Position Description

Executive Director

Department:   Administration

Reports to:  Chair, Board of Trustees   

Summary:

Building on the strong foundation put in place over the past several years, the new Executive Director enters at an exciting time for the Museum. Opportunities to expand and leverage the Museum’s visibility and reputation in the Coachella Valley abound. The Executive Director of the Palm Springs Art Museum has responsibility for developing and executing the artistic, strategic, and financial vision for the Museum in concert with the Board of Trustees. Key responsibilities include stewarding the Museum’s artistic and physical assets, fundraising and donor relations, leading daily operations, providing fiscal oversight, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Overview

Our vision is to become an institution that is both rigorous and community-oriented, committed to both artistic excellence and accessibility to all populations that live in and visit the diverse Coachella Valley of Southern California. The foundation is strong, and now is the time to capitalize on the strategic work that has been put in place over the past several years. The future is bright.

Palm Springs Art Museum (PSAM) is a highly-rated institution that has served as the cultural hub of the Coachella Valley for over 85 years. With over 16,000 objects in its permanent collection, a 433 seat professional theater, a unique Architecture and Design Center, a newly opened bistro style restaurant, and established programs for local schools and families, PSAM has evolved over the past several years.

We seek a strategic, dynamic and visionary leader to oversee all aspects of the museum’s operations, including curatorial, finance, marketing and communications, programs, and fundraising. The Executive Director will be the chief architect and driver of a new strategic plan and vision that will guide the museum over the short and long term. S/he/they will expand PSAM’s role as an engaging, inclusive, and diverse organization, representing and raising the profile of the institution in the community, the region, and nationally. The ED will champion and expand the museum’s efforts in stakeholder development and community relations, including cultivating collectors and artists, and continuing to build and shape the permanent collection.

The Executive Director will report directly to the Chair of the Board of Trustees and shall be an ex-officio member of all of its committees. S/he/they will be a strong, empathic and diplomatic leader with a decisive and collaborative style who will provide expertise on matters of governance and policy. The ED will be an experienced and respected member of the art and museum community, having led similar institutions in the past. S/he/they must demonstrate a wealth of knowledge of art and art history and its role in society, as well as a strong interest and knowledge in architecture and design. Finally, prior fiscal oversight and management responsibility, proven experience in building strong working relationships with the Board and, successful fundraising/capital campaign oversight are essential qualifications. The ideal candidate will also have experience in working with all aspects of a museum and its community, including donors, board members, volunteers, political leaders, and businesses. 

The Executive Director should convey a genuine sense of excitement and enthusiasm around a clear vision to build the Palm Springs Art Museum into a dynamic, diverse, and evolving arts institution that uniquely represents the special place that is the Coachella Valley.

About Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum has a long and proud tradition as the cultural hub of Southern California’s Coachella Valley. Established in 1938, the same year the city of Palm Springs was incorporated, PSAM has garnered an outsize reputation for the quality of its collections, exhibitions, educational programs, and events. Today, the museum’s permanent collection is centered around modern and contemporary art, architecture and design, glass, and art of the West in the Americas.

From its earliest days, the city of Palm Springs and its surrounding area have been a magnet for creative people— from the turn of the century, when landscape painters came through to depict the desert, to the midcentury heyday, when Hollywood royalty came to play and modern architecture began to distinguish the area’s character; and to today’s newcomers, who also want to live more freely, openly, and expressively.

Our region—which includes nine cities in the Coachella Valley as well as the High Desert communities around Joshua Tree—has grown significantly over the past decade. The new desert explorers have largely chosen to leave cities and crowded environments to take advantage of the same attributes that have attracted newcomers to the area for generations: the distinctive light, majestic mountains, easy lifestyle, and open spaces that let the mind wander and creativity to ensue.

In the desert, newcomers find a robust LGBTQ+ community and a diverse population that includes several sovereign Indigenous Native American tribes, a large majority Mexican/LatinX population, and a historically significant African American community. Even freedom of gender expression took early root in Palm Springs and continues to be part of the mosaic. The museum is committed to greater inclusion and representation of these communities.

The museum is fortunate to have robust visitation, a growing endowment, and a motivated board and staff. Many recent exhibits such as the works of David Hockney, Howard Smith, and Modern Women: The Influencers Who Shaped Palm Springs (Architecture) have attracted new and returning visitors. Membership levels are up, and many of our most generous and reliable supporters are contributing with a renewed sense of purpose.

PSAM’s physical presence comprises more than 150,000 square feet of space, including our main campus designed by architect E. Stewart Williams in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, as well as the other architectural gems: the Frey House II, the Aluminaire building, and the Architecture and Design Center, situated in a historically significant modernist building in downtown Palm Springs. In addition to its 23 gallery spaces, our main building includes a beautiful theater, as well as a bistro and educational spaces. PSAM is also the steward of the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert.

In addition to its permanent collection, the museum houses over 50,000 items in special collections, comprising archival and other materials, such as architectural drawings, photographs, historical objects, and ephemera directly related to the collection. These special collections serve as primary source material for the museum’s curators and for researchers.

The Museum has approximately 100 paid employees and almost 300 volunteers, with an annual operating budget of approximately $9 million.

