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Arts Connection is the Arts Council of San Bernardino County

Arts Connection envisions a county that invests in each of our creative communities. We are dedicated to stimulating creative and economic vitality and enriching lives throughout the communities we serve by providing support, promotion, education, and advocacy for the arts. Arts Connection works in collaboration with our city, state, and county partners to explore creative pathways for integrating the arts into the framework of the countywide vision. We are an independent nonprofit organization, designated by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to act as the State-Local Partner (SLP) to the California Arts Council.

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States with a vast and diverse geography inclusive of urban sprawl, rural farmland, the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park, and the forests of the San Bernardino Mountains. San Bernardino Our arts community reflects this incredible diversity and our art reflects stories from diverse cultural, economic, and natural contexts.

Over the last 5 years, Arts Connection has grown to reflect this geographic and cultural diversity. We have expanded our programming to include regional program directors to support geographically isolated areas, increased our presence in San Bernardino County schools, initiated a micro-grant program to support emerging artists, and diversified our funding sources. The staff has grown from one part time executive to a diverse team of 24 part-time and contract staff representing multiple cultures, backgrounds, and mediums of artistic expression.

The next Executive Director of Arts Connection will inherit a financially sound organization with a healthy reserve and most of the funding required for the next two fiscal years already raised or identified. They will have the opportunity to lead a dynamic and diverse team of artists who have joined on through the recent expansion to create a healthy and meaningful organizational culture and systems of distributive leadership required to manage a diverse and geographically spread out staff. The next executive director will have the opportunity to step into leadership at a time when the organization has stable funding, a talented and dynamic staff, and an opportunity to innovate strong internal systems and external strategies for increased policy impact.

Description of the Position
The Executive Director of Arts Connection has a demonstrated passion for the value of the arts as a key ingredient for thriving communities. This person embodies a deep respect and curiosity towards diverse viewpoints, cultures, and expressions of art and is skillful in ensuring that all voices and experiences are uplifted and valued.

The Executive Director has the imagination to see the world as it should be and is able to engage diverse artists and lovers of art to craft a shared vision that is culturally rooted and inclusive of historically excluded people. The Executive Director has the strategic capacity to map the vision into tangible steps and then find opportunities to leverage change to move our communities towards that vision. This person understands the artistic process and serves as a translator and advocate for the arts community. They effectively communicate vision and strategy to funders, public officials, partners, and the community at large.

The Executive Director has an orientation towards constant learning and is able to design and implement distributive leadership models required to lead a staff reflective of the diverse peoples and geography of San Bernardino County. They have a nuanced understanding of the process of creating art and are delighted by different stories and expressions of art. They manage artists and arts programs in a way that supports artists to thrive and brings measurable benefits to both artists and the communities they are a part of.

The Executive Director is literate in non-profit fiscal management and is able to identify indicators and benchmarks of financial health and adjust plans and strategies to support financial sustainability. This person values transparency and pursues systems of checks and balances to ensure long-term financial stability and health. The Executive Director builds strong relationships with funders and cultivates partnerships that expand access to resources that are aligned with the vision and values of Arts Connection.

The Executive Director will serve at the discretion of the board and will have the following responsibilities:
Policy and Advocacy
+Identify opportunities for policy and resource decisions made at the city and county levels for inclusion, expression, and support of arts throughout our region.
+Research and identify models for policy and systems change related to promotion of the arts.
+Develop advocacy strategy, position statements, and talking points.
+Cultivate key legislative and business relationships.
+Represent Arts Connection at targeted legislative meetings, collaborative tables, and with other policy and advocacy organizations.

Partnership Development
+Develop partnerships appropriate to the agency’s mission which will provide financial or community visibility. Activities may include: public relations support, fiscal receivership, development of consortiums or focus groups to strengthen the arts community. More significance is given to activities which will provide longer term support for the agency.
+Represent the organization at targeted local arts events based upon board direction and available hours.

Team Supervision
+Design systems and practices for strong organizational culture; including clear systems of communication and mutual accountability, and opportunities for staff development and growth.
+Manage and support a team of geographically, culturally, and artistically diverse staff members learning about and utilizing distributive leadership models.
+Grow and develop staff and job descriptions as needed and based on available funding.

