Position:                     Executive Director
Reports To:                Board President
Salary:                         FTE Salary range $90,000-$100,000      
Hours + Benefits:     Detailed below
Location:                    Berkeley, CA and remote
Available:                   October 1, 2023
 
Vital Arts was founded to honor the victims of the Ghost Ship fire by ensuring access to safe, affordable spaces for artists to live, work, and perform in the San Francisco Bay Area. We act as a catalyst and facilitator for effective advocacy, intervention, and solutions, and strive to remain nimble for continuous learning and responsiveness. Our focus is on projects that address the needs of low to moderate-income artists, through leveraging networks and partnering with a range of agencies and individuals. We envision a world in which arts and culture are recognized as essential to a vital and healthy society, cultivating a creative community in which artists can thrive. (Additional information can be found at www.vitalarts.org)

THE POSITION
 
We are seeking a versatile individual, passionate about Vital Arts’ mission, with experience in advocacy, organizational management and fundraising to be our first Executive Director. This is a good opportunity for an experienced arts professional to bring the organization to its next level of impact in support of artists and a healthy local arts ecosystem. The Executive Director:
· provides leadership and strategic direction for activities that fulfill and enhance Vital Arts’ mission and vision.
· shapes strategies and leads efforts to develop diversified foundation, individual, public, and corporate funding sources for operations and capital projects.
· serves as an articulate, passionate, and persuasive spokesperson for the organization to members, funders, the public, government and private agencies, and the media; and oversees the efforts of staff and volunteers.
 
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will carry out these specific responsibilities:
 
Program Administration
1.  Assure that the organization has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress.
2.  Provide leadership in developing program, organizational and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff and carry out plans and policies authorized by the board.
3.   Promote active participation by skilled volunteer advisors and others in the organization’s work.
4.  Maintain official records and documents; ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
5.  Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field.
 
Communications
1.  Promote the activities of the organization, its programs, and goals, including maintaining a current and vital online presence via web and social media.
2.   Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with partner organizations, media, policy makers, funding agencies, and community groups.
3.  Represent the programs and point of view of the organization to agencies, organizations, and the public.
4.   See that the board is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and important factors influencing it.
5.   Facilitate and attend meetings of the Board and its advisory subcommittees.
 
Fundraising And Finance
1.  Lead fundraising efforts, including supporting the board’s involvement in fundraising, personally cultivating and soliciting donors, grant writing, and overseeing implementation of fundraising plans and policies approved by the board.
2.   Plan and coordinate capital campaigns as appropriate.
3.   Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices.
4.  Work with the staff, Finance Committee, and the board in preparing a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines.
5.  Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work, including planning for adequate cash flow to cover operational needs.
6.   Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal legal requirements.
 
Human Resources
1.  Supervise a part-time Program Associate and oversee the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, including subcontractors, and volunteers.
2.  Ensure that formal job descriptions are developed, that evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place.
3.   Encourage staff/volunteer development and education and assist them in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization.
4.  Maintain a climate which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse team of top-quality people.
5.   Actively support the Board in its development and play an active role in recruitment and engagement of Board and Advisory Board members.
 
QUALIFICATIONS
 
Our ideal candidate will share our vision, have a can-do attitude, and be deeply committed to bolstering support for artists in society. We are looking for someone with broad experience across multiple areas of responsibility and will prioritize applicants with deep knowledge of the artist communities of the Bay Area. They will enjoy working with people from varied backgrounds, life experiences and viewpoints. They will be self-directed and well-organized, while able to handle multiple deadlines with grace and a sense of humor.
 
Specific qualifications include:
· 5 – 10 years of organizational management experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
· Ability to quickly establish credibility and build strong working relationships with community stakeholders and to articulately represent Vital Arts with public agencies, funders, artists and cultural workers, and members of the public.
· Strong knowledge of local arts and cultural communities. Demonstrated experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds with deep respect, valuing their perspectives and experiences.
· Familiarity with the practice and principles of social organizing and advocacy.
·  Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
· Experience with donor relations, nonprofit fundraising practices and principles.
· Experience with budget development and knowledge of sound financial management practices.
· Comfortable and proficient with a variety of software: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Suite required. Squarespace or other website programs, design and photo editing software desirable as is prior experience with CRM or fundraising software.
 
Additional Preferred Qualifications
· Possess basic experience and understanding of the elements of capital and construction projects and/or urban planning tools (zoning vs. codes, etc.)
· An enthusiastic storyteller with a clear voice for writing copy and passion for sharing ideas with others.
 
WORKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
 
This is a remote position involving occasional in-person meetings and site visits with artists and spaces throughout the Bay Area. The successful candidate will need a home office with high-speed internet, access to a vehicle, and the ability to conduct in-person site visits of buildings of unconventional construction with a wide array of physical conditions and challenges.
 
Hours:    Full time / 40 hrs. Option of reduced week (min 32 hours) on FTE basis.
Salary:    FTE salary range of $90-100K, annually, depending on experience and qualifications, plus paid vacation and sick leave.
 
HOW TO APPLY
 
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage applications as early as possible, with the intent to begin interviews as soon as practical.  To apply, please email a single pdf document including the following with the subject line “Executive Director Applicant” to kathryn@vitalarts.org:
·  A cover letter that explains your interest in and connection to our work
·  A resumé, citing relevant paid and volunteer experiences
·  Names and contact information for 3 references.

Details at  https://www.vitalarts.org/opportunities
 
Equal Opportunity Employer:
 
As an organization committed to community solutions VITAL ARTS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, along with any and all of other characteristics that make us all unique. BIPOC, queer and trans people, women, and nonbinary and gender non-conforming applicants are encouraged to