 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

Munster, IN 46321: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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