Program Development and Oversight
+Oversee the development and implementation of programs in support of the mission, vision, and strategic goals.
+Develop program strategy and growth trajectory.
+Current programs include: our bi-annual arts summit, ILACCE, cultural mapping, artist exhibitions, Estudio Aire, after school artist residencies, Arts Innovator Micro Grants, Sun Spot, NEA Big Read Morongo Basin, All Points Artist Salon, AC Tune-ups, and more!

Fundraising & Fiscal Oversight
+Create the organizational budget for board approval and oversee implementation.
+Ongoing development and maintenance of financial health benchmarks and systems of checks and balances.
+Responsible for timely and accurate filing of all applicable taxes, licenses, insurances, and documents essential to the proper fiscal and legal operation of the agency.
+Oversee fundraising for the budget.
+Seek and submit relevant grant and contract applications to meet the budget and increase organizational capacity.
+Complete reports and adhere to guidelines and timelines for assigned grants and contracts.
+Support staff to participate in fundraising and reporting for their own programs.
+Seek multi-agency grant opportunities by identifying and collaborating with partners appropriate to the mission of the agency.
+Manage and cultivate relationships with funders and donors.

The Executive Director will have the following required qualifications:
Experience:
+Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role.
+Work with legislators on policy issues at different levels of government.
+Track record of developing and successfully implementing an advocacy campaign; including identification of opportunity, development of strategy and communications, meetings with legislators, and participation in public decision and implementation.
+Work with diverse cultures, ethnicities, and people of different walks of life.
+Management of employees and team development
+Track record of raising money, including prospecting, grant writing, and building relationships with funders.
+Evidence of successful collaborative partnerships

Skills:
+Ability to clearly communicate and implement vision and strategy.
+Financial literacy for non-profit: including how to build and manage a budget, benchmarks for financial oversight, checks and balances, and how to access information and reports in quickbooks online.
+Skilled mediator/negotiator.
+Cultural competence and understanding of intersectionality for working in a multicultural environment.
+Grant Writing.
+Online organizational skills.
+Proficiency Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and Google Suite programs.

This job requires travel and access to adequate transportation to attend meetings and events throughout San Bernardino County.

Qualities we would like you to have:
+Ongoing, current relationships with San Bernardino County legislators at different levels of government.
+Knowledge of Arts-related policies, funding opportunities, and other models for integration of the arts into public life.
+Knowledge of the San Bernardino region, including the Morongo Basin, the High Desert surrounding Victorville, the Mountain Communities, and San Bernardino Metro area.
+Experience with diverse funding sources, including government contracts, foundations, large donors, etc. Knowledge of the state art agency’s program and application platform is a plus.
+Knowledge of CA labor laws and HR regulations.
+Knowledge of IRS laws and guidelines for 501(C)3 participation in lobbying activities.
+Bilingual in English/Spanish or another language.
+Relevant degree preferred. Examples include: public administration, public policy, arts administration, business administration.

Compensation & Benefits
This is a full time exempt position with a salary range of $100,000 to $120,000 with some room for negotiation depending on experience and track record of success.

We offer the following benefits:
+Flexible work hours – position will require attendance at public meetings, collaborative meetings, internal team meetings, and events. Ability to prioritize and participate in scheduling meetings when possible. Additional work responsibilities may be done according to flexible hours.
+Hybrid working schedule with ability to work from home and stipend for work from home expenses.
+Budget for professional development and training, including travel.
+Budget for professional memberships.
+Mileage reimbursement.
+Paid time off.
+Reimbursements for healthcare.

Instructions to Apply

Please submit the following by e-mail to jobs@artsconnectionnetwork.org as a single PDF attachment with Executive Director Search in the subject line of your email.

1.Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
2. A cover letter describing your connection to the arts and why your experience makes you a good fit for this position.
3. At least 3 references with a name, description of relationship, and contact information. Examples of helpful references include: former employer, funder, community partner, collaborative partner.

May 18, 2023 Application Deadline
May 9-31 Phone screening, virtual, and in-person interviews
June 2023 Start Date

Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

We believe that our organization benefits from the perspectives and talents of a diverse staff. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, indigeneity, color, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression (including people who are transgender), genetic information or characteristics or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.

Arts Connection believes the exchange of ideas and creative experiences inspires curiosity and understanding, and that inclusion of people of disabilities in our work improves this exchange and is required to be a just organization.We believe that accessibility begins with our proactive attitude and approach. Arts Connection provides accommodations for people with disabilities in our employment, programs, and services, including but not limited to accessibility technology, alternative methods of communication, physical accommodations, and flexibility in our planning.We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.