About this opportunity
Voices Boston lists this Executive Director opportunity in brookline, Massachusetts. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
About the Role
BAC is a visual arts center dedicated to bringing the community meaningful experiences in the arts through classes, exhibitions, outreach, and community programs.
The BAC’s core offerings are our classes, which run year-round and have options in a variety of visual arts across all age groups. In addition to weekly courses, the BAC also offers one-time workshops and vacation programming for kids during school holidays. To aid in this effort, the BAC typically employs twenty experienced faculty and a core three-person administrative team reporting to the Executive Director.
In addition to classes, the BAC also has a small gallery space dedicated to showcasing art from students, staff, local artists, and more that is free and open to the public, and the BAC regularly hosts community events highlighting our programs and celebrating the work on show at the gallery.
For more than 60 years, BAC has served people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Brookline and Greater Boston. The Brookline Arts Center offers financial aid to those who qualify, and we strive to provide assistance to the fullest extent our budget allows. Through our Artreach community programs, the Brookline Arts Center also works to extend arts education and creative opportunities beyond our walls, partnering with and serving members of the broader community.
We are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and financially astute leader with demonstrated experience managing budgets, monitoring cash flow and financial performance, building sound operating systems, and making disciplined decisions about organizational priorities. The successful candidate will bring a track record of careful resource stewardship, transparent communication, and practical leadership through changing circumstances.
The ideal candidate sets clear priorities, builds accountability, and supports the staff and faculty who deliver excellent classes, programs, and community experiences. They are a thoughtful manager, an effective partner to a governing board, and a confident ambassador to donors, families, teaching artists, funders, and community partners.
Experience in the arts sector is desirable but not required. We welcome candidates from nonprofit, education, community-based, cultural, or mission-driven organizations who are energized by BAC’s commitment to accessible, high-quality arts education and prepared to learn the particular opportunities and needs of a community arts center.
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, partnering on governance and strategy while leading day-to-day execution.
Qualifications
Financial Leadership & Stewardship
Lead annual budget development and management with the Board, Treasurer, and accountant
Maintain oversight of revenue, expenses, cash flow, and overall financial performance
Regularly review budget-to-actual performance and use financial indicators to inform decisions
Ensure sound financial controls, policies, and reporting systems
Manage relationships with the accountant, bookkeeper, payroll providers, and banking institutions
Oversee accounts payable, contracts, tax filings, and audits
Provide the Board with clear, timely, and accurate financial information and communicate emerging challenges with transparency and a solutions-oriented approach
Strategic Leadership & Programs
Set strategic vision and direction for BAC’s program portfolio
Evaluate classes, workshops, exhibitions, residencies, and events based on mission impact, financial sustainability, community value, and staff capacity
Ensure programming is scaled appropriately to staffing and resources, and delivered at a consistently high level
Partner with program staff and faculty to strengthen enrollment, educational quality, and participant experience
Use enrollment trends, pricing, and program performance data to guide decisions and identify and implement growth opportunities
Ensure new initiatives have clear strategic purpose and adequate resources before launch
Operations & Systems
Maintain and improve organizational systems (registration, scheduling, CRM) for efficiency and strong customer service
Clarify staff responsibilities, decision-making authority, and accountability
Establish effective processes across programs, marketing, finance, facilities, and administration
Maintain a current Operating Manual and strong onboarding/transition systems
Proactively identify and address operational gaps
People & Culture
Recruit and retain excellent teaching artist faculty and staff, leading hiring, onboarding, professional development, and staff transitions, ensuring roles are thoughtfully designed and responsibilities appropriately assigned
Supervise and support staff and faculty, setting clear goals and holding high standards while remaining warm and invested in their growth with regular check-ins and effective performance management
Foster a healthy, collaborative, accountable workplace culture; address personnel issues promptly
Oversee payroll, benefits, and compliant employment practices (policies, handbooks, records), partnering with a bookkeeper or outside support as needed
Development & Fundraising
Lead fundraising strategy and contributed-revenue goals in partnership with the Board
Cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners
Oversee donor stewardship, annual campaigns, and fundraising events
Lead grant research, applications, and reporting
Ensure fundraising initiatives align with mission, capacity, and financial priorities
Community & External Relations
Build relationships with schools, businesses, arts organizations, funders, and community partners
Strengthen BAC’s presence within the local arts and education community
Identify partnerships that advance BAC’s mission and strategic priorities
Oversee external communications and marketing strategy
Facilities & Risk Management
Maintain executive-level oversight of building safety, maintenance, and repairs
Ensure staff, vendors, and systems address routine and urgent facilities needs
Oversee safety, emergency preparedness, insurance, and risk-management practices
Oversee major facilities projects and capital decisions
Governance & Board Partnership
Report to the Board of Directors, partnering on governance and strategy while leading operational execution
Communicate transparently and proactively, fostering trust and shared ownership
Act as a co-steward of the mission alongside the Board, keeping programs, finances, and strategy aligned with core purpose
What We're Looking For
Senior leadership experience in nonprofit, arts, education, or community-based organizations
Demonstrated financial-management and stewardship experience, including ownership of organizational or departmental budgets, forecasting, cash-flow management, financial reporting, and budget-to-actual decision-making.
A record of making sound, mission-aligned decisions about spending, staffing, program investment, and organizational priorities.
Experience managing and developing staff and building effective teams
Strong operations and systems-thinking ability, driven by an entrepreneurial and proactive mindset and experience building effective operational systems, improving processes, and translating strategy into clear priorities, accountability, and execution.
Fundraising experience, including donor cultivation and grants
Excellent judgment and decision-making
Strong written and verbal communication with a variety of audiences; a direct communicator who holds high standards with warmth
Ability to prioritize within a small organization's limited capacity; demonstrated ability to flex and problem-solve as needed
Genuine passion for arts education and equity-centered programming; experience with a nonprofit Board and/or the BAC community is a plus
Compensation
Salary of $80,000-$95,000, depending on experience; 100% medical and dental coverage; three weeks of vacation time, plus winter break and State recognized holidays.
The BAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. The BAC does not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disability or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
The BAC is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic workforce committed to working in a multicultural environment. Qualified candidates from groups historically underrepresented in the arts are strongly encouraged to apply.
Hours
Full-time (40 hours/week) with some weekend work required.
Apply by
October 06, 2026
Salary
$80,000 - $95,000 / Per year
About this Organization
We are a visual arts center committed to bringing the community meaningful experiences in the arts through classes, exhibitions and outreach.
Homepage banner image: Detail of glassworks by Carrie Gustafson (Mass Cultural Council Crafts Fellow 2011).
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Worksite address
brookline, MA, 02445, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.