Current Opportunities

NANETTE L. LAITMAN DIRECTOR - MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN - NEW YORK, NY Poised to achieve new levels of public recognition, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is seeking a visionary, strategic, and seasoned leader to shepherd the organization by establishing an engaging programmatic strategy and successful operating model to sustain MAD over the coming decades. MAD has reached a critical juncture in its development into a mature and professional organization. A vital priority for the next Director of the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) will be to collaborate with an engaged Board of Trustees and effectively bridge their aspirations for the Museum with the cumulative skills and talents of a dedicated staff. The Director will be the prime mover in enhancing the Museum’s profile to increase its visibility and its recognition within the field. With a compelling interest in the history of craft, art, and design, the Director will serve as a thought leader in shepherding innovative exhibitions, developing public programs, and advancing the Museum’s reputation in the field. The Director will spearhead development of a new strategic plan for the Museum, drawing ideas from its stakeholders to link MAD’s past successes with a dynamic future. The successful candidate will partner with MAD’s Board to effectively lead the institution in a competitive cultural landscape, with an emphasis on achieving MAD’s fundraising goals while expanding the Board to include a diverse group of stakeholders. The Museum of Arts and Design collects, displays, and interprets objects that document historic and contemporary innovation in craft, art, and design. In its exhibitions and educational programs, the Museum celebrates the creative process through which materials are crafted into works that enhance contemporary life. Founded in 1956 by Aileen Osborn Webb and located since 2008 in the Jerome and Simona Chazen Building at the southwest corner of Central Park, MAD celebrates materials and processes that are embraced by practitioners in the fields of craft, art, and design, as well as architecture, fashion, interior design, technology, performing arts, and art- and design-driven industries. Formerly known as the American Craft Museum, the institution’s current name, MAD provides diverse audiences with an understanding of the ways craft, art, and design are conceived and realized, demonstrating interconnectedness across a spectrum of disciplines and fields. The Museum of Arts and Design’s next Director will be a seasoned executive with high energy and creativity, as well as a track record of achievement, management skills, and business acumen. With a sincere passion for craft, art, and design, s/he will be a tested, persuasive, inventive leader who is inspired by the Museum’s mission and can inspire others as well. Competitive candidates will possess the intellectual vigor and vision, professional reputation, and personal magnetism needed to encourage trust and galvanize support for the Museum. An advanced degree in art, design, art history, nonprofit management, business, and other related fields is desired. Candidates with equivalent professional and leadership experience, along with a passion and interest in craft, art, and design, will be considered seriously as well. MAD has retained the executive search firm of Korn Ferry to assist in the search. Please email nominations and applications (resume/CV and cover letter) to: Naree W.S. Viner, Nonprofit Practice, at: MADDirector@kornferry.com