Chief Executive Officer

Asian American Arts Alliance; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance (group health, inpt/

403(b) plan

Paid time off (vacation, personal, and

Job summary

Community Music Center of Boston is seeking a CEO to provide strategic direction, build public visibility, and oversee operations for a growing nonprofit music school. The leader will guide multi-campus expansion, donor engagement, and community partnerships while stewarding earned and contributed revenue growth.

Ideal candidates bring senior management experience in nonprofit education, strong financial acumen, and a passion for expanding access to music education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Five to seven years of senior management experience.
• Expertise in planning, organizational development, and fundraising.
• Ability to lead across multi-campus expansion and partnerships.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising and development initiatives with key donors.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and operations.
• Develop and execute a new strategic plan for multi-campus growth.
• Engage with the board, staff, students, families, and community partners.
• Enhance public visibility and branding for the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Communication

Relationship building

Financial management

Diversity & inclusion

Stakeholder engagement

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be a visionary leader responsible for Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB)’s strategic direction, public visibility, and managerial operations. Joining CMCB after a successful building acquisition and capital campaign, the CEO will lead the organization at an exciting time of possibility and broadened impact. As CMCB’s primary spokesperson, the CEO will co‑develop and execute a new strategic plan that builds on past successes and brings the organization into an even brighter future. The CEO will nurture a unique mix of multi‑generational relationships with the board, faculty, staff, parents, students, strategic partners, and donors that comprise the core of CMCB’s culture and identity, and will guide, advise, and mobilize board members while overseeing staff leadership, operations, and both earned and contributed revenue growth.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Development, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Champion equitable access to arts education and arts‑based experiences, fostering an inclusive culture where students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners from all backgrounds can thrive.
• Identify and promote innovative programming that will enable a successful transition from one to two campuses within CMCB’s expanding footprint.
• Leverage CMCB’s strong reputation as an extraordinary community music school to sustain current programming and create opportunities for growth.
• Maintain mutually supportive relationships with leadership at Boston Public Schools and similar institutions.
• Develop new partnership agreements with schools and community organizations to advance outreach throughout the Greater Boston area.
• Ensure high‑quality programs, services, and facilities that are accessible, welcoming, and responsive to community needs.
• Collaborate with staff and faculty to develop innovative ways to grow earned revenue.
• Continue to develop existing programming initiatives in diverse areas such as student‑centered music education, Youth Employment, Music Therapy, ensemble programming, contemporary genres, impacts of AI on music education, and other areas.
• Expand and build on CMCB’s national presence and reputation as an innovator and best‑practitioner.
• Embrace additional program development, diversity, and inclusion responsibilities as needed.

Contributed Revenue Enhancement

• Provide organizational leadership in all aspects of fundraising and development, establishing personal relationships with key funders and donors to support CMCB’s strategic and capitalization goals.
• Maintain strong relationships with key community partners to diversify and expand the organization’s individual, foundation, corporate, and government donor base.
• Broaden CMCB’s public image and increase brand awareness for the organization, clearly articulating its mission, vision, programs, and impacts.
• Define contributed revenue opportunities with board and development staff in annual and long‑term fundraising plans.
• Cultivate existing donors for ongoing support while seeking new prospects to ensure a robust and diversified funding base.
• Embrace other contributed revenue enhancement responsibilities as needed.

Stakeholder Cultivation and Community Engagement

• Work with the board and other stakeholders to develop a new strategic vision and plan, enabling CMCB to successfully manage its integration into the Roxbury community and transition to a multi‑campus footprint.
• Listen carefully, speak persuasively, and anticipate concerns of parents, students, faculty, staff, board members, external partners, donors, and the public.
• Foster an inclusive workplace that attracts, develops, and retains talented faculty and staff from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
• Guide board prospect identification, cultivation, and recruitment by utilizing participation on board committees that develop future board members and leaders.
• Mobilize the talents, connections, and resources of the board to stimulate their continued active involvement.
• Embrace other stakeholder cultivation and community engagement responsibilities as needed.

Financial Acumen and Organizational Management

• Lead all aspects of CMCB’s financial management and business operations, including budgeting, forecasting, performance monitoring, risk management, and resource allocation.
• Ensure long‑term financial sustainability while balancing mission impact, earned and contributed revenue goals, and strategic investments in growth.
• Translate strategic priorities into operational and financial plans, using data and performance metrics to drive decision‑making, assess organizational effectiveness, and ensure accountability for results.
• Oversee, direct, develop, and manage staff and faculty to sustain the organizational culture of trust, cooperation, and collaboration.
• Supervise and integrate all aspects of CMCB, including faculty, administrative staff, facilities, and technology.
• Guide marketing, branding, and public relations programs that highlight CMCB’s impacts and reputation.
• Spearhead innovation and creativity to allow CMCB to continue to flourish.
• Lead day‑to‑day operations to ensure that faculty, staff, students, and parents have a memorable experience that leaves a legacy on their future growth and personal development.
• Empower and build camaraderie among senior management to recognize and leverage individual strengths that contribute to organizational success.
• Embrace other financial acumen and organizational management responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The CEO will be a resourceful and engaging leader energized by practical results, effective action, and making the most of time, talent, energy, and resources. They will be highly interactive and people‑oriented, bringing a visible, relationship‑centered leadership style that supports frequent communication, meaningful engagement, and strong rapport with a wide range of individuals. Versatile and receptive, the CEO will adapt easily to different situations while welcoming new ideas, methods, and opportunities, leading with sound judgment and an altruistic commitment to creating benefits for others.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and Diplomacy – Inspire, build trust, and create a sense of purpose while handling challenging issues tactfully.
• Interpersonal Skills – Build rapport and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders nationally and internationally.
• Personal Accountability – Self‑evaluate using feedback and data, taking responsibility for actions and results.
• Customer Focused – Anticipate and exceed student and stakeholder needs or expectations.
• Decision Making – Analyze situations to make consistently sound and timely decisions.
• Planning and Organizing – Collaboratively establish strategic goals, assess risks, and organize activities and priorities to meet expectations.

Compensation and Benefits

CMCB offers a competitive compensation package with an estimated salary ranging from $170,000 to $200,000. Benefits include medical insurance (group health, dental, vision), pre‑tax accounts (flexible spending, dependent care, commuter), paid time off (vacation, personal, sick), employer‑contributory 403(b) plan, voluntary supplemental insurance including short and long‑term disability, and the quality of life that Greater Boston has to offer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CMCB provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy‑related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. BIPOC individuals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of other historically disenfranchised and marginalized populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required, a master’s degree preferred, plus a minimum of five to seven years of related senior management experience. Expertise in planning, organizational development, relationship building, and team building in a collegial environment of mutual respect is needed. Executive‑level competencies, political savvy, strategic vision, and the ability to lead change are essential, along with the creativity and technical credibility to advance strategic priorities. A successful track record in best practices within the nonprofit, education, or music field and a high level of leadership and fundraising experience are expected. The candidate should have a passion for music and music education, enthusiasm for CMCB’s dual mission of excellence and access, and be skilled at building partnerships, developing metrics to measure success, and valuing neighborhood relationships essential to welcoming CMCB into its new community.