Senior Director of Artist Programs & Residencies

 Title: Senior Director of Artist Programs & Residencies

Reports to: Co-Executive Directors

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000

Management: Yes

Position Type: Full-Time Exempt

 ABOUT THE BCA:

A leading force in the city’s cultural community, Boston Center for the Arts has supported thousands of individual artists, small organizations and performing arts companies, who add depth and dimension to the Boston arts ethos. Through residencies and programming, Boston Center for the Arts serves as an epicenter for an expanding cohort of artists working across all disciplines, and has catalyzed careers by providing fertile ground for experimentation and artistic risk-taking.

RACIAL EQUITY COMMITMENT:

Black Lives Matter. It is incumbent upon us to act accordingly and to identify those ways that we, as a leading cultural organization, can stop perpetuating pervasive and systemic white supremacist practices and lead through our actions.

Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is committed to doing the hard work of dismantling even the most subtle forms of white supremacy in our organization, in our practices, and in the work we do to help make Boston a place where ALL artists can live and thrive.

POSITION CONCEPT:

The Senior Director plays a key role on the senior leadership team at Boston Center for the Arts and is responsible for ensuring that BCA programs align with the strategic vision of the organization and that the organization consistently places the professional needs of Boston-based performing and visual artists at its center. The Senior Director will also work collaboratively across the organization to ensure consistent consideration of key dependencies such as community engagement, partnerships, fundraising, and operations. Specifically, the Senior Director provides leadership for the oversight of several signature initiatives, including core residency programs in visual arts, dance, and theatre; short-duration lab residencies in dance and interdisciplinary arts; signature community events like the Boston Art Book Fair and #HellaBlack; and free year-round public programs and exhibitions. The Senior Director also supports efforts to engage the Boston artist community as well as the community of past residents — a diverse network of visual and performing artists.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

LEADERSHIP

• Collaborate with the Co-Executive Directors and Senior Leadership colleagues to initiate and set goals for residencies and programs based on BCA strategic priorities and objectives.
• Supervise and mentor staff in the Program Department (Director of Visual Arts, Director of Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts, Associate Director of Exhibitions, Associate Director of Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts Manager), managing with nuance the diverse range of expertise and experience present. 
• Ensure that program systems and operations are effective, impactful, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Act as primary programmatic liaison to the BCA Board of Directors, delivering reports at meetings when required.  
• Think critically about artistic programs and service delivery, ensuring that BCA artist programs provide deep and meaningful support to Boston-area artists.
• Oversee the Program Department budget and work collaboratively with Senior Leadership on annual budget development. 

​​​​​​​PROGRAMMING

• Collaborate with program staff to oversee all aspects of program development including planning, scheduling, and implementing residencies, exhibitions, and public programs, while ensuring that program development strategically augments the work of other teams.
• Actively participate in the artist residency space, connecting with peers and colleagues for ideas exchange and professional development.
• Oversee meaningful residency evaluation processes and feedback loops with resident artists, BCA artist alums, and the Boston artist community at large — implementing program changes as necessary.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CULTURAL EQUITY

• Actively participate in the Equity & Anti-Racism Action planning process alongside BCA staff and Board of Directors. Ensure that artistic programs reflect the core principles of racial and cultural equity set forth by BCA.
• Identify opportunities to create collaborative alliances and mutually beneficial strategic partnerships across sectors in pursuit of creating wrap-around services for resident artists.
• Develop a strategy to deepen relationships with local community-based partners and organizations through innovative programming partnerships.
• Represent Boston Center for the Arts in local, regional, and national meetings and conversations as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Advancement Department to ensure successful fundraising and programmatic marketing.
• Publicly represent the BCA through clear communication of the mission and programs associated with both the visual and performing arts.
• Support all BCA programs and special events as requested. Attendance at occasional evening and weekend performances and events will be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years of experience in arts administration, program development, and project management for a cultural organization with strong preference for candidates who have experience working with artist residency programs.
• 3-5 years of experience managing teams of 4 or more direct reports.
• Experience creating and managing department budgets.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with fundraising and marketing teams.
• Significant experience working with and on behalf of visual and/or performing artists with a strong preference for somebody who has worked across and between creative disciplines.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

• Ability to think creatively and develop innovative and entrepreneurial ideas.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Experience working in cooperation with a wide range of internal stakeholders.
• Experience managing teams.
• Experience working with the Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, CRM, databases, and project management software.
• Excellent collaborative skills.
• An ability to maintain the highest professional ethics at all times.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial and cultural equity.

PERSONAL QUALITIES:

• Respects and embraces diverse perspectives.
• A positive, nimble, and creative thinker with proven ability to take initiative and tackle complex challenges.
• Flexible, collaborative, and team-oriented.
• Engenders trust with staff and remains open to feedback.
• Operates with a high degree of integrity and respect.
• Possesses a passion for the arts.

JOB STRUCTURE AND BENEFITS:

Full-time, exempt position, with some evenings and weekends necessary. BCA offers a generous benefits package including 80% BCA-covered health, dental, and vision insurance; six weeks of paid time off; remote-work options; flexible-spending accounts, and more.