EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
POSITION SUMMARY
As the Commonwealth's most senior state cultural official, the Executive Director will serve as an influential external advocate for the arts, humanities, and sciences, providing strategic leadership in the development and implementation of innovative policies, programs, and initiatives that advance the priorities of the Mass Cultural Council. Reporting to and collaborating with the Governing Council, the Executive Director will champion a vibrant, resilient and financially sustainable cultural sector throughout Massachusetts, building strong relationships with the Governor, Legislature, other elected officials, and leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The Executive director will leverage these relationships to strengthen public and private investment and to expand recognition of the cultural sector as an essential contributor to the Commonwealth's economic vitality and quality of life.
The Executive Director will provide vision and a collaborative approach to advancing equitable and inclusive opportunities for participation in the cultural sector, ensuring that the Agency's programs and services have an impact in diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and geographic communities throughout the Commonwealth. Within the organization, the Executive Director will foster a respectful, inclusive and high-performing organizational culture that values staff expertise, encourages collaboration and translates innovative ideas into meaningful results.
The Executive Director will be responsible for the transparent stewardship of public funds, sound financial management, and overseeing the distribution of Mass Cultural Council funds in compliance with applicable guidelines and regulations.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Vision and Strategic Leadership
Provide the vision and strategy for the Mass Cultural Council to ensure that Massachusetts citizens have access to a thriving cultural sector that enhances the state's quality of life and economic vibrancy.
Foster a culture of innovation throughout the Agency to realize new ideas, concepts, and strategies that amplify the cultural vitality of neighborhoods and communities across the state.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access throughout the organization with policies and practices that foster transformative change.
Balance an exciting vision for the state's creative economy with a realistic understanding of local, state, and federal policy and the political and environmental factors impacting the region and the cultural sector.
External Relations and Partnerships
Build and strengthen relationships with local, state, and federal public officials and with civic and business leaders to ensure continued public investment in the cultural sector through the Agency's programs and services.
Identify, establish, and maintain cooperative and collaborative partnerships with state agencies, municipal governments, local and national funders, and regional and national organizations, such as New England Foundation for the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and National Endowment for the Arts.
Actively listen to cultural sector leaders to develop a keen understanding of the needs and resources of the state's cultural assets, including arts, humanities, and science organizations and individual artists, humanists, and scientists.
Frequently visit and communicate with cultural leaders across the state, conducting site visits to partner and grantee organizations when appropriate.
Organizational Excellence and Fiscal Responsibility
Lead a high-performing and experienced staff in the operations of grants and technical assistance programs, as well as strategic initiatives designed to achieve the short- and long-term goals of the Agency.
Serve as an effective partner with the governing Council in its policy-making role, ensuring that its members have timely access to accurate and updated information on finances, policies, indicators, trends, and relevant issues to help them reach decisions that advance the Agency's mission and strategic plan.
Inspire and maintain an organizational culture that encourages collaboration, accountability, professional development, and mutual respect.
Establish and uphold efficient procedures and effective controls for the expenditure of public funds in accordance with the adopted budget.
Prepare, steward, and present the annual budget and periodic reports to the governing Council for review and approval, as well as to the Governor's Office and Legislature as required.
Keep abreast of the latest cultural sector issues and trends through active participation in regional and national cultural service organizations.
Traits and Characteristics
A creative and visionary leader, the Executive Director will be recognized for their ability to engage with a broad and diverse collective of stakeholders and to drive action that advances the cultural sector. A consummate consensus builder and effective negotiator, the Executive Director will inspire trust and confidence with a respectful and diplomatic approach to divergent points of view.
They will be a people-oriented, empathetic leader with the ability to motivate a team. Receptive to new ideas, this individual will have political savvy and an ability to develop, nurture, and leverage authentic relationships with policy makers and civic leaders. The Executive Director will value collaboration, have a history of personal involvement in and appreciation for the cultural sector in or outside of Massachusetts, and possess a deep awareness of issues and trends impacting the arts, humanities, and sciences regionally and nationally.
Other key competencies include:
Leadership - The capacity to deliver a compelling vision, earn the trust and confidence of others with integrity, public accountability and clarity, organize and influence people by creating a common purpose, develop innovative partnerships towards the public mission, and act with both courage and grace to advance the cultural vitality of the Commonwealth.
Diplomacy and Interpersonal Skills - The aptitude to tactfully address sensitive situations, gain a balanced understanding of cultural and political issues, build alliances with and relate to people of different backgrounds, points of view and disciplines, and communicate constructively to achieve positive outcomes both in the sector and within the organization.
Flexibility and Resiliency - The agility to inspire new ideas, approaches, and methods while striving to adapt to situational demands, overcome obstacles, step outside of perceived comfort zones, and evaluate many aspects of a situation
