Job Listing: Visionary Executive Director

Suffolk Art League - Suffolk, VA

Closes - August 15, 2024

Title - Visionary Executive Director

Compensation - $50,000 annually or state salary requirement in cover letter 

Type - full-time

Apply - If you're a visionary leader with a passion for the arts and a commitment to transforming communities, we want to hear from you! Please send your resume, cover letter, and a narrative of your interest in the position to suffolkartleague@verizon.net by August 15, 2024. Be creative! Show us how you embody our mission, vision, and values. 

Summary - The Executive Director is the heart of our organization, responsible for shaping our vision, driving our growth, and ensuring our sustainability. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, forward-thinking leader with a passion for the arts and a proven track record in organizational management, strategy, and fundraising. A few specific examples of what the role include: exhibit management and installation, data collection, and grant writing. 

Responsibilities -

We seek an Executive Director who can help us see beyond our current horizons, envision new possibilities, and chart a bold course for the future. Someone who can transform our organization from a well-respected cultural institution into a cutting-edge center for creativity and innovation. Someone who can inspire and engage our community, forge new partnerships, and build a sustainable future for the arts in Suffolk.

We are looking for someone who thrives on being fully immersed in their work, who sees challenges as opportunities for growth, and who is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community. As the Executive Director, you will have the chance to lead exciting initiatives, collaborate with talented individuals, and shape the future of our organization. If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and dive headfirst into a rewarding and dynamic role, we want to hear from you. 

Qualifications -

• A visionary leader with a passion for the arts and a deep commitment to our mission.
• A proven track record in non-profit management, fundraising, and organizational development.
• Experience in strategic planning, program development, and community engagement.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
  • Crafting Compelling Narratives: Ability to articulate our story through written content with clarity and purpose.
  • Dynamic Public Speaking: Engage audiences with historical examples, conveying our mission effectively in group settings.
  • Building Personal Connections: Foster relationships with visitors, donors, and artists through meaningful dialogue about our mission.
  • Empowering Board Members: Lead efforts to ensure alignment in messaging and engagement strategies among board members.
• Ability to meet physical demands of the role, including lifting and moving objects up to 50 pounds, standing, bending, and working outdoors in various weather conditions. 

Key Skills Needed:

• Creativity, innovation, and a willingness to take risks.
• Strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Strong communication skills are essential for amplifying our impact and fostering community engagement.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, donors, and the community.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

About The Suffolk Art League: At The Suffolk Art League, we're not just about the arts; we're about the transformational power of creativity. We believe in the arts as a catalyst for community, a force for economic development, and a means of personal transformation. We're looking for a visionary Executive Director to join us in our mission to inspire, engage, and uplift the people of Suffolk.

Our Vision / Mission / Core Values:

Vision Statement: The Suffolk Art League embraces the joy of the arts as a key to building a better community.

Mission Statement: The Suffolk Art League unlocks the gateway to the arts.

We believe that Art is for everyone. As advocates, we work to enrich the community through creative experiences. Through learning, we offer everyone, from the curious to amateur and professional artists, a better quality of life.

We believe in the following Core Values:

• Be Open, welcoming, and willing to evolve: With a focus on our community, we believe the arts set a foundation in our lives. Through our collective knowledge, we connect the arts and our community, expanding artistic possibilities and outcomes through creative collaborations.
• Be bold, creative, and passionate: With a focus on excellence, we inspire, challenge and support the unconventional thinkers, dreamers and doers who are passionate about using their creative works to impact our community. We engage all people to boldly embrace the artistic spirit.
• Be good stewards for the Arts: With a focus on sustainability, we carefully and responsibly use all resources. With respect for our members and donors, fiscal considerations remain key to our efforts to tear down the barriers in our community and unlock a sense of creativity that helps everyone to thrive. 

Our 5-Year Goals: Over the next five years, we aim to transform The Suffolk Art League into a dynamic hub of creativity and innovation that inspires, engages, and uplifts our community. We will expand our programming, forge new partnerships, and build a sustainable future for the arts in Suffolk. We will also focus on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the transformative power of the arts.

Why Join Us: We are looking for someone who thrives on being fully immersed in their work, who sees challenges as opportunities for growth, and who is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community. As the Executive Director, you will have the chance to lead exciting initiatives, collaborate with talented individuals, and shape the future of our organization. If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and dive headfirst into a rewarding and dynamic role, we want to hear from you. 

The Suffolk Art League is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our mission of inspiring, engaging, and uplifting our community through the arts. Join us in shaping the future of arts and culture in Suffolk!