EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THOMAS H. BOWLUS FINE ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER

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1 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THOMAS H. BOWLUS FINE ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER The mission of the is to enhance the life of the regional community by nurturing a love of the arts; generating cultural and economic vitality; and providing spaces to experience and create educational, entertaining, and innovative live performances. The Bowlus Fi ne Arts and Cultural Center (BFACC) is an arts and cultural center located in southeast Kansas. Founded in 1964 through the will of Thomas H. Bowlus, the BFACC is a testamentary charitable trust, a 501(c)3, nonprofit, and the oldest fine arts center in Kansas. The citizens and students of the area are the designated beneficiaries of the Bowlus Trust. The BFACC Trustee is the Board of Education (BOE) for Unified School District (USD) 257. The BFACC serves as the Allen County Arts Agency. The BFACC facility consists of a 40,000 square foot building with an education wing and auditorium with a seating capacity of 732. The education wing includes an art gallery, recital hall and several classrooms, large and small rehearsal halls, practice rooms, staff and teachers offices, and storage areas. A $1.2 million fine arts plaza addition is nearing completion. This capital improvement and many others were primarily funded with the help of the Friends of the Bowlus, Incorporated (FOB), a separate 501(c)3 whose main purpose is to support the needs of the BFACC. The FOB has spent over $2.2 million on BFACC improvement projects since it was established in BFACC recognizes that the arts are changing and there is opportunity for growth and change in the years to come. As the BFACC enters this transformational period, an with vision for the future is desired. THE POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION This is an 11-month position from February through December. Reporting to the BFACC Trustee and working directly with the Bowlus Commission, which is an advisory board to the Trustee, the (ED) is charged with providing engaged entrepreneurial leadership and with representing the BFACC to the community at large. The ED is responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic artistic vision, programming, and planning. The ED is responsible for Page 1

2 effective administration and management of all facets of the BFACC organization and facilities. The ED will lead the BFACC s Commission, staff, and stakeholders to carry out the mission, expanding the scope and reach of its programming in a financially stable and sustainable way. The ED s responsibilities include fundraising, strategic planning, and operational, financial, and administrative management of the organization. The ED will lead and coordinate the fine arts programming with the Cultural Attractions Committee and the educational programming with the Educational Enhancement Committee of the BFACC. The ED will work closely with the investment management firm to oversee all financial investments including the balance of the Bowlus Trust corpus, endowment funds, and bequests. Specific responsibilities include the following: Artistic and Program Leadership: The ED demonstrates a fluency in and passion for all aspects of the fine arts and provides leadership in innovative and creative development of the BFACC s cultural and educational programming. The ED ensures the opportunity for integration of all programming across all aspects of the fine arts. Planning, Administrative Management, and Leadership: The ED works with the BFACC s Commission to create and regularly review a strategic plan as well as sound multi-year operational management of the BFACC for implementing best practices and the highest quality of operational and professional management. The applicant is responsible for management of the day-to-day operations, including all administrative, human resources, financial, operations, and facilities management. Fundraising and External Relations: Working closely with the Trustee, the Commission, and the FOB Board, the ED is responsible for and oversees fundraising and membership activities. It is vital that the ED provides a consistent management role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting memberships and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, the public sector, and other sources. The ED is expected to build and maintain a high degree of community visibility, serving as chief spokesperson for the BFACC. The applicant will be expected to strengthen existing community partnerships and donor relationships while cultivating new partnerships and developing new sources of funding for operations and programming. The ED will ensure the successful and cohesive marketing and branding of the BFACC. The ED ensures an organizational culture characterized by commitment to the mission, creative risk taking, professionalism, quality customer/visitor service, and fiscal responsibility and discipline. The successful candidate will coalesce the staff, Commission, and Trustee around institution building and teamwork across all disciplines and special interests. Page 2

