Executive Director

The Current; Stowe (VT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Current, a Center for Contemporary Art in Stowe, Vermont, seeks an Executive Director to lead growth and institutional evolution. This role blends strategic leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising, and community engagement with operational oversight.

Reporting to the Board, the ED serves as CEO and public ambassador, guiding staff, artists, donors, and stakeholders. The ideal candidate balances vision with execution, fosters equity and inclusivity, and advances the organization’s

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, educational, philanthropic, or other mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success managing people, budgets, strategy, and organizational performance.
• Strong budgeting, financial analysis, and resource-allocation skills.
• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors; experience with major gifts, grants, sponsorships, campaigns, and institutional advancement is preferred.
• Experience working effectively with nonprofit boards and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, public-speaking, relationship-building, and diplomatic skills.
• Knowledge of and curiosity about contemporary art, artists, and arts education; experience with museums, galleries, or cultural organizations is preferred.
• A commitment to inclusion, accessibility, equity, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement organizational strategy in partnership with the Board and staff.
• Align organizational goals, budgets, timelines, and performance measures.
• Identify opportunities for growth, relevance, sustainability, and impact.
• Lead the organization through change while strengthening its regional and national visibility and reputation.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop staff while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing workplace.
• Establish clear roles, expectations, and reporting structures.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development.
• Support equity, inclusion, workplace well-being, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead annual budget development and oversee financial performance, cash flow, restricted funds, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with legal and nonprofit requirements.
• Oversee organizational risk management, including insurance, contracts, facilities, technology, cybersecurity, and safety.
• Guide infrastructure planning and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Provide leadership for fundraising strategy and annual goals.
• Build and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, sponsors, and partners.
• Support major gifts, grants, sponsorships, capital campaigns, and endowment efforts.
• Collaborate closely with the Major Gifts + Campaigns Officer and Board members on donor engagement and institutional advancement.
• Serve as the principal staff liaison to the Board of Trustees and support effective governance and committee work.
• Represent The Current locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Build relationships with artists, donors, members, community leaders, educational institutions, businesses, media, and government officials.
• Support high-quality, accessible exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives that advance The Current's mission and values.

Skills

Nonprofit leadership

Budgeting

Fundraising

Donor relations

Board liaison

Public speaking

Arts administration

Job description

The Current, a Center for Contemporary Art in Stowe, Vermont, is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization through a period of growth and institutional evolution. The role combines strategic leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising, community engagement, and operational oversight.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director serves as the organization's chief executive officer and public ambassador, working closely with staff, artists, donors, trustees, and community stakeholders.

The organization seeks a leader who can balance vision with execution, financial discipline with creativity, and decisive leadership with collaboration, integrity, and inclusiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement organizational strategy in partnership with the Board and staff.
• Align organizational goals, budgets, timelines, and performance measures.
• Identify opportunities for growth, relevance, sustainability, and impact.
• Lead the organization through change while strengthening its regional and national visibility and reputation.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop staff while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing workplace.
• Establish clear roles, expectations, and reporting structures.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development.
• Support equity, inclusion, workplace well-being, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead annual budget development and oversee financial performance, cash flow, restricted funds, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with legal and nonprofit requirements.
• Oversee organizational risk management, including insurance, contracts, facilities, technology, cybersecurity, and safety.
• Guide infrastructure planning and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Provide leadership for fundraising strategy and annual goals.
• Build and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, sponsors, and partners.
• Support major gifts, grants, sponsorships, capital campaigns, and endowment efforts.
• Collaborate closely with the Major Gifts + Campaigns Officer and Board members on donor engagement and institutional advancement.

Board + Community Leadership

• Serve as the principal staff liaison to the Board of Trustees and support effective governance and committee work.
• Represent The Current locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Build relationships with artists, donors, members, community leaders, educational institutions, businesses, media, and government officials.
• Support high-quality, accessible exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives that advance The Current's mission and values.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Significant leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, educational, philanthropic, or other mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success managing people, budgets, strategy, and organizational performance.
• Strong budgeting, financial analysis, and resource-allocation skills.
• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors; experience with major gifts, grants, sponsorships, campaigns, and institutional advancement is preferred.
• Experience working effectively with nonprofit boards and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, public-speaking, relationship-building, and diplomatic skills.
• Knowledge of and curiosity about contemporary art, artists, and arts education; experience with museums, galleries, or cultural organizations is preferred.
• A commitment to inclusion, accessibility, equity, and community engagement.

Compensation + Location

This is a full-time, in-person position based in Stowe, Vermont. The anticipated salary range is $75,000-$85,000 and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Final salary will be determined based on the successful candidate's experience and qualifications.

The Current is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply.