EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


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OVERVIEW

The Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center seeks an innovative and experienced leader to take the highly regarded, established non-profit organization and its world-class staff to a bold, new level.

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The Executive Director actively promotes the importance of conservation and preservation of cultural and historical objects, contributes to and advocates for excellence in the field, and maintains the high quality of services for which the organization is known. They also promote W+AACC’s profile as a unique educational resource for the surrounding communities and institutes of higher learning, and work to advance the reciprocal contributions that scholastic and conservation organizations offer toward training and excellence in both arenas. They are a pragmatic visionary and bridge-builder who will grow W+AACC’s membership organization and client base. They will sustainably expand the organization’s impact and network within its supportive local arts communities and beyond.

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The ideal candidate possesses excellent people skills, financial acumen, proven fundraising and strategic thinking abilities, and is invested in furthering the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.

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POSITION DETAILS

Based in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and requiring frequent, regular travel, this salaried, full-time position is responsible for the vision, strategy, and financial health of the overall organization and the programming, operations, facilities, and staff at both the Williamstown and Atlanta locations. The position reports to the Board of Trustees. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes a competitive benefits package.

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CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Leadership

  • Serve as the face of the organization.
  • Activate and follow through with an overarching vision for the future.
  • Lead, manage, inspire, and motivate staff in both centers, including pre-program interns. Oversee and ensure a positive organizational culture.
  • Establish and maintain a connection to, and deeper interaction with, regional and national communities.
  • Embrace and promote the possibilities presented by technology.
  • Within the first year, and in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, develop a long-range strategy and tactical plan that ensures fiscal stability while allowing the organization to fulfill its core mission.

Operations

  • Manage facilities, including collaborating with the Clark Art Institute and the High Museum of Art on mutually beneficial rental terms for the Williamstown and Atlanta lab spaces.
  • Oversee all Human Resources matters, including staff performance management and salaries. Within the first year, the Executive Director will need to consider the Director of Operations role, a position that will open due to an upcoming retirement.
  • Oversee and manage all budgets in partnership with the Board Finance Committee.Within the first year, the Executive Director will need to analyze and modify the current business model to balance the transactional with the inspirational.
  • Manage Board and staff relations.
  • Evaluate existing contracts, policies and procedures, and make modifications to improve operations, workflow and budget impact.

Program and Engagement

  • Develop sustainable programs and initiatives that advance the educational mission to train, mentor, and inspire the next generation of conservators.
  • Develop opportunities and initiatives for member institutions and individuals that highlight conservation work.
  • Collaborate with curators, collectors, and educators on projects and initiatives that help advance the field of conservation.
  • Interact with the public, introducing them to the discipline and teaching them about the value of conserving and preserving objects of artistic, historical, and cultural significance.

External Affairs

  • Establish and foster engagement with member institutions and private clients.
  • Build upon the ongoing relationships with the Clark Art Institute and Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown, and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
  • Proactively travel to support relationships with existing partners and clients, and find and develop new partnerships, engagement, and fundraising opportunities.
  • Raise the overall visibility of the organization through marketing initiatives,
    programming, and professional and public outreach.
  • Establish a vital fundraising program to support the organization’s work.
  • Keep abreast of new research and developments in conservation and preservation.
  • Work to develop the organization’s reputation in local, national, and international arts communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Proven leadership and management skills.
  • Vision and the ability to execute that vision sustainably. Creative and expansive thinking, unafraid of innovative ideas with the ability to nurture those ideas and bring them to fulfillment.
  • Ability to understand, create and manage budgets.
  • Proven fundraising experience, including the ability to raise funds creatively and obtain grants to support mission-focused work.
  • Excellent communicator, team builder, and motivator. Able to relate well to and enjoy interacting with anyone and everyone inside and outside the organization, the conservation field, and the art world, including staff, Board members, collectors, museum and gallery professionals, donors, artists, scholars, academic partners, students, and the public.
  • Advanced degree in art conservation, art history, or related field and at least seven years of experience in a museum or similar environment caring for collections of notable quality, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
  • Demonstrated skills in, or proven understanding of, a wide range of conservation methods and familiarity with various scientific and technical analyses.
  • Invested in furthering the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
  • Commitment and ability to maintain W+AACC’s reputation for providing the highest quality conservation services while ensuring that the organization’s reputation is reflected in those services.
  • Strong desire to serve the organization and partner with staff and external stakeholders.
  • Diplomatic, tactful, and transparent

Preferred

  • Proven academic prowess with solid connections to the art world.
  • Familiarity and appreciation of art in all media, and from a range of cultures and eras.
  • Experience working with populations diverse in background, age, learning styles, and abilities, and creating accessible and inclusive programs.
  • Fluency and interest in using digital technologies to benefit the organization and its constituents.
  • Arts advocacy experience.

 

CONNECT 

Please send nominations, inquiries and expressions of interest to [email protected]. To apply, please submit the following as a single PDF document by August 12, 2022.

    • Letter of interest that speaks directly to the applicant’s required and preferred qualifications.
    • Résumé or curriculum vitae.

The Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to affirmative action under law in the employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. Additionally, in accordance with federal, Massachusetts and Georgia laws, W+AACC does not discriminate in programming or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, a veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

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W+AACC is a tobacco and drug-free workplace and has a COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirement for all staff. All offers are contingent upon the fulfillment of this requirement.

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For more information about the organization, please visit: www.williamstownart.org.