Deputy Executive Director

Art for the Journey; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Art for the Journey is seeking a Deputy Director to join the executive leadership team in the Richmond area. You will work closely with the CEO and program directors to strengthen operations, staff and volunteer support, and systematize growth with clarity and consistency.

The role includes expanding program performance, overseeing staff development, and supporting donor relations and fundraising events as the organization prepares for an anticipated CEO transition over the next 12 months.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership across multiple programs or functions.
• Experience strengthening organizational operations and performance.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising and donor cultivation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and program leads to set priorities and clear plans.
• Oversee fundraising events, donor relations, and revenue planning.
• Develop and evaluate program design, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Support staff with clear ownership and succession planning across leadership roles.
• Represent the organization at external events and in stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Leadership & people management

Fundraising & donor relations

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management or related field

Job description

BACKGROUND

Art for the Journey’s mission is to transform lives through art and community engagement. Founded in 2014 by a small group of artists who had experienced the power of art in their own lives, the organization believes that creative expression can support well-being, resilience, and human connection. Based in the Richmond area, Art for the Journey brings visual art programs to people and communities with limited access to these experiences. In partnership with schools, senior care settings, and community organizations, it serves a diverse range of children, veterans, women in recovery, and older adults.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity to help shape Art for the Journey’s next chapter. With established programs, strong community partnerships, and a network of more than 500 volunteers, AFJ is preparing for a more distributed approach to leadership. The Deputy Director will work closely with the CEO and Program Directors to strengthen program performance, support staff and volunteers, and build the systems that will help the organization grow with clarity and consistency.

As a member of the executive leadership team, the Deputy Director will take on meaningful responsibility across operations, people, programs, and revenue development. The role includes supporting fundraising events and donor relationships while helping AFJ prepare for an anticipated CEO transition over the next 12 months. The Deputy Director will have opportunities to develop executive and board-facing experience and may be considered for the CEO role through a separate assessment process.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Deputy Executive Director will help Art for the Journey deliver its mission with excellence while building the leadership and systems needed for its next phase of growth. Working in partnership with the CEO, the Deputy Director will assume a defined set of responsibilities as AFJ prepares for its next stage. The position is intended both to strengthen organizational capacity now and to develop and evaluate a potential internal successor to the CEO.

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• • Partners with the CEO to turn organizational priorities into clear plans, decisions, and accountability across teams.
  • Identifies where responsibilities, processes, and decisions rely heavily on the CEO, and help establish more sustainable ways of working.
  • Strengthens the systems that support planning, financial oversight, data use, quality, and day-to-day operations.

Fundraising & External Relationships

• • Partners with the CEO and development staff on the annual drive, gala, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
  • Partners with the CEO for marketing and communication priorities, designs and communicates our mission through online and print materials.
  • Builds relationships with community partners, supporters, and professional networks, representing AFJ where needed at external events.

Program Leadership & Performance

• • Partners with program leaders to establish clear expectations, review program quality and results, and make informed decisions about improvement, capacity, and resource use.
  • Supports the program directors in the development of program design, evaluation and continuous improvement.

People Leadership & Development

• • Supports staff with clarifying ownership of key priorities and nurtures a culture of shared leadership.
  • Over time, transitions to supervision of staff by establishing and refining clear expectations, supporting decisions, and addressing performance concerns.
  • Oversees coordination across programs and functions, resolving issues that require shared decisions or changes in responsibility.
  • Helps staff navigate changes in leadership roles and ways of working with clarity and trust.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

At least 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including supervision of staff or managers and responsibility across multiple programs or functions. Demonstrated ability to strengthen and modernize organizational operations. Experience leading programs and people through growth or change while building accountability and trust. Strong discernment, communication, and relationship skills, with the potential to assume broader executive and board-facing responsibilities over time. Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising and willingness to advance with donor cultivation, stewardship, events, and revenue planning.