Executive Director

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Northeast Bronx seeks an Executive Director to lead fundraising, strategy, and organizational operations. This role reports to the Board of Directors and oversees a team of 2 full-time Assistant Executive Directors, 2 full-time Program Directors, and 4 part-time Program Directors.

The Executive Director will shape Mind-Builders' future, sustain a $3M operating budget, and expand community impact through arts and education programs across diverse

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead fundraising strategies.
• Experience running community-based programs or organizations.
• Excellent communication skills to serve as spokesperson and ambassador.
• Proven ability to manage staff and budget with accountability.
• Experience with engaging diverse communities in arts education.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic priorities and lead Mind-Builders toward mission-aligned growth.
• Oversee daily operations, budgeting, contracts, and staff performance.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to diversify revenue and sustain programs.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Strategic vision

Executive leadership

Communication

Staff management

Education

Undergraduate degree

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Job Title: Executive Director

Department: Administration

Reports To: Board of Directors

FLSA Status: Full-Time/Exempt

Direct Reports: 2 full-time Assistant Executive Directors, 2 full-time Program Directors, 4 part-time Program Directors

Salary Range: $160,000-$175,000/yr (depending on experience)

About Mind-Builders

Located in the Northeast Bronx, and founded in 1978, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center provides music, dance, theater, and martial arts and fitness classes + students each year and reaches over 5,000 audience members through on and offsite performances and workshops. Group and private arts lessons on-site provide study in modern/jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, and West African dance, piano/keyboard, guitar, bass, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and violin. Mind-Builders offers free programs for teens and young adults through the theater production, theater, and Community Folk Culture internship programs. Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center’s mission is to inspire the growth of youth, families and the community through arts and education programs while nurturing self-esteem, building character, and cultivating an appreciation of the diverse cultures within our community.

For more information and to read about our history, visit: http://www.mind-builders.org.

Position Summary

The Executive Director will serve as Mind-Builder’s chief executive, leading fundraiser, and motivational champion. The Executive Director will also oversee the organization’s strategic direction and impact as it seeks to continue serving the community, refining and improving its programmatic offerings, and diversifying its $3M operating budget.

Essential Duties/Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision Setting:

• Uphold Mind-Builders mission and vision, provide inspiring direction for Mind-Builders future, and work with the Board and staff to develop, implement, and refine the organization’s strategic priorities ensuring alignment to its core values and artistic direction.
• Continue to evolve Mind-Builders programmatic offerings and organizational strategy, overseeing the execution and evolution of Mind-Builders core programs and setting clear and consistent performance metrics.
• Think big about Mind-Builders and how its high-impact and high-quality suite of programs can have expanded and deepened impact for its students, families, and the broader community to support the overarching vision of creating a world where children can explore and expand their sense of self through the arts.
• Develop and lead a long-term fundraising strategy for raising annual operating income and ensuring the fiscal sustainability of all Mind-Builders programs.

Organizational Leadership:

• Promote and model an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming culture that embodies Mind-Builders' values of access, artistry and discipline, professionalism, community, heritage and belonging, trust and accountability, and lasting impact.
• Manage all day-to-day operations (including effectively managing the budget, contractual obligations, and all internal operations) and staff, with ultimate accountability for the success of the organization.
• Ensure staff has clearly defined roles and goals, and access to the information and resources necessary to achieve their goals; hold team members accountable for achieving ambitious goals.
• Coach and mentor a high-performing team, hire and retain a team committed to Mind-Builders' work, and ensure that they have opportunities for growth and development.

Fundraising and Community Engagement:

• Steward existing relationships with all Mind-Builders stakeholders, champions, and collaborators by maintaining an ongoing presence and active involvement in the Bronx community and beyond.
• Maintain existing relationships and cultivate new relationships with members of the community, and consistently welcome new groups and individuals to the Mind-Builders network to advance the organization's mission, vision, and goals.
• Design and develop new strategic initiatives and funding relationships in order to diversify the organization’s revenue streams and fiscal resilience.
• Develop and manage key philanthropic relationships to support current and future program initiatives.
• Work with the Board to serve as a key external face of the organization, enhancing the visibility, and bringing awareness to the critical work Mind-Builders does to media agencies, government officials, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty/key responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, and/or competency required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Passion for Mind-Builders vision, mission, and programming, with a demonstrated ability to effectively run community-based programs; brings deep cultural competency in regard to issues of race and socio-economic disenfranchisement.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead a fundraising strategy with a track record of attracting and growing philanthropic support from varied partners, including government, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
• Excellent, persuasive, and effective communication skills with the ability to serve as the lead spokesperson and ambassador to build awareness and increased visibility of the work and impact of Mind-Builders.
• Strong people and team management skills, with demonstrated ability running a similarly sized organization or program vertical and managing a diverse staff; balances an inclusive and emotionally intelligent leadership style that engenders trust, provides clear and consistent direction, and fosters accountability.
• Proactive team leader who can strengthen both strategic and tactical initiatives, and is a highly responsive, detail-oriented problem solver.
• 10 plus years of experience with at least 5 years of programmatic or executive leadership experience ideally in education, arts education, youth development or a related field; experience at a community-based organization is preferred.
• Knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of the African and Black diasporic arts and culture is a must.
• Brings a passion for empowering historically marginalized young people, families, and communities.
• An undergraduate degree and a graduate degree is preferred, but not required.