About Bartol 

Bartol supports work at the Intersection of arts, education, healing, and social justice. Our objective is to facilitate equitable access to creative art-making experiences that are profound, relevant, and joyful. Bartol Foundation's grants and programs are specifically designed to support arts education programs created by and for communities historically under-resourced due to racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression. We recognize and support these communities' abundance of arts and arts educators. It's important to note that we support programs for everyone, not just young individuals, provided they are actively engaged in the creative and artistic process.

We believe:

• The arts possess intrinsic value, guiding us in understanding, interpreting, and communicating the core aspects of our lives and community.
• The arts engage, connect, and educate, supporting young people's growth into productive, creative adults.
• The arts foster dialogue, respect, and understanding, thereby building strong communities.
• Artists play a central role in animating and educating our community about and through the arts.
• Everyone has the right to engage in high-quality, relevant, and accessible arts practices and experiences.

For more information, please visit www.bartol.org.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking our new Executive Director to join our team at Bartol. Working closely with our team of consultants and facilitators and reporting to the Board of Directors, the incoming Executive Director will play a key role in guiding our organization's mission of supporting community-led and community-serving arts education programs and teaching artists. This role is a pivotal one in co-visioning and implementing Bartol’s future and maintaining its stellar reputation. This role requires a dynamic individual who can balance various responsibilities, drive the organization's vision forward, and foster an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

Our ideal candidate will be previously or currently a practicing teaching artist or arts educator, or possess a strong background in arts-based administration and management. They would be based in Philadelphia, and have in-depth knowledge of the city, a strong connection to the arts education field, and a deep understanding and appreciation of its value and impact. Our ideal person would have the preparation and practical experience of being able to work with different partners and constituents, including having the dexterity to navigate relationships with organizations and grantees. 

Areas of Leadership

Visionary Leadership: This role will be tasked with fostering relationships with teams, partners, and stakeholders, expanding reach with teaching artists and arts educators, and articulating a visionary plan. The workload distribution currently includes planning workshops and programs (60%), grant-making (25%), and (15%) administration work. Working with the Board of Directors and a team of facilitators and consultants, this individual will articulate a visionary plan for Bartol's growth and expansion over the next three to five years; laying out a roadmap for the growth or deepening of our work and the strategies to capitalize on these. The plan should also provide a clear direction for the organization and its stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned toward achieving the shared vision for Bartol's future.

• Key qualifications: 
  • Demonstrated experience in leadership or management roles with a record of thinking imaginatively and driving innovative solutions and programs strategically.
  • Proven experience in project management and community relations, demonstrating the ability to simultaneously handle multiple projects with many moving parts and responsibilities.
  • Experience in working collaboratively with boards of directors and consultants. This experience should reflect their ability to navigate a team environment, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.
  • Understand complexity as it relates to identity; able to name, and navigate power and privilege dynamics in a group and lead a working environment of mutual respect and value for one another.

Program and Grant Management: Balance the dual role of a grant and program provider that includes providing financial support to non-profit organizations and individual teaching artists, managing trauma-informed training programs, and deepening programs offered to teaching artists, including the growth of our Trauma-Informed Practice Training for Arts Educators.

• Key qualifications: 
  • A comprehensive understanding of fundraising practices, grant administration, budget management, and community engagement.
  • Proven experience in program development, preferably in the arts, education, and/or trauma-informed areas of practice.
  • Accessibility and openness to communicate the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities to potential applicants and support them through a transparent and equitable process.
  • Experience in moving a group toward consensus through open and respectful dialogue.

Brand Building and Representing Bartol: Represent the organization publicly to serve as a resource, advocate, and convener within the arts and cultural community; promoting dialogue, respect, and understanding to strengthen the arts communities. Facilitate communication and collaboration among those with common interests in the arts, communities, education, and philanthropy to amplify the Foundation’s resources and build new connections. 

• Key qualifications:
  • Proven track record of amplifying resources and forging new connections to further an organization's mission.
  • Experience fostering communication and collaboration among diverse groups interested in arts, communities, education, and philanthropy.
  • Demonstrated ability to represent an organization publicly, coupled with experience in advocacy and community engagement within the arts and cultural sector.
  • Strong storytelling skills within the field of teaching artistry, effectively communicating our mission and programs. 

Salary and Benefits

The Executive Director role offers a $110,000 annual salary for a four-day workweek. Benefits include six weeks of PTO, an extra holiday week in December, healthcare benefits for employees and dependents paid by Bartol and 4% 403(b) retirement contribution through Vanguard. The terms of these benefits are negotiable to meet the employee's needs. 

Work Environment

Bartol operates under a hybrid work model, combining remote work with occasional travel and site visits. The remote work is typically conducted from the employee's home office. Necessary equipment, such as a laptop and other supplies, will be provided by the organization.

For this role, the employee must reside in the Philadelphia area or be willing to relocate there. 

This position is a 32-hours per week (4 days per week) position. Through a flexible schedule and ample PTO, the Executive Director is given the agency to deliver the work required while balancing their home and creative lives. This Board of Directors supports this position to have a powerful community impact while being sustainable over the long term.

How to Apply 

This search is being managed by Axis Talent Partners, a talent strategy and executive search firm that partners with social impact organizations and centers equity and inclusivity in search. 

We strongly encourage all interested parties to apply. Evidence suggests that many candidates from systematically excluded groups, including those with disabilities, who are BIPOC, and who have non-cis male gender identities, often only apply to jobs if they meet every single qualification. At Bartol, perfection is not a prerequisite - no one ever fulfills 100% of any job's qualifications. We highly encourage you to apply if you meet fewer than all of the qualifications in this posting. If you believe you have the capacity, skill, and values required to achieve Bartol's mission, don't hesitate, just apply.

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