The Foraker Group

Job Summary

Job Description

Fairbanks Arts Association (FAA) has served Interior Alaska through the arts since 1966, offering visual, literary, performing, and arts education programs. Based in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts in Alaskaland, we play a central leadership role in the arts community. FAA’s mission is to promote excellence in contemporary and traditional arts in Alaska’s Interior, grounded in values of respect and belonging that help us build a vibrant, healthy community in and through the arts. We aim to hire a highly skilled Executive Director to help us fulfill this mission.

Fairbanks Arts Association is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants on individual merit and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by law. FAA complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants who require an accommodation, auxiliary aid, or alternative communication format during the application or interview process may contact president@fairbanksarts.org.

Description 

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Fairbanks Arts Association’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The ED provides leadership informed by current trends in the arts and develops and implements the organization’s fundraising strategy. The position oversees staff hiring, supervision, and management and builds and maintains strong relationships with local community groups and organizational partners. The ED provides clear, effective communication and decisive leadership in carrying out the organization’s mission and priorities.

The ED provides day-to-day management, working jointly with the Board of Directors to maintain the systems and structure of FAA. As an exempt employee, the ED is expected to work whatever hours are necessary to meet the goals and deliverables of the role; hours may vary and occasionally exceed 40 hours per week during peak periods, board meetings, or community events without additional compensation. The ED has the autonomy to flex their daily schedule provided organizational goals, supervisory responsibilities, and time commitments are fully met. 

The Ideal Candidate

• Believes the arts are a public good and can articulate their value to donors, funders, partners, and the community
• Leads with integrity, transparency, and respect for the diverse communities and cultures that FAA’s stakeholders represent
• Builds trust across board, staff, volunteer, donor, and community relationships while staying accountable to FAA’s mission
• Uses feedback and evaluation to make decisions, acknowledges when an approach isn’t working, and adjusts responsibly
• Creates an environment where staff and volunteers can do excellent work, raise concerns, learn, and take initiative
• Remains composed and exercises sound judgment during unanticipated challenges, budget pressure, or organizational change

Work Environment & Schedule

This role is based at the Fairbanks Arts office in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts. As an exempt employee, the ED has flexibility in daily scheduling, but should expect regular evening and weekend hours to attend Board meetings, fundraising events, gallery openings, and other public programs — frequency varies with FAA’s event calendar. The role regularly requires representing Fairbanks Arts at partner venues and community locations across Fairbanks (and, on occasion, statewide or nationally), which vary in physical accessibility. Local travel is done using the employee’s own transportation; access to the office space requires ascending and descending two stairs. The role also routinely requires visiting FAA’s third-floor gallery space (accessible by stairs or elevator). 

Physical Demands

This is a largely sedentary role centered on a desk, computer, and phone, with regular in-person representation of the organization. Regular tasks include:

• Operating a computer, phone, and standard office equipment for extended periods
• Communicating with staff, board members, donors, artists, and the public by phone, email, and in person
• Preparing for and attending Board meetings, fundraising events, and public programs, including regular evening and weekend hours
• Ascending and descending stairs (or using the elevator, for the gallery) to access the third-floor gallery space and first-floor office space
• Setting up for and staffing events such as openings and fundraisers, occasionally moving materials weighing up to 20 pounds
• Representing Fairbanks Arts at community venues and off-site event spaces, which vary in physical accessibility (e.g., stairs, uneven terrain)
• Local and occasional statewide and national travel to donor, community, and partner meetings

Duties & Responsibilities

The ED’s duties fall within the framework of FAA’s vision, mission, and core values, as well as the organization’s Bylaws, and include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Management

The Executive Director is authorized to manage all personnel actions as directed by the Board of Directors and report them to the Board. It is the ED’s responsibility to plan and develop programs as funded by the funding agencies and approved by the Board of Directors. The ED will delegate tasks and responsibilities as needed. The main functions include:

1. Apply leadership and management principles related to nonprofits.
2. Maintain a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment that promotes mutual respect, enhances staff and volunteer productivity, and supports collaboration, teamwork, and accountability.
3. For a staff of between 5-8 full-time and part-time employees: provide staff supervision, support, and guidance in a manner that respects the dignity of each person.
4. Hire and discharge FAA personnel and contractors, as required, either directly or through designees from the Board of Directors.
5. Provide orientation and training for staff and volunteer leaders, including Board members.
6. Conduct employee goal setting and performance evaluations annually.
7. Comply with all local, state, and federal employment and equal opportunity laws and regulations, and sign and comply with FAA’s Conflict of Interest Policy annually.
8. Assist with technical requests for reading and writing grants, and provide professional development guidance for FAA’s member organizations and artists when requested.
9. Inform staff members and Board of Directors of program issues, changes, and accomplishments.
10. Resolve conflicts that arise in a timely and appropriate manner.
11. Maintain and supervise upkeep of all pertinent staff, operations, and program files — including FAA’s digital workspace (Airtable) as the key project and donor management platform — in accordance with the document retention and destruction policy.
12. Supervise and guide delivery of all programs to a high standard and in alignment with FAA’s goals, mission, and values. Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence through rigorous program evaluation, and track progress so that successes can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents.
13. Manage multiple multidisciplinary projects with excellent organizational and time-management skills, staying on identified deadlines.
14. Demonstrate commitment to accessibility and comply with applicable civil-rights and disability-access requirements in programs, employment, and communications.

