Current Opportunities

President / CEO

Job Profile:

President / CEO

The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio seeks a President/CEO to build upon the organization’s rich historical legacy, extraordinary collections and ambitious engagement program, and to bring the Museum to its next level of excellence. This spring the Museum will complete a major Bicentennial Infrastructure Project and reopen with a total renovation of its 1820 landmarked home and a completely reinstalled and reinterpreted permanent collection, having secured the environment and stabilized one of Cincinnati’s most important historical structures. The new President/CEO will leverage this exciting moment and a solid financial position to spark a renewed creative energy, reinvigorating staff, board, and community around this beloved treasure.

Within Cincinnati’s rich cultural environment, including the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Art Center, The Museum Center, as well as active professional music, theater, and dance companies, the Taft embodies both art and history as a former private residence for several of Cincinnati's most prominent citizens. It houses world-renowned, extensive collections of European and American masterworks, including iconic paintings by Rembrandt, Hals, Goya, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner, Ingres, Duveneck, Farny, Whistler, and Sargent as well as the most significant pre–Civil War domestic murals in the US by African American artist Robert Duncanson. The intimate galleries also feature important examples of 19th-century American furniture, antique watches, Chinese porcelains, and French Renaissance enamels. Temporary gallery spaces allow for cross-fertilization with special exhibitions like the Taft curated Daubigny, Monet, Van Gogh: Impressions of the Landscape, which traveled to the Van Gogh Museum and National Gallery of Scotland, and to highlight living artists, as was done with Kehinde Wiley, Vanessa German, and local multimedia artist Alice Pixley Young. The successful candidate will appreciate the possibilities that this unique jewel provides for connecting the past and the present day, encouraging lively connections through exhibitions, programming, and creative community engagement. The next President/CEO will actively represent the Museum regionally and nationally in ways that position the Taft as a partner in the important dialogue around arts and education, and create a welcoming, inclusive hub of creative activity for people of all ages.

This is the moment to leverage the lift from major upgrades and renovations and re-envision the potential for excitement, creating an inclusive, welcoming future for the Taft. As the Taft’s most visible spokesperson, the President/CEO will be an inspiring consensus-builder who is externally oriented, enjoys partnering with arts leadership in Cincinnati and beyond, and with corporate leaders, educators, diverse communities, and general audiences. The successful candidate will have strong experience in both management and art, be an authentic, clear-headed listener, able to energize and guide the staff of approximately 75 members. And while the Museum is on firm financial footing, operating in the black with a (pre-Covid) $6.5M budget, the new President/CEO will be expected to continue to nurture and cultivate philanthropy. Community engagement and education programs are strong, reaching thousands of children and adults both virtually and in- person throughout the pandemic. And good progress has been made on the Museum’s DEAI Goals, with continued forward momentum essential.

Opportunities of the Position
The President/CEO of the Taft will succeed by creating an exciting new future for this beloved, historic gem – moving the organization ahead, making ties between the past and the present, and respecting and celebrating its cultural legacy.

The Taft Museum of Art President/CEO will be expected to:
• Connect directly with the Cincinnati community to ensure the Taft reflects their needs and values their engagement.
• Promote the Museum widely by actively participating in civic partnerships and events, increasing local and regional community awareness of the Taft’s unique mission and programming.
• Oversee and inspire the Leadership Team, including Director of Curatorial Affairs, Director of HR/Employee Engagement, Vice President of Philanthropy, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Security, Risk and Safety.
• With Development, create new fundraising strategies to drive additional outside revenue from the public, corporate partners, foundations, and individual sources.
• Communicate in a timely and collaborative manner with the Board of Directors.
• Implement a three-year strategic plan with the ability to adjust and respond quickly to the changing landscape, including the continued implementation of the Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Plan both internally and externally.
• Ensure all involved are working effectively together to address the Taft’s opportunities and challenges.
• Participate in AAMD and other peer organizations to ensure "best practices" are captured and applied when appropriate.
• Be responsible for fiscal management of the Taft through a planning process that includes submission to the Board of a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements that accurately reflect the financial condition of the Museum.
• Ensure that the Museum collection and programming, tours and outreach to the community are delivered with relevance and excellence.

Experience & Education Desired
• Minimum of 5 years of museum management experience in a senior position.
• Advanced degree in the arts, art history or related fields beneficial. Background in European art and history and/or historic preservation a plus.
• Must have experience and be comfortable engaging with the public and have persuasive, relatable communication skills both oral and written.
• A national network of museum professional contacts.

Desired Personal Characteristics
• Passionate and knowledgeable about the arts, history, and historic preservation.
• Strong visionary leader, with a desire to be highly engaged in an active arts community.
• Confident and diplomatic, with excellent interpersonal and relationship-development skills.
• Creative thinker, interested in a cross-pollination of ideas.
• Thoughtful and sustainable commitment to DEAI and community engagement.
• Business acumen and financial-planning abilities.
• Positive, energetic, and inspiring to others.

Compensation
• $200,000 - $260,000 per annum (commensurate with experience).
• Benefit package includes generous PTO, health, vision and dental plans, Disability, Life Insurance, 403b Plan, and more.

The Taft Museum of Art is committed to fair and accessible employment practices, and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this search.

Nominations are welcome.

To apply in confidence, email: 1) a letter expressing interest in this particular position and giving brief examples of past related experience; 2) a résumé or CV; 3) names of three references with contact information. Submit application by May 27, 2022 to retained search firm: Lora Urbanelli, Museum Search & Reference, SearchandRef@museum-search.com. References will not be contacted without prior authorization.

For additional information visit: http://museum-search.com/open-searches/.

The Taft Museum of Art is a living landmark nestled in downtown Cincinnati, where art and history live on the walls. Built around 1820 as a private home for several of Cincinnati's most prominent citizens, the Taft Museum of Art is now one of the finest small art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for its historic house and Duncanson murals. The 200-year-old house holds an extensive collection of European and American masterworks in painting and decorative arts, as well as 19th-century American furniture and the most significant pre–Civil War domestic murals in the United States. Installed in period-inspired rooms the permanent collection reveals stories of past generations that continue to have resonance today. Temporary gallery spaces hold exhibitions that augment the permanent collection and rotate frequently featuring a wide range of materials, artists and eras. Programming for all ages reaches thousands of community members, and the unique Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program honors the achievements of contemporary Black American artists working in a breadth of artistic disciplines. Throughout the grounds, guests can enjoy special exhibitions, the historic outdoor garden, Museum Shop and Café, events and programming. The Taft put its community at the center of art and history. For more information, see: https://www.taftmuseum.org/about-us.

About Cincinnati, Ohio
The Queen City is one of Ohio’s largest metropolitan areas with a tremendous, shared pride in its history and roots. It is known for its vibrant arts and worldly culinary scenes, its eclectic neighborhoods, greenspaces, and entrepreneurial spirit. Arts, culture, and creativity are fully integrated into daily life in Cincinnati. It is one of 13 cities in the country to have ballet, opera, fine art museums, symphony, and theater companies, as well as a large number of Fortune 500 companies. There is an abundance of public art including BLINK (a four-day light and art event), and a rich architectural history. The city hosts a bustling start-up culture ranked #1 in Ohio, three major league sports teams, a Top 5 nationally rated park system, and an active beer and bourbon scene. Cincinnati is a livable, friendly, and artistically thriving city that is a great place for families.
Learn more at cincinnatiexperience.com.