Executive Director - Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs

Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, the Executive Director (ED) will be responsible for executing CFABS’s mission while establishing and implementing the organization’s strategic vision. With the assistance of the senior staff leadership, the ED will clearly define and lead the execution of CFABS’s expectations and goals in several areas, including fundraising, finance, community building, artistic and educational programming, and high-level administrative functions. The ED will serve as the senior administrative officer, reporting to the board, and public face of the organization, guiding both internal and external stakeholders toward a shared vision for CFABS. The ED will lead, mentor, and guide an exceptional staff focused on achieving outcomes tied to the Centers’ mission, vision, and goals.

Roles and Responsibilities
Visionary and Transformational Leader
- Build a deep partnership with the Board of Directors and staff to support the advancement of CFABS, while honoring its legacy, and charting a course for a dynamic future.
- Assess strategic priorities, resources, and direction, with analysis of program success, performance, financial position, ongoing relevance, and mission achievement.
- Cultivate a collaborative organizational structure and culture with cohesive, creative, communicative, and productive partnerships, for internal and external stakeholders.

Community Relations and Fundraising
- Structure and pursue contributed revenue goals, including donor campaigns, major gifts, sponsorships, fundraising events, grants, and other development efforts that increase the number of supporters and depth of support in partnership with the board of directors and staff.
- Identify and cultivate potential individual donors, including major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and other sources of revenue.
- Assess and prioritize fundraising capacity and needs of CFABS.
- Engineer strategies in fundraising, resource development, marketing, and communications to significantly enhance revenues and create a wider base of support that builds upon the loyal financial foundation within the organization.

Management and Operations
- Provide mentorship, encourage professional development, and lead staff performance management for the CFABS team.
- Oversee the effective development and use of operational systems needed to achieve strategic goals and objectives, with a focus on human and financial resources, governance, communications, community relations and technology.
- Have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, able to attract and retain staff and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
- Implement best practices across both CFABS campuses.

Board Development and Governance
- Engage actively with board members to consider and develop practices, structures, and systems that are equitable, sustainable, and dynamic, aligning with plans for future change and growth.
- Inspire effective working relationships with and among the CFABS board of directors, engaging with board to encourage active participation and ambassadorship in the community.
- Partner with the finance committee and CFO to assess and ensure strong fiscal health of CFABS.

Requirements

Traits and Characteristics
The Executive Director (ED) will thrive working in a collaborative environment, as an engaging, enthusiastic, and accomplished relationship builder with the ability to anticipate and solve problems and deliver results. The ED will possess effective people skills to work collaboratively with board members, staff, artists, community stakeholders and partners, and will be a diplomatic, collaborative, resourceful communicator, and an active listener.

The selected individual will foster cross cultural respect and collaboration and have the capacity to resolve conflict, aligning board and staff efforts toward the shared vision and values of CFABS. The ED will have a deep appreciation for the impact and development of CFABS and a commitment to the future of the organization and its activities in the community.

Other key competencies include:

• Personal Accountability and Leadership – The clarity to use positional and relational influence to organize people to pursue a collective vision, managed with a sense of purpose and direction.
• Planning, Organizing, and Priority Management – The resiliency to solve problems from a variety of vantage points, while understanding the limited capacity of the organization, and that resources must be allocated to solve these issues in a planned, measured, and orderly fashion.
• Diplomacy and Interpersonal Skills – The integrity to uphold the highest ethical standards, while exhibiting tact when communicating with all members of the Bonita Springs and CFABS community.
• Teamwork – The dexterity to organize and motivate others while creating a sense of order, direction, and active participation among the board, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders to achieve collective goals.
• Customer Focus – The capacity to anticipate the current and future needs of the constituents of CFABS, and to exceed their expectations.

Qualifications
The qualified candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in the arts, arts administration, business, or significant relevant professional experience. Seven years of leadership experience in fields directly related to visual, arts education, and performing arts, festival production or related fields strongly preferred. Direct leadership in event planning, fundraising, community engagement, financial and human relations management, and board governance. Knowledge of nonprofit governance practices preferred.

Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make public presentations. Must be skilled in building community-based programs and delivering mission-based objectives. Must have excellent skills in decision-making, communication, planning, and organization skills, working with a broad range of volunteers, team members, artists, and community partners. Fluency in Spanish would be a plus.

Compensation and Benefits
The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs provides a competitive compensation package with a salary range between $137,000 and $152,000. Employee benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays; health, dental and vision, long-term disability; and a voluntary IRA retirement plan.