Fiscal Management & Fundraising

1. Sign checks on behalf of the agency, with a second, authorized signature by a member of the Board of Directors required on all checks.
2. Administer and monitor grants, contracts, licenses, and permits — including agreements approved by the Board — to achieve the deliverables, outcomes, and compliance FAA needs for its continued financial and operational success.
3. Secure Board approval before drawing on FAA’s line of credit (up to $20,000), selling or donating FAA property or equipment, or accepting gifts that may incur liabilities to FAA.
4. Respond to funder and donor requests or questions as needed.
5. Monitor organizational budget, cash flow, transferring funds between accounts as necessary (within the parameters of fund designations).
6. Work with the bookkeeper to maintain accurate financial records.
7. Provide monthly financial updates to the Board Treasurer and attend quarterly Finance Committee meetings to report and discuss FAA’s financial activities.
8. Work with FAA’s accountant and bookkeeper to complete FAA’s required annual independent audit or financial review at the close of the fiscal year (July 1–June 30).
9. Expand ongoing fundraising and revenue-generating activities (membership, individual donations, corporate charitable giving, etc.) to support existing program operations, regional expansion, and growth of organizational investments (endowment).

Maintaining the Positive Positioning of the Organization with Key Stakeholders

1. Communicate the vision, mission, and core values of FAA through both writing and speech to staff, the nonprofit community, contributors, governmental entities, and the public at large, acting as a positive force in the community consistent with those values.
2. Engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures with a working knowledge of area cultural competencies, working professionally and diplomatically with patrons and diverse community groups.
3. Support the nonprofit community by collaborating with other organizations or agencies or serving on their board of directors, and actively engage and energize FAA’s volunteers, board members, committees, partnering organizations, and funders.
4. Serve as FAA’s spokesperson with the media.
5. Maintain timely communication with FAA donors and supporters to maintain and grow relationships.
6. Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web presence to external relations—to build a stronger brand.

Board Relations

1. Work with the President of the Board to establish Board of Directors’ meeting agendas and, when needed, call special Board meetings.
2. Maintain open, timely communication and an effective working relationship with FAA’s Board of Directors and its committees, providing counsel as appropriate.
3. Meet with the Board of Directors to communicate staff support needs and provide guidance to the Board of Directors; serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of each standing committee (including the Executive Committee) and as staff liaison to relevant subcommittees; propose and convene special (ad hoc) committees as needed.
4. Support planning and execution of FAA’s Annual Meeting, including preparation of reports, and propose amendments to FAA’s Bylaws for Board consideration as needed.
5. Ensure operations are consistent with Board policies and procedures, and regularly review existing policies, recommending updates to the Board as needed.

Skills and Qualifications

Required

• A bachelor’s degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, or a related field, AND 3+ years of senior management experience, preferably with a nonprofit
  • OR 5+ years of progressively responsible senior management experience, preferably with a nonprofit (relevant professional experience may substitute for a degree, year for year)
• 3+ years of organizational management experience that includes supervision of employees, management of a budget, and project management

Preferred

Documented experience or proficiency in the following areas:

• Fundraising 
• Working with or serving on a board of directors
• Grant writing and management
• Relational database and project-management platforms (FAA uses Airtable)
• Marketing, public relations, and public speaking
• Technology, including Google Workspace, QuickBooks, and website content management
• Human Resources Management
•  

Benefits*

• Flexible PTO accruing at 2 hours per 40 hours worked, increasing with tenure (usable for sick, personal, or vacation leave)
• Five floating paid holidays annually, following a favorable introductory performance review

*This position does not include health or retirement benefits at this time

How to Apply

Submit the following materials to president@fairbanksarts.org:

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position and how you would contribute to Fairbanks Arts Association as Executive Director
• A current résumé
• Contact information for three professional references, including your most recent supervisor

All applicants will receive a status update after the Board completes its initial review of submissions. Applicants invited for an interview may be asked to provide samples of their writing or other supplemental materials that illustrate their qualifications.