THE HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, INC.
The Harlem School of the Arts, Inc. (HSA) is a premier not-for-profit arts institution, located in the heart of historic Hamilton Heights in Harlem and with a rich cultural heritage dating back to the halcyon days of the Harlem Renaissance. Its board of directors, administration and faculty have reflected a multicultural dynamic since its inception, as manifested by such illustrious former Board members as Langston Hughes, Agnes DeMille, Ralph Ellison and Mary Rodgers Guettel, and a faculty that has included distinguished artists Max Roach, Arthur Mitchell, Yo Yo Ma, and Daniel Bernard Roumain, among others. Our faculty always has been and continues to be comprised of arts professionals who possess extensive performing and exhibition credentials, and expertise in motivating and encouraging students to challenge themselves and fully develop their talents.

HSA’s core mission is to enrich the lives of youth and their families in the Harlem community and beyond through training in, and exposure to, the arts. HSA's programs recognize both the intrinsic value of the arts in everyday life, and the ways in which arts education enhances academic achievement by developing self-confidence, discipline and learning skills in young adults.

In furtherance of this mission, the School serves over 3,000 students annually, of ethnically and socio-economically diverse backgrounds, in four core artistic disciplines: dance, music, theater and the visual arts. Since our founding in 1964 by soprano Dorothy Maynor, almost 80,000 children and young adults have benefited from the education and training in these disciplines that we offer year-round at our St. Nicholas Avenue main facility, the HSA Theater and, during the school year, in the New York City public schools.

HSA is committed to meeting the challenges of the 21st century by expanding its programs to ensure that HSA students have access to new methodologies in arts education and cutting-edge technology in today's information-driven global society. Through HSA's numerous partnerships and artists-in-residence programs, the School has also become a cultural destination in Harlem, presenting theatrical, musical and dance productions and visual arts exhibitions in its "G-Space Gallery.”

Reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board, The Harlem School of the Arts has an immediate full-time opportunity for a President & CEO. We seek a leader who has the ability to enhance the artistic and creative excellence of the School; to expand the visibility of HSA; and to grow the range and depth of the School’s supporters. The new CEO will need to possess the skills and experience to work with the Board, the leadership team and staff in a collaborative manner to execute against these responsibilities. The CEO will provide the leadership and strategy for HSA, ensuring that the organization is fiscally sound and that its programs, fundraising and other activities and operations are both efficient and effective, and support and enable HSA’s artistic excellence. The primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Provide collaborative leadership and direction toward achievement of the organization's mission and vision; and artistic and creative excellence

In collaboration with the Board Chairman, enables the Board to fulfill its governance functions

Lead the strategic planning process and incorporates the strategic goals and objectives into the organizational plan

Assure that the organization, its mission, program and services are consistently presented with a strong positive image to relevant stake holders

Cultivate and develop donors and external partnerships, and increases funding levels

Is a role model and instills the values of the organization when interacting with the School’s senior leadership team, staff and all other constituencies

Major Functions, Accountabilities, Key Skills and Attributes:

Board Relations

Develops a strong working relationship and partnership with the Chairman of the Board, the Board and the Board’s committees; gain the Board members’ trust and confidence in order to make effective use of their talents; regularly brief them on the status of the School with transparency

Assists in the ongoing effort to recruit new Board members whose talents, commitment and contacts are complimentary to the needs and mission of HSA

Assists in orientation of new Board members

Working with the Board, leads the strategic planning process

Fundraising

Oversees the establishment and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that increases fundraising activities, with a focus both on events serving to raise funds for the annual operating budget and long-term building of endowment funds

Ensures that the major annual benefit is smoothly and cost effectively implemented; while also implementing ways to increase revenue and/or reduce event cost in order to maximize net proceeds

Creates new special events or activities that raise HSA’s visibility and funding

Develops, nurtures and cultivates targeted corporate, foundation and major individual donor relationships that support HSA’s mission; and

Engages the Parents Association leadership in support of the foregoing objectives

Organizational Leadership

Provides motivational and collaborative leadership to the senior leadership team and staff to continuously enhance the artistic level and the operations of the School

Achieves superior results consistently; takes the initiative and has the energy, creativity and flexibility needed to produce large amounts of outstanding work in a short time frame and motivate staff to do so as well

Adept at translating strategy into tactics, and then setting them in motion. Sets clear goals, gives direct reports the resources they need, them holds them accountable for achieving objectives. In setting priorities, can clearly distinguish the merely important from the truly essential

Gives subordinates sufficient authority and resources to make and implement significant decisions within their areas of responsibility. Structures work in a clear, concise manner while still providing sufficient room for individual initiative. Empowers direct reports to run their respective operations while personally maintaining appropriate contact with the front line

Is an adept, inclusive, and sensitive leader in a multi-cultural environment with respect to students; parents, the community and supporters; and with respect to the School’s arts education

Understands "how the place works" and the most effective ways to get things done. Demonstrates political "savvy" and an awareness of when enterprise priorities have to take precedence over individual or group interests

External Perspective

Connects well and builds productive relationships with relevant constituencies – parents, students, funders, elected officials and other policy makers, the press, community leaders, the Board, employees and other interest groups. Seeks opportunities to represent the School and its leadership in order to develop positive relationships with important stakeholders

Constantly looks at the School’s programs and operations from the outside-in, based upon a clear understanding of preferences, interests, and decision-making criteria of parents, students, funders, elected officials and other policy makers, the press, community leaders, the board, employees and other interest groups. Can walk in the shoes of our stakeholders and speak their language; ensures that their perspective is fully considered in the course of all relevant program- and other operations-related decisions

Demonstrates knowledge of key developments in the larger business, political and social arenas that will affect the business in a significant manner; demonstrates the ability to integrate this knowledge to shape the vision and direction of HSA

Communication Skills

Is an outstanding communicator who is able to convey intelligently and dynamically the mission and activities of HSA to reinforce and build positive and greater understanding of its programs; becomes an active advocate for the School to the educational, arts, humanities and other relevant non-profit communities, and media and potential funding sources

Ideal Experience

The CEO should have the following experience and qualifications:

As a senior leader, proven problem solving, planning and fiscal capability as well as ability to motivate and lead the staff

A solid track record in creating and implementing fundraising strategies, particularly corporate or non-profit marketing and sponsorships

Demonstrated professional and or personal commitment to and experience in the arts, humanities, education and or youth-focused service

Understands and fully appreciates the power of communication as a leadership tool and has strong communication skills, the ability to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally, for both formal and extemporaneous presentations; places a priority on personally maintaining timely, candid and interactive communication, both formal and informal for targeted audiences

Experience working collaboratively in an organization with limited resources