The Executive Director is the leader of the organization, clarifying and carrying out the vision and mission for the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative as well as strategic planning and implementation for its growth and sustainability that is achieved through the efforts of a highly-collaborative, nimble, and efficient core team, interns, and volunteers.

The Executive Director is the “Chief Mobilizer,” leveraging the power of relationships and networks while working across private, public, government, and corporate sectors to achieve organizational goals. The Executive Director is responsible for generating resources and revenue and overseeing the organization’s financial health. As the steward of the DC Collaborative’s mission, they protect and preserve the mission while evolving programs, responding to the community’s changing needs, and seizing new opportunities for growth and sustainability. They oversee the management of day-to-day operations, finance, and development initiatives and have the authority to carry out these responsibilities.

The Executive Director leads all development efforts and is charged with driving key results in fundraising to identify, cultivate and solicit prospective donors and new partners, and leverage personal and professional contacts and relationships into fundraising opportunities. The result of these efforts will be the activation of a fundraising culture across the staff, board, and other stakeholders, as well as the establishment of clear and efficient development systems. These responsibilities include strategic cultivation of new funders and nimble proposal generation; contract, reporting, and compliance oversight; and strengthening key relationships. In collaboration with staff, the Executive Director works to identify and expand both contributed and earned revenue opportunities.

Requirements

The Executive Director’s primary responsibilities will be in the following areas:

Organizational Vision and Leadership

Models and sets the organization’s culture, values, and behavior

Partners with the Board of Directors and team to craft organizational goals and sets direction which achieves the organization’s mission and to meet changing external and internal dynamics

Cultivates, directs, and facilitates the Board of Directors as they determine strategic vision, priorities, and actions

Informs and guides the Board of Directors, its committees and the DC Collaborative’s Membership in the creation of policies, programs, and financial forecasts of the organization

Fosters a collegial, collaborative, professional environment

Leads staff in the development, implementation, and accomplishment of short- and long-range plans in pursuit of exemplary arts and humanities programs

Manages a small, team-based staff, acting not only as a supervisor but also as a coach and consensus builder

Activates the organization’s commitment to building and growing an equitable institution rooted in AJEDI practices

Ensures the organization and its work, events, and programs are consistently presented in a mission-centric, values-driven way to the members, stakeholders, and the public

Shares the DC Collaborative’s voice and vision with the broader community, representing the organization with elected officials, local community leaders, external partners, funders, and other supporters

Fundraising

Oversees all facets of fundraising for the organization, including setting goals and objectives for the Board’s Development Committee in partnership with the committee chair

Develops, maintains, and leverages relationships to further mission and sustainability of the DC Collaborative

Sets annual goals and creates, manages, and implements strategies and tactics to achieve these goals

Effectively communicates the Collaborative’s mission, goals, programs, and values in support of financial goals

Works to diversify and sustain contributed revenue streams

Prepares proposals, reports, agreements, fundraising appeals, and campaigns

Conducts topline oversight of all MOUs and partner agreements

Maintains existing DC Collaborative networking relationships and develops new relationships with leaders in the city

Works with the team to convene members and stakeholders at the world-class member cultural institutions across the District

Financial and Operational Oversight

Oversees day-to-day and long-term financial management of the organization

Manages financial and physical resources; acts as point of contact with bookkeeper and HR firm

Recommends yearly budget for Board approval and prudently manages organization’s resources within those budget guidelines; builds a cash reserve.

Effectively builds and allocates resources for greater program effectiveness and efficiency, developing organizational and administrative policies and program objectives

Executes operations through leadership, delegation, systems, and resource development

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following:

Required (“Must Have”)

Commitment to the Collaborative’s mission, vision, values, and evolving models of practice

The desire, passion, and experience necessary to lead an organization through a period of change

Proven track record of effective fundraising and oversight of a strong financial program

Cultural and operational dexterity; able to move across a variety of stakeholder groups

Experience leading, managing, and galvanizing a small, multi-generational team with varying skill sets and lived experiences

Demonstrated success in juggling multiple projects and competing priorities across multiple teams with attention to detail

Desired (“Nice to Have”)

Senior level program, administrative, or executive experience in DC’s arts, humanities, and/or education sectors

A deep understanding of proven ability for, and skills in change management

Experience operationalizing a vision and strategic plan, continually assessing, monitoring progress, and making adjustments