Career Center

Idyllwild Arts

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Executive Director, Center for Creativity and Social Entrepreneurship

Idyllwild Arts Foundation was founded in 1946. The arts institution started as a Summer Program for learners of all ages. In 1986, Idyllwild Arts Academy was founded as an independent, residential arts high school, located in Idyllwild, California. The school serves 300 students from approximately 35 countries and provides pre-professional training in the arts and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum.

In 2021, the Board of Trustees adopted a new Strategic Impact Plan and articulated the vision for Idyllwild Arts to become the most dynamic arts community in the nation. Included in the plan is to launch three new entities of Idyllwild Arts Foundation: The Center for Creativity and Social Entrepreneurship, The Institute for Teaching and Learning, and The Native American Arts Center.

Idyllwild is a small town located at over 5,000 feet on the western slopes of California's San Jacinto Mountains. Even though it seems far from the hustle and bustle of city life, the town and campus frequently hosts music festivals, prominent speakers and artists, and community events. The campus is only two hours by car from Los Angeles and San Diego.

OPPORTUNITY: Executive Director

Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Center for Creativity and Social Entrepreneurship

REPORTS TO: President

STATUS: Full Time - Exempt

Idyllwild Arts Foundation (IAF) is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to adapt and implement plans for the Center for Creativity and Social Entrepreneurship (CCSE).

The CCSE builds skills of creativity and innovation, activates an entrepreneurial mindset, and prepares students to be environmentally conscious and socially responsible. The CCSE is for students ages 12-18.

IAF has more than seven decades of expertise in cultivating citizen artists, creating a global network of partners, and providing an innovative curriculum and approach. The CCSE will extend IAF's mission to change lives through the transformative power of the art beyond its current physical location.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The ED will exemplify IAF's core values, advance the school's Strategic Impact Plan, create and oversee an emerging annual budget, and ensure that IAF achieves its short and long term goals for enrollment and revenue. The ED reports directly to the President of Idyllwild Arts Foundation.

Essential duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Create online and in-person arts programming for students in the United States and abroad.
• Lead, inspire, and motivate the teachers and staff to provide the highest quality arts programming intended to complement one's traditional education or serve as a gateway to enrollment in IAF's summer camp and/or Academy.
• Recruit, hire, oversee, and retain a team of talented teaching artists.
• Build a strong virtual and in-person workplace culture that fosters retention, builds accountability and trust, and inspires professional learning in online education.
• Establish a vision for the staffing model and work streams, and implement this over time, to increase efficiencies and continue to increase the school's use of technology.
• Oversee and update CCSE policies and procedures as needed.
• Guide the delivery of high-quality programming to meet and exceed key impact measures inclusive of expanding IAF's reach, nationally and internationally.
• Collaborate with members of the Advancement team to grow the fundraising portfolio by:
  • Ensuring grant/gift deliverables are on-time and high-quality, resulting in strong donation renewals and upgrades;
  • Leading the implementation of a development plan that secures renewal, lapsed, and new individual and foundation contributions;
  • Participating in strategic prospect research, pitch creation, proposal writing, and relationship-building.
• Grow earned income by effectively compelling K-12 leaders-school-level administrators -to invest in CCSE programming.
• Build strategic partnerships across the community and raise IAF's visibility.
• Supervise the development and implementation of operations-based financial modeling and lead accountability efforts by:
  • Operating within the departmental budget.
  • Adhering to accounting policies and procedures
  • Providing timely and accurate information, including analyzing and reporting on business results, variances, and performance trends.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; relevant advanced degree and/or experience preferred.
• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in arts education or related industry
• Knowledge of middle and high school program delivery, and key educational technology.
• Significant experience delivering arts programs with a proven track record of programmatic growth, preferably in the 9-12 educational market.
• Proven leadership, communication, and team building skills; highly developed ability to prepare written communications and proposals.
• A team player who can work well across the organization on complex issues.
• Obtain and maintain a valid California Driver License, pass a criminal history background check as required by California Education Code Section 44237, and pass a TB test.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This is a full-time position with a flexible, virtually based structure in Southern California.
• The position may require some travel regionally, nationally and internationally.

PHYSICAL/ SENSORY DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this position an incumbent may be required to:

• Regularly remain sedentary for long periods of time in meetings and while processing information and paper work both manually and on a computer;
• Reach with hands and arms and use of hands to finger, type, and manipulate a computer keyboard and mouse;
• Converse in clear English both written and orally, over a telephone, teleconferencing and in person.;
• Make public presentations;
• Occasionally, incumbent may be required to lift up to 25 pounds;
• Traverse uneven terrain and climb stairs while moving about campus;
• Bend and stoop;
• Conduct tours and show visitors campus facilities;
• Provide their own transportation for campus and regional events;
• Work varying hours, including days, nights, and weekends and some holidays.

Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Idyllwild Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer