Executive Director

The Polk Arts Alliance is seeking a part-time Executive Director who will provide overall strategic and operational management of this non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. This position is appointed by and reports to the Board of Directors of the Polk Arts Alliance.

OVERVIEW:
The Polk Arts Alliance seeks an individual with demonstrated success leading a cultural non-profit, strong marketing, communication, and public relation skills, fundraising and institutional capacity-building experience, and a great desire to serve the creative industry partners and constituents in Polk County, Florida.

The executive director executes the mission of the Polk Arts Alliance, which is to cultivate an environment for the arts to flourish through advocacy, collaboration, economic development, education and promotion.

The executive director is the chief resource and advocate for the creative industry, and art and cultural organizations across Polk County.

The executive director provides leadership for Polk Arts Alliance staff, volunteers and cultural arts members, leads the creation and distribution of Polk Arts Alliance signature magazine, Art-i-Facts, and evaluates the success of the organizational initiatives.

THE POLK ARTS ALLIANCE:
Established in 2004, Polk Arts Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the designated local arts agency for Polk County, Florida, and recognized as such by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. The Polk Arts Alliance is essentially the “chamber for the arts” and represents area arts and cultural interests to agencies, governments and the business community on a local and state level – promoting Polk County as a “destination for the arts” in Central Florida.

According to data from the most recent cultural partners survey in the summer of 2021, the Polk Arts Alliance’s five most important activities are:

• Advocating to promote arts and culture in Polk County
• Working with county and state leaders to secure arts and culture funding
• Marketing and promotion of arts and cultural activities in Polk County
• Gathering and communicating the economic impact of arts and culture in Polk County
• Networking/learning opportunities for cultural colleagues

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
General Leadership and Management: The executive director is the chief administrator for the Polk Arts Alliance, who works to meet best practices, transparency, and leadership.

• Maintain high quality financial oversight of the organization
• Maintain and support a strong Board of Directors and serve as ex-officio of each sub-committee
• Lead and seek board involvement in initiatives and fundraising
• Directly supervise staff

Budgeting & Finance: The executive director provides overall financial leadership for the budget, fundraising, and accounting controls, and works with donors, members, and grantors to diversify revenue sources for the organization.

• Prepare the annual budget for board approval.
• Develop and implement a fundraising plan to diversify revenue sources including, but not limited to membership, Art-i-facts magazine advertising, license plate contributions, grants, other corporate and individual contributions.
• Monitor expenses and revenues, and provide monthly reports to the board of directors.
• Oversee daily operations, activities, and staff.
• Evaluate and report financial outcomes annually.

Advocacy: The executive director builds relationships to create greater awareness of arts and culture in Polk County.

• Work closely with Visit Central Florida’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee, and Polk County’s Tourist Development Council to ensure continued funding and fair process for cultural grants.
• Align annual lobbying efforts with Florida’s Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture cultural grant funding needs.
• Identify and maintain working relationships with key partners at community, county, regional, and municipal sectors to promote arts and culture.
• Establish partnership programs with the public and private sectors that promote and create awareness of arts and culture in Polk County.
• Identify opportunities for advocacy and make recommendations to the board of directors.

Marketing and Community Relations: The executive director is the public face of the Polk Arts Alliance.

• Serve as spokesperson for the organization to clearly articulate the mission the organization to the public, media, donors, partners, and all key stakeholders.
• Create and build a comprehensive marketing and communications plan for the Polk Arts Alliance, with the Art-i-facts Magazine as its anchor product.
• Maintain a robust and responsive website
• Attend and speak publicly at events and meetings to communicate arts and culture needs, share culture partner activities and achievements, and educate the public about the economic impact and quality of life arts and culture contribute to Polk County.
• Build relationships with the cultural arts partner organizations, local and state legislators, corporate contributors, and creative industry partners
• Select, recognize, and induct annual Polk Artist’s Hall of Fame awardees at the annual event.

The successful candidate will possess the following abilities and qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred candidates should have a passion for arts and culture in Polk County, the ability to establish relationships with the public and private sectors, excellent communication skills, the ability to conduct strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, and financial budgeting experience, be flexible, collaborative, and ability to work with a wide variety of audiences from multicultural and social backgrounds, be comfortable with Microsoft Office and web-based technologies.

REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s Degree required in management, cultural arts, business, marketing, or other degree with applicable experience in cultural organizational management. Minimum 3-5 years of experience working in cultural organizational management, marketing, business or like setting. Experience working with a board of directors, marketing and communication, fundraising, financial budgeting, and local and state legislators. Knowledge of arts and cultural management best practices, policies, and procedures. Proficiency in public speaking and communications, and the ability to work independently, take direction, and take initiative are crucial. Interest in arts and culture standards, trends, and emerging technologies in the cultural field. Valid driver’s license or other official government identification.

COMPENSATION AND SCHEDULE:

$30,000 – $35,000 annual salary

20-25 hours per week

This position works remotely, and travel is required to meetings and events.

Send cover letter and resume to the Search Committee at recruitment@polkarts.org.  Resumes accepted until Friday, December 17, 2021.