Director of Arts Strategy and Ventures

Job Title: Director of Arts Strategy and Ventures 

Department: Arts 

Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt 

Location: Oakland, CA, A hybrid work schedule and regular attendance to in-person meetings and grantee activities in the San Francisco Bay Area is required. Not a remote position.  

Reports to: Chief Program Officer 

Position Closes: January 15, 2025 

Initial screening of applications will take place in late January 2025. 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION  

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation (Rainin Foundation) is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers to enhance quality of life by championing the arts, promoting early childhood literacy, and supporting research to cure chronic disease. Founded in 2008, the organization believes in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. Today, with a team of over 30 and total annual grants of approximately $19 million, the Foundation supports Bay Area visionary artists, creates opportunities for Oakland’s youngest learners, and funds researchers on the forefront of scientific discoveries to cure chronic disease. Through grantmaking and operations, the Foundation embraces the values of collaboration, interdependence, creativity and equity. Inherent in our core values is a belief in compassion, respect, humor and joy.  

ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Arts Team exists to steward foundation resources (people, money, power, culture) in alignment with the Arts program’s strategies and values to achieve the Foundation’s vision and mission. The Team is a group of highly experienced individuals and dynamic leaders with technical expertise in their professional area and experience driving Arts program strategies and goals. The Team plays an important leadership role locally and nationally to support the Bay Area arts ecosystem.  

ABOUT THE POSITION  

The Director of Arts Strategy and Ventures is responsible for the operational success, team management and development, program delivery, grantmaking strategy, and evaluation of the Arts program. The Director serves as the key external face and internal leader for the Rainin Foundation’s Arts program.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Strategy and Program Execution  

• Develop and monitor strategic programmatic plans based on in-depth knowledge and expertise of the Bay Area arts community;  

• Identify potential opportunities for transformational change and develop innovative grant programs and long-term initiatives to achieve Arts program goals;  

• Lead strategic partnerships and special initiatives;  

• Oversee and manage Arts program funding portfolio;  

• Oversee the process for reviewing, evaluating, and tracking grant proposals;  

• Review and evaluate proposals, conduct due diligence, monitor and assess grantee progress; and     

• Share work, progress, and impact with the Board of Directors and develop grant recommendation memos for approval.  

Team and Sector Leadership 

• Develop and cultivate relationships and act as a thought partner for key stakeholders in the Bay Area community;   

• Serve as a local and national thought leader and recognized expert on issues of importance in the arts and other sectors that intersect and impact the field, organizing and speaking at relevant convenings;  

• Lead Arts program team and support talent development, including training, accountability, and timely communication, coaching and feedback for direct reports;  

• Lead and participate in cross departmental and Foundation-wide initiatives;  

• Collaborate with Finance, Grants Management & Learning, and Communications staff on select Arts-related tasks and special projects; and 

• Promote diversity, equity and inclusion both internally and among our stakeholders in the community, in alignment with the Foundation’s values.  

Impact and Evaluation  

• Develop and manage learning and evaluation framework and performance measures for programs, initiatives, and grantees;  

• Collaborate with Foundation colleagues to ensure grants are captured in the database, positioned well for learning and success; and   

• Synthesize learning and evaluation data and metrics and strategically communicate Foundation’s impact, in collaboration with Grants Management & Learning and Communications staff.   

Communications 

• Research trends, data, and issues in the field and provide logical and well-written findings;    

• Document and disseminate knowledge about promising practices and innovative ways to support the work, build partnerships, and implement initiatives;  

• Share the foundation’s learning through affiliation groups, conferences, and other relevant public forums;  

• Leverage consultants for additional research and to enhance and disseminate learning and program outcomes; and   

• Generate content for the Foundation website, including blog posts on feature topics of relevance to the Foundation’s Arts Program.  

We’re looking for someone with: 

• Advanced degree preferred. PhD or MA/MFA in arts or related field and/or minimum ten years of experience and/or training in arts philanthropy, arts-related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience  

• Programmatic experience and knowledge of the arts are required  

• Experience in nonprofit external relations in the arts field is required  

who has  

• Demonstrated Arts sector leadership and management experience  

• Strong systems thinker with demonstrated ability to make actionable and strategic decisions that result in impact  

• Demonstrated success in developing and delivering successful arts-related program and grantmaking strategies and a variety of initiatives to drive impact  

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive innovation in the arts sector  

• Demonstrated ability to leverage resources and relationships to amplify impact  

• Fluency in equity discourse and experience in leveraging interventions and practices that lead to equity in the arts sector  

• The ability to relate to people from multiple levels in an organization and different fields of work, with cultural competency  

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to listen to and speak fluently with arts constituents, Board members, Rainin staff, and philanthropic colleagues  

• Strong executive function with the ability to hold the big picture, develop and sustain diverse relationships, manage internal process complexity, and roll up your sleeves to get the work done 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  

TO APPLY  

Please submit your resume and a statement of interest detailing your understanding of the Director of Arts and Ventures position, your interest in the role, and what you bring to it. 

The salary range for this position is $190,000 - $220,000, commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience. Rainin offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Long -Term disability at no cost to the employee. 12% contribution to your 401K, paid winter break every December, and generous paid time off policies. Detailed information and terms about our benefits are available upon hire.   

Rainin embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skillsets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based upon merit and do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status.  

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the ADA and related state laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in how things are typically done, ensuring an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the company.  Please contact our HR team if you need assistance participating in the application process.  

Are you excited about this role but don’t meet every single requirement? The Rainin Foundation is committed to fostering a learning organization and building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other future roles.