Executive Director

Position Description

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) seeks applicants for its top leadership role of Executive Director. The position directs and advances all elements of the organization’s mission, strategy, programming, and operations. The Executive Director serves as the face of the organization, guiding both internal and external stakeholders towards a shared vision for the Bronx River Art Center, and for the field of multi-arts, non-profit organizations that provide a forum for community, artists, and youth to transform creativity into vision. Since its founding in 1987, this multi-arts center has filled the West Farms community of the Bronx with art and environmental experiences with regional, and national impact. BRAC engages our audiences with art that explores current social issues specifically related to local concerns such as career development, and environmental and racial justice. Our goal is to inspire and encourage participants, especially our teens and young adults, to take civic action to improve conditions within our Bronx communities.

The Executive Director partners with the Board of Directors and the senior leadership team to build organizational health and vitality through adaptable systems and processes, diverse, reliable and repeatable revenue streams, inclusive and collaborative decision making, responsive and impactful programming, and community engagement.

The position reports to the Board of Directors and oversees full-time and part-time staff. This is a full-time, exempt position.

BRAC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operations and Financial Management

• Develop responsible fiscal practices through multi-year financial goals, annual budgets, and cash flow projections
• Carefully monitor revenue and expenses throughout the fiscal year
• Oversee fiscal management activities, ensuring effective internal controls
• Work with staff to prepare accurate and complete financial statements; complete annual audited financial statements
• Ensure compliance with all accounting, reporting, filings, record keeping, and HR-related requirements

Strategic Visioning and Leadership

• Uphold a shared strategic vision in line with BRAC’s mission, history, and values
• Create long-range direction and strategic goals with board, staff and relevant stakeholders
• Drive a communications strategy to attract donors, partners and program participants
• Maintain a deep understanding of the nonprofit arts sector; take leadership roles in advocating for access to the arts and art education in the Bronx

Board Development and Fundraising

• Build an annual fundraising plan incorporating grant-writing, major donors, earned income and events that engages staff and board in abundantly resourcing BRAC.
• Cultivate a transparent working relationship with the board, keeping them engaged and informed about opportunities, liabilities, and successes
• Set a regular meeting calendar, and establish efficient communication and reporting mechanisms
• Support the board in developing itself to be a diverse and dynamic body with fresh perspectives and key areas of expertise

Program Excellence and Community Development

• Position BRAC as a resource in the Bronx through excellent programming that is mission-aligned and reflective of current best practices and community needs
• Develop systems and utilize data-based tools to evaluate programs
• Engage with community leaders to understand and address the needs of the Bronx residents
• Collaborate with other mission-aligned organizations to innovate, solve common problems, and develop joint programming

Culture and People

• Embed equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in every area of the organization’s culture and operations
• Build a cohesive and collaborative team environment among staff
• Create policies and systems that embody the organization’s values and support BRAC in hiring and retaining talented, diverse staff
• Facilitate relationship-building between board and staff, ensuring open communication, reciprocal learning, and alignment.

Facility Management

• Oversee the facility, ensuring safety and functionality
• Plan and fund routine maintenance and capital improvement projects
• Supervise facilities staff and contractors
• Oversee the development of maintenance policies and procedures

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred (latter can be substituted for two years professional experience in the field)
• Minimum of 5 years experience in the nonprofit sector with evidence in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leading community-based arts and exhibition programs
• A clear artistic vision for community-based arts education and exhibitions
• Demonstrated experience in developing community partnerships that support access to arts, art education, social and environmental justice
• Demonstrated success in fundraising
• Demonstrated experience with board development
• Success in leading nonprofits in multicultural, multilingual environments
• Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic environment; ability to problem solve quickly

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Spanish proficiency
• Experience with community outreach and engagement
• Knowledge of the Bronx, BRAC partners and work experience in NYC

COMPENSATION

The base annual salary is $80,000 - $85,000. Increases will be considered contingent on financial capacity. Benefits include 3 weeks of paid vacation, 8 holidays, up to 10 days sick days and 3 personal days annually. Health benefits are provided.

TO APPLY

Submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to jobs@bronxriverart.org by 1/8/2025.

ABOUT THE BRONX RIVER ART CENTER

Mission: Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) is a culturally diverse, multi-arts, non-profit organization that provides a forum for community, artists, and youth to transform creativity into vision. Our Education, Exhibitions, Artist Studios, and Presenting Programs cultivate leadership in an urban environment and stewardship of our natural resource — the Bronx River.

History: BRAC was founded in 1987 to bring professional arts programming to a culturally underserved population. Since then, this multi-arts center has filled the West Farms community of the Bronx with art and environmental experiences. BRAC engages our audiences with art that explores current social issues specifically related to local concerns such as career development, and environmental and racial justice. Our programs are designed to encourage our residents to engage in creative activism towards the revitalization and future of their neighborhood.

Overview of Programs

Education: We offer youth programs after school and on Saturdays. The classes are taught by professional artists, and they include Painting, Drawing, Cartooning, Ceramics, and more. Please refer to the education section for fees, fee waivers, and scholarships. We currently offer a free Teen Project Studio and MSCreate program as well. Fee-based classes for adults are also available, as well as workshops for schools and community-based organizations.

Exhibitions: Our Exhibitions Program is known for both its deft curatorial vision and its ability to produce ambitious, energetic exhibitions with ingenuity and immediacy. In recent years, we have exposed various paradigms of contemporary art to the litmus test of a local Bronx community and the cultural, economic, and social landscape that defines it. Our Exhibitions Program also provides a resource for artists and guest curators, by giving them a platform inside a reality that has not been fully acknowledged by academia or traditional institutions.

Presenting: Our year-round performing arts productions offer our local West Farms community an eclectic mix of cutting-edge talent from the Bronx and beyond. This series of interdisciplinary performances embraces popular, contemporary, experimental, and classically-inspired music, dance, performance art, and poetry. Additionally, our annual June Performing Arts Festival, “Bronx River Sounds," acts as a catalyst for emerging and established groups to showcase their work to a multicultural community in a comfortable and open setting.

Studio Space: Studio space is available to artists for up to two years, at below-market-value rates. BRAC’s non-living studios are accessible Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, on Saturdays from 10am to 6pm and Sundays noon to 6pm. Each open plan studio has a window or windows, vary in size from 250 to 400 sq ft. and range in price from $425 -$650. Artists are selected on artistic merit based on studio availability on an ongoing, rolling basis. The Artist Studio Program aims to create a creative environment where professional artists of all backgrounds can communicate with one another and the community while pursuing their own work.