Executive Director for the Arts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, invites applications for the Executive Director for the Arts to lead the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts. The role develops and implements a vision for MIT’s artistic life, oversees budgets, operations, and cross‑unit collaboration, and expands resources for art creation and engagement across the MIT community.

The Executive Director will partner with the Vice Provost to translate strategy into actionable plans, steward

Job description

Executive Director for the Arts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts

THE SEARCH

MIT seeks a collaborative leader and skillful administrator to serve as Executive Director for the Arts. In partnership with the Vice Provost, the Executive Director helps to define and advance the Vice Provost’s strategic vision, and holds decision‑making authority over operational priorities, budgeting and administrative execution within the Office of the Vice Provost. The Executive Director leads the connection of arts entities across the Institute, facilitates community‑wide access to resources for art creation and engagement, and promotes the arts at MIT for faculty, students, staff, and the greater community.

The Executive Director will join MIT at an exciting moment of change and opportunity for the arts. With the completion of the Future of the Arts at MIT report in 2025, a comprehensive review of the arts at MIT was conducted along with the creation of an outline for a vision of the future of the arts and associated recommendations to consider. In February 2026, Vice Provost for the Arts Keeril Makan assumed his role with the goal of building upon the report to set a vision for MIT’s distinctive approach to the arts and to help ensure that artistic practice remains central to MIT’s intellectual and community life.

Reporting to the Vice Provost, the Executive Director serves as the senior leader responsible for implementation of the vision for the arts and translating aspirations to plans and operational goals. The role oversees the Office of the Arts and cultivates collaboration across the units reporting to the Vice Provost and arts activities throughout MIT. The Executive Director plays a key role in setting strategies and maintaining relationships that support and enhance the innovations and creativity of the MIT community.