Kansas City Young Audiences

Executive Director

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Classification: Full time, Exempt
Location: 3732 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
Reports to: Board of Directors

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Organization & Position Overview

Kansas City Young Audiences (KCYA) is one of the largest arts education providers in
the midwest region with a mission to: engage all youth in the arts, promote creativity
and inspire success in education. KCYA believes that every child deserves the
transformational spark the arts ignite. Through interactive workshops, residencies,
performances and professional development, KCYA programs strengthen a child’s
understanding of necessary educational concepts and teach educators how to
successfully integrate the arts into core educational subjects.
 

The Executive Director (ED) serves as chief executive of KCYA. Together with the
Board, the ED provides vision, inspired leadership, strategy, innovation, and execution
to unite and engage our diverse stakeholders and strategic partners and to lead KCYA
to a new level of success and prominence within the Kansas City arts and educational
ecosystem. The ED guides and supports the accomplishment of KCYA’s mission,
vision, values and philosophies, community partnerships, and accountability to those we
serve by managing the programmatic, financial, and strategic success of the
organization. The ED implements goals, budgets, and policies created with and
approved by the Board of Directors while managing the organization’s programs and
operations and serves as an ambassador of KCYA to the Kansas City community.

 

Responsibilities:

 

1. Mission, Policy, and Planning

a. In partnership with others, responsible for determining KCYA’s
mission, vision, values, and philosophies, as well as setting and
accomplishing short- and long-term, strategic plan goals.

b. Manages KCYA according to a strategic plan that is developed in
collaboration with the Board. Establishes strategic processes to
ensure accomplishment of strategic plan goals.

c. Leads and supervises –

 

i. Financial support staff and others for the fiscal activities of the
organization, including budgeting, expense management, and
reporting, compliance, and audit.

ii. Director of Development and others for an effective fund
development program, including donor cultivation and
grant management.

iii. Director of Arts Education and others to develop and
provide cost-effective programs and services that meet

the needs of key constituent groups, while maintaining a
high level of quality.

iv. Executive Committee for Human Resource support and others
for determining salaries, benefits, merits and budgets to ensure
fairness and competitiveness.

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d. Responsible for overall policy setting, guidelines, and legal and financial
compliance.

e. Monitors and evaluates KCYA’s relevance to the community, its
effectiveness, and its results.

f. Keeps the Board informed of the condition of KCYA and on all
important factors influencing it. Identifies problems and
opportunities and addresses them with strategic solutions; is
transparent with the Board and/or its committees; and facilitates
discussion and deliberation when needed. Informs the Board and
its committees about trends, issues, problems, and activities and
then makes recommendations and decisions to facilitate positive
change.

g. Keeps Board informed of developments in the arts community,
human services, not-for-profit management, capacity building,
governance, philanthropy, and fund development.

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2. Financial

a. Hires, supervises, and works with KCYA Directors to ensure
Expense Management, Fund Development Activities, and
Financial Results are appropriate and attained.

b. Has responsibility for the financial management and success of the
organization through proper management of financial reporting, time
collection of accounts receivable, effective oversight of all
development activities, and continuous growth of diverse funding
sources to ensure long-term viability of the organization.

c. Participates actively in identifying, cultivating, maintaining, and
soliciting donor prospects. Identifies and develops other funding
sources to support the organization financially.

d. Helps guide and enable the Board, its fund development committee
and individual Board members to participate actively in the fund
development process as expected.

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3. Management and Administration

a. Overall Management of facilities and staff. Supports the development
of a performance culture focused on: innovation, leadership, change,
speed, flexibility, and results. Ethics, integrity, inclusion, and mutual
respect are foundational.

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b. Provides general oversight of all KCYA’s activities including day-to-
day operations, fund development/grant management,

financial/compliance, facilities management, and human resources –
creating an equitable workplace that assures all are supported and
have the tools needed for their role.

c. Plans and implements programs.

d. Establishes strong and productive relationships with the Board,
committees, teaching artists, donors, clients, and community members.

Develops smooth and constructive relationships with leadership staff,
outside agencies, organizations, and individuals.

e. Assures quality, organizational stability through development and
implementation of standards and controls, systems and procedures
and regular evaluation.

f. Assures a work environment that recruits, retains, and supports
quality board, staff, and teaching artists. Responsible for the
performance evaluation process, including identification of any
professional development opportunities and implementation and
succession planning for key positions.

g. Attend/lead scheduled Board, Committee, All-Staff, Team, or other
meetings.

h. Perform functions of job according to established policies and
procedures.

4. Community Relations

 

a. Listens to and solicits feedback from employees, parents, teaching
artists, advisory board members, community leaders, donors, and
the arts community in order to improve and enhance services
offered.

b. Serves as chief spokesperson for KCYA and is a welcoming
steward of the organization to the communities we serve.

c. Initiates, develops, and maintains cooperative and collaborative
relationships with others in the community.

d. Works with other community arts organizations, school system
leadership and representatives of the non-profit sector to promote
policies that encourage a healthy community and address the issues
of KCYA’s constituencies.

e. Oversees the integration of KCYA into the fabric of the community
by using effective marketing and communication activities.

f. Participates in community activities and on committees that align with
KCYA’s mission and purpose or the non-profit sector.

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Qualifications

Undergraduate, graduate degree or a combination of arts/education, non-profit,
and/or business experience. 5-7 years’ experience in a leadership or managerial
role supporting multiple direct reports. Strong knowledge of the non-profit sector,
with a preference for someone who has experience in and/or is passionate about
education and/or the arts.. As ED, this individual demonstrates critical
competencies in five broad categories: commitment to results, business savvy,
leading change, commitment to equity and inclusion, and inspiration/motivation.

Commitment to Results: The ED is a systems thinker who is customer
focused and goal driven. This individual identifies relevant information and
helps transform this information into individual and organizational knowledge
and learning. The ED is action-oriented and innovative. They can translate
vision and broad goals into achievable steps and action plans.

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Business Savvy: As KCYA’s leader, the ED position requires demonstrated
experience in integrating and coordinating diverse areas of management.
Knowledge in the following areas is suggested: financial and expense
management; human resources and human relations, fund and grant
management, program management and day-to-day non-profit operations.
Some experience in the field of philanthropy, governance, and community
relations is preferred. This individual must be comfortable and knowledgeable
with diversity and cultural competencies within the field of DEIB.

 

Leading Change: The ED possesses the skills and implements the functions
of a leader. They share KCYA’s values, mission, vision, and philosophies.
They consistently display integrity, model desired behaviors, develop people,
and build effective teams. This individual deals effectively with complex
situations and helps to design and implement interventions.

 

Commitment to DEIAB: The ED possesses commitment to equity and
inclusion through the intentional and continuous development of
awareness and skills to provide a safe, respectful, and welcoming
environment for staff, teaching artists, students, and other key
stakeholders. They embrace this process by engaging with and
responding with staff and community through reflection, advocacy, and
support.

 

Inspiration and Motivation: The ED manages continuity, change and
transition while activating the staff and community for ultimate impact.

 

Compensation & Benefits

This position is full time and considered an exempt position. Salary Range: $100,000-
110,000. It requires limited travel and flexible work hours, including some evenings and
weekends. Benefits include an Employer-Provided Health Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan
with Employer match, and Paid Holidays and Personal Days.

 

Application Instructions

Please email a resume and letter of intent to: employment@kcya.org. Position open
until filled, preference given to applications received by March 15, 2024. No phone
calls please.

KCYA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race,
national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status,
disability, age or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who
would like to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

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