ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1979, Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) provides pre-professional arts training and a rigorous college-prep curriculum to Baltimore-area students. It is one of the top five public arts schools in the country, founded in the ethos “Where the Arts Change Kids’ Lives.” BSA has a unique program that seeks to prepare the next generation of the creative workforce by providing inspiring arts and academic training to high school students. The school also gives opportunities in the arts to younger children and the greater community through its TWIGS and community outreach programs. A Baltimore arts institution, BSA is a dynamic environment where students pursue their artistic passions in disciplines like dance, film and visual storytelling, music, stage design and production, theatre, and the visual arts while receiving a high-quality education. 

Today, BSA serves 415 students enrolled across grades 9-12, and 700 additional children through TWIGS, a free after-school and Saturday arts program serving youth in grades 2-8. BSA is part of the Baltimore City Public School system though it has been granted certain autonomies, including a student admissions process that includes auditions in artistic disciplines. BSA alumni can be seen on Broadway and television, in films, in major galleries, and in dance companies. Others can be found analyzing stocks on Wall Street, working in well-respected hospitals, and running their own start-ups. For more information about Baltimore School for the Arts, please visit https://bsfa.org/. 

OPPORTUNITY

With the transition of long-time BSA faculty member and school leader Dr. Chris Ford, the school is seeking an experienced arts administrator and dynamic Executive Director to lead it into its next chapter. This individual will ensure the organization’s success in meeting its academic, artistic, school culture, fundraising, external relations and financial management goals. The Executive Director will be primarily responsible for supporting the senior management team and managing the progress of the school’s academic and artistic programs while also being the primary liaison between the school and its external audiences (including parents, the board, funders, chartering authorities, the surrounding community and arts program partners). This person also serves as a principal for the Baltimore City Public School system and is a BCPS full-time employee.  

The ideal Executive Director candidate will be an effective leader and experienced manager of managers with: an eye for recruiting and retaining high-quality talent; a passion for arts education; a deep commitment to diversity and social equity; the skill to ensure consistent, high-quality instructional practice throughout the school; the ability to foster relationships with a diverse array of constituents; and the ability to build and maintain high-functioning systems across a complex, multi-site organization. Excellent interpersonal and communications ability and experience working with similar communities to those that BSA serves are also essential to success in this role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director will be in charge of the day-to-day management of BSA, including:

• Leading the vision for BSA’s success, including ensuring that its artistic programs, academic instruction, school culture and climate, community engagement, and external partnerships are highly effective and tightly aligned to the school’s mission and goals;
• Managing senior staff and school leaders, acting not only as a supervisor but also as a coach and consensus builder, remaining deeply committed to the values of developing and bringing out the strengths of all of BSA’s people while also holding them accountable for their goals and desired outcomes;
• Serving as a BCPS principal, managing relationships with district leaders, coordinating with them on all issues including financial and programmatic oversight, compliance, and student affairs;
• Overseeing fundraising and partnering with the Foundation Board, Board of Trustees, BCPS leadership and funders to secure and allocate the resources necessary for BSA to continue to support the depth, breadth, and quality of its artistic and academic programs;
• Carrying the voice of BSA to the broader community, connecting personally with all stakeholders (students, staff, parents, and board members), and representing the school with district leaders, external partners, policymakers, funders, and other supporters. 

QUALIFICATIONS

In order to meet their responsibilities, the ideal Executive Director candidate will be:

• An accomplished, seasoned leader with a minimum of 10 years demonstrated success as a school-based administrator, nonprofit executive and/or senior manager in an education arts organization;
• Inspiring in their management style, with experience leading leaders, able to develop their people while also holding them accountable to measurable results;
• Passionate about arts education, believing in the promise of a highly developed program that blends arts and academics to help students reach their potential - experience as a working artist highly preferred;
• An exceptional relationship builder who can quickly gain the confidence of the board, parents, faculty/staff, and students;
• Familiar with fundraising and comfortable with building strong connections to individual donors, foundation leaders and others in the philanthropic community; 
• A passionate advocate for all students and families who has a commitment and the demonstrated ability to build a strong culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion at BSA;
• Knowledgeable about the academic and social emotional needs of students, especially those of different racial, linguistic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds;
• Skilled in strategic planning, project management, and organization, able to focus on big picture priorities while not losing sight of the details;
• Dynamic and versatile, able to engage a variety of individuals and speak in a clear, compelling, and authentic manner about the school’s goals and priorities;
• Adept and experienced at fundraising, especially in how to expand and diversify a donor base for a similar kind of nonprofit and/or school organization.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Baltimore School for the Arts offers a competitive salary range of $150,000-175,000 and a robust benefits package. More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://bit.ly/3evaFyv. For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Kevin Bryant at kbryant@edgilityconsulting.com or at 510.575.9635.

Baltimore School for the Arts is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.