Executive Director

ARTS COMMISSION; Willcox (AZ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two weeks paid vacation

EMI Health

TeleMed

Vision plan

Dental plan

Job summary

Willcox Theater and Arts seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic leadership and oversee daily operations of Willcox Theater and Arts and the Center for Art and Heritage. This role directs administration, marketing, financial management, program development, fundraising, and community relations in partnership with the Board of Directors.

The ED will build collaborations with schools, local government, donors, foundations, businesses, and volunteers to sustain programs and advance the

Qualifications

• Proven executive leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, cultural, educational, or community-based organization.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience in financial management and budgeting.
• A storyteller with exceptional communication skills, including public speaking, written communications, and relationship-building abilities.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and volunteers.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships across diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of nonprofit regulations, human resources practices, and financial accountability.
• Passion for arts, culture, education, and community development, particularly in a small rural community.
• Ability to work independently while fostering teamwork and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and ongoing development of the organization’s strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Establish organizational priorities, annual work plans, and measurable performance goals.
• Foster collaboration among the Board, staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Monitor trends affecting the nonprofit and arts sectors and position the organization for long-term success.
• Direct day-to-day operations of the organization.
• Provide leadership and supervision for staff, volunteers, and contracted professionals.
• Develop and maintain effective organizational policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and nonprofit best practices.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget with the Board.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship and oversight of accounting systems and financial reporting.
• Manage organizational finances and maintain appropriate financial controls.
• Approve contracts and expenditures within Board-approved policies.
• Partner with the Board to achieve annual and long-term fundraising goals.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community partners.
• Lead grant development and serve as the organization’s authorized representative for grant agreements.
• Develop innovative fundraising strategies that strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
• Serve as the chief spokesperson and public representative for Willcox Theater and Arts.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, and community leaders.
• Advocate for arts education, public art, cultural heritage, and arts funding throughout Cochise County and Arizona.
• Maintain positive relationships with elected officials, media, and community stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors.
• Assist the Board Chair in preparing meeting agendas and supporting Board committees.
• Keep Board members informed of organizational performance and strategic initiatives.
• Support Board development, recruitment, and governance activities.
• Provide leadership for the development, evaluation, and expansion of arts, education, and cultural programming.
• Ensure programs align with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Evaluate community needs and develop innovative programs that expand organizational impact.

Skills

Executive leadership

Nonprofit management

Fundraising

Budgeting

Public speaking

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Community relations

Grant writing

Job description

Willcox Theater and Arts (WTA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching lives through arts, culture, education, and heritage in Cochise County in rural southeastern Arizona. Located across four buildings in Willcox’s Historic Railroad Avenue District with an annual budget of $590,000, WTA serves as the region’s premier arts and cultural organization, providing accessible programs that inspire creativity, preserve local heritage, and strengthen community connections.

Founded in 2012, WTA has grown from a two-screen movie theater into a vibrant cultural hub serving over 15,000 residents and visitors annually, offering live performances, festivals, visual arts, youth education, summer camps, workshops, and heritage programming. In 2026, WTA expanded with the opening of the Center for Art and Heritage, integrating arts, history, technology, and education for residents and visitors of all ages.

Through partnerships with schools, businesses, artists, and volunteers, WTA is helping position Willcox as a destination for arts, heritage tourism, and lifelong learning while preserving the region’s unique cultural heritage. www.willcoxtheater.com

JOB TITLE: Executive Director

REPORTS TO: Board of Directors collectively and to the Chair of the Board of Directors on its behalf

SUPERVISES: Five full-time employees, two part-time employees, and three contractors (support services).

JOB SUMMARY: The Executive Director provides overall leadership and management of the daily operations of Willcox Theater and Arts and the Center for Art and Heritage, ensuring its viability and adherence to its vision, mission, values, and strategic plan. They also have primary responsibility for the organization’s administration, marketing, financial management, community relations, program development and execution, human resources management, and, in collaboration with the Board of Directors, its fundraising and strategic direction.

MISSION: The mission of Willcox Theater and Arts is to provide entertainment, education, and cultural programs and activities for all ages.

VISION: Our vision is to be a model for arts, learning, and cultural heritage in rural America.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the implementation and ongoing development of the organization’s strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Establish organizational priorities, annual work plans, and measurable performance goals.
• Foster collaboration among the Board, staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Monitor trends affecting the nonprofit and arts sectors and position the organization for long-term success.

Organizational Leadership

• Direct day-to-day operations of the organization.
• Provide leadership and supervision for staff, volunteers, and contracted professionals.
• Develop and maintain effective organizational policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and nonprofit best practices.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget with the Board.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship and oversight of accounting systems and financial reporting.
• Manage organizational finances and maintain appropriate financial controls.
• Approve contracts and expenditures within Board-approved policies.
• Partner with the Board to achieve annual and long-term fundraising goals.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community partners.
  Lead grant development and serve as the organization’s authorized representative for grant agreements.
• Develop innovative fundraising strategies that strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Community Relations & Advocacy

• Serve as the chief spokesperson and public representative for Willcox Theater and Arts.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, and community leaders.
• Advocate for arts education, public art, cultural heritage, and arts funding throughout Cochise County and Arizona.
• Maintain positive relationships with elected officials, media, and community stakeholders.

Board Relations

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors.
• Assist the Board Chair in preparing meeting agendas and supporting Board committees.
• Keep Board members informed of organizational performance and strategic initiatives.
• Support Board development, recruitment, and governance activities.

Programming & Community Impact

• Provide leadership for the development, evaluation, and expansion of arts, education, and cultural programming.
• Ensure programs align with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Evaluate community needs and develop innovative programs that expand organizational impact.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Qualified candidates should demonstrate:

• Proven executive leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit, arts, cultural, educational, or community-based organization.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience in financial management and budgeting.
• A storyteller with exceptional communication skills, including public speaking, written communications, and relationship-building abilities.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and volunteers.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships across diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of nonprofit regulations, human resources practices, and financial accountability.
• Passion for arts, culture, education, and community development, particularly in a small rural community.
• Ability to work independently while fostering teamwork and innovation.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time executive leadership position requiring flexibility to meet organizational needs. Regular business hours are expected, with evening and weekend work required for Board meetings, performances, special events, fundraising activities, and community engagements.

Salary Range

$50,000 – $60,000; includes two weeks paid vacation and EMI Health Individual and Family TeleMed, vision, and dental plan.