3 The directly supervises five (5) employees: Facilities Manager/Technical Director, Assistant Technical Director, Finance Director/Assistant Projects Director, and Maintenance staff (2). The total budget for the fiscal year 2018 is approximately $700,000. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS The ideal candidate will demonstrate vision, leadership, and a deep-rooted passion for the fine arts and for furthering a broad engagement between the arts and the communities the BFACC serves. The successful candidate must invest in realizing the mission and achieving the goals of the institution. Strategic thinking and a business orientation must be combined with innovation and creativity. The successful candidate should possess exceptional organizational, administrative, and financial management skills and be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. The ED will be an astute problem solver and be well versed in implementing nonprofit management best practices with a tactical focus and an eye on details and efficiency. The candidate should have the ability to think strategically, generate new ideas, plan, set goals and objectives, as well as implement and follow through on these goals. This will be vital as the new leads BFACC into the future. Exceptional written, oral, and presentation skills are critically important to the success of the BFACC s ED, who plays a critical role in leveraging board contacts and relationships to build and strengthen community relationships. The applicant should not only possess strong personal communications skills, but also demonstrate skill and enthusiasm for working with donors. The ED must demonstrate the ability to create an institutional culture that nurtures teamwork with open and direct communication. The applicant must be an inclusive leader and decision-maker who can instill a high level of accountability in team-based decision-making. As such, the ED should be diplomatic as well as decisive, and be able to accomplish goals through motivation and delegation, and through systems that are designed for effective planning, evaluation, and accountability. Because the staff is small, the ED must also be comfortable being a hands-on leader. She/he should have a strong work ethic, self-initiative, a good sense of humor, a high energy level, and a sincere sense of dedication to and enthusiasm for the mission of the BFACC. CAREER PATH The ED should have a record of experience that demonstrates leadership in the management of dynamic organizations. Although the successful candidate will most likely have solid experience in the management of performing arts, or cultural festival Page 3

4 organizations, it is also possible that the individual might come from another career background in the nonprofit, for profit, or public sectors. Successful experience in general and financial management, as well as in fundraising, strategic planning, and program development and coordination is also important. Experience that demonstrates the ability to conceptualize, plan, implement, administer, evaluate, and develop resources is essential. A career path that has demonstrated success in creative visioning while building and leading stable organizations rooted in sustainability is desirable. It is preferred that candidates have successful experience in board and volunteer relations. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Strong consideration will be given to candidates with a bachelor s degree or higher in theater, arts management, and business or a related field. A master s degree is preferred. The candidate must have the ability to: Develop strong working relationships with the stakeholders of the BFACC. Consider in a timely manner the activities to be undertaken in order to achieve goals. Have knowledge of: effective management principles, personnel management, theater management, box office management, arts programming, fundraising, accounting principles, budgeting, backstage management, and marketing. Effectively negotiate contracts. Prepare and administer budgets. Work effectively with the Trustee, Bowlus Commission, and staff. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agents, managers and general public. Exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact with staff and public. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Work a variety of hours including evenings and weekends. COMPENSATION The salary range for the position is $55,000 to $75,000 per year. In addition, the following benefits are provided: Health Insurance: The BFACC contributes toward health insurance based on what is provided annually by Unified School District 257. Annual Vacation: 15 days per year are available. Personal Days: 2 personal days are provided in a contract year. Page 4

5 Sick Leave: 1 day of sick leave per month with the ability to accumulate up to 90 or as per USD 257 policy. Cell Phone Allowance: $240 every six months is paid to employee. Life Insurance: A policy that is one and a half times the annual salary is provided. Retirement Plan: The Bowlus contributes toward the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). 125 Cafeteria Plan: Employees may sign up for 403b Retirement Plan, Dental and Vision Insurance deducted from pre-tax dollar wages. APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE A comparative review and evaluation of all applications will be conducted by a screening committee. Those candidates possessing the most desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in the initial interview process. Selected finalists will be invited to onsite interviews and/or other assessments designed to predict successful job performance. Contact Susan Raines at (620) if you have any questions. To be considered for this position, a BFACC application is required. Obtain application materials at bowluscenter.org/exdir.application or by request from: 205 East Madison Avenue Iola KS (620) bowlus@bowluscenter.org APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11 MAY 2018 OPEN UNTIL FILLED Page 5