Areas of Oversight

The Executive Director will be responsible for executing an evolving institutional vision. Working with the Chair and members of the Board of Trustees, and coordinating with the leadership team and other colleagues, the Executive Director will:

• Have full responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the museum including supervision and control of all artistic, management, administrative, contract personnel and programs subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee all revenue, capital, endowment, and operating expense activities of the museum.
• Develop and implement fundraising, membership, and other donor programs.
• Act as liaison with the Board of Trustees.
• Provide ongoing outreach to external and community stakeholders.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the museum that honors its history and collections while ensuring its long-term sustainability.
• Lead the development of the long-range strategic plan, annual operating budget, capital plan, and fundraising program.
• Ensure that the museum meets yearly financial targets while maintaining a strong revenue base and endowment.
• Find new ways to monetize the museums assets and intellectual property to diversify revenue while honoring the artistic purpose of the enterprise.
• Manage the museum collections, including accessioning and deaccessioning, and loans. Devise collection development plans and programs.
• Cultivate collectors and attract cash and other gifts to the museum.
• Oversee acquisition funding strategies, including working with board members, collectors, and other members of the community.
• Expand and implement marketing, promotion, and communications strategies to improve the visibility and branding of the museum.
• Develop and manage a human resources plan that ensures that the museum can hire and retain high quality staff. Includes plans for compensation and benefits. Also includes responsibility for outside contractors and consultants as needed.
• Act as the chief “evangelist” or “cheerleader” for the museum both internally and externally.
• Perform other duties as needed on behalf of the institution.

Essential Functions

Maintain a balance of quality and relevance in the exhibition program – which includes temporary exhibitions as well as display of the important permanent collection - working to ensure that the program has energy, authenticity, scholarly integrity, diversity, and accessibility.

Provide original insight in articulating the evolving purpose of the museum’s collections.

Support the museum’s commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in every dimension of the job, including programming, staffing, and workplace environment.

Advocate for art and artists internally and externally.

Demonstrate empathy to others with different levels of experience while representing the museum’s commitment to art and expertise.

Who Should Apply

Qualified candidates will have a passion for art and community-building and believe in the capacity for art and art museums to change people’s lives and impact the health of communities.

The successful candidate will be both a strategic and nurturing leader. They will have the ability to set clear expectations and priorities, delegate and manage appropriately, and take a professional and analytic approach to all issues. The candidate will also be an inclusive leader, interested in a wide range of perspectives, and capable of uniting a team around a shared vision. This individual should be willing to mentor others, foster growth throughout the organization, and help nurture a culture of kindness and empathy.

The Executive Director will have the ability to establish a rapport with people across the entire museum network, including board members, docents, volunteers, community leaders, donors, students, and families. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated willingness to collaborate with others across all levels of the institution and community are a must. The successful candidate will exemplify the values the museum aims to promote, which include being inclusive, authentic, open-minded, respectful, and creative. Additionally, demonstrated success in stabilizing and growing an arts institution and attracting donors is key to this role.

Qualified candidates will demonstrate a commitment to antiracism and the values of diversity and equity. They will exemplify the museum’s ambition to represent all segments of our diverse community in all our activities.

Ideal Qualifications and Requirements:

·        Minimum 5-7 years leading a multi-million-dollar arts organization. Full fiscal management responsibility in prior roles.

·        Knowledge of art and art history. Curatorial experience is a plus.

·        Minimum 5 years working with a permanent collection.

·        Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills including personnel management.

·        Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

·        Experience in developing and implementing strategic and operating plans.

·        College and University level academic degree(s) in arts, humanities, or social sciences are essential, and additional graduate studies in other fields (such as Museum Management or Business Administration) are a plus.

·        Direct experience in fundraising including demonstrated success in multi-million-dollar donor campaigns.

·        Experience in financial forecasting, budgeting, and cash management.

·        Prior experience working for and with Boards is essential.

• Strong email, calendar, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps skills. Experience with fundraising CRM tools is a plus.
• Strong research, marketing, and communications skills.
• Efficient general computer, social media, and internet savviness.

·        Excellent time management and organizational skills.

·        Attention to detail, punctuality, and top-tier reliability.

·        Proactive work ethic and drive to push tasks and projects forward with minimal handholding.

·        Ability to learn quickly and adapt in an ever-changing environment.

·        Adaptable and versatile to changing circumstances and situations.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is budgeted at $300,000 to $350,000 (in keeping with the AAMD 2023 national Salary Survey, which identifies this range for Directors of institutions with a $7.5 to $10 Million annual operating budget as between $256,00 and $375,000). The Museum also provides a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance (HMO and PPO options), vision, life insurance, and Aflac options. After six months employees are eligible to participate in the 401 (k) plan. We also offer vacation pay, generous paid holidays and paid sick leave, as well as free Museum membership to the employee and spouse/partner.  

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion:

Palm Springs Art Museum strives to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for everyone that honors all experiences and identities. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and are looking for a candidate with demonstrated ability to work across diverse populations of internal and external stakeholders.

Applying

Qualified candidates should submit a letter of introduction and resume with “Executive Director and CEO Position” Application in the subject line to jobs@psmuseum.org]. The position will remain open until filled. All applications received will be fully reviewed.

Number of people supervised:  6 direct, 100+ indirect.

Positions supervised:  CFO and Deputy Director, COO, Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer, Chief Curator, Director of Development and Director of Marketing.

Classification: Full time, Exempt, in-person.