Admissions Director

The Opportunity

MacDowell, America’s oldest multidisciplinary artist residency program, seeks an Admissions Director for a full-time position starting in December 2026. The position will be based in Peterborough, New Hampshire although exceptional candidates based in New York City will also be considered.

Since its founding in 1907, MacDowell has provided crucial time and space to more than 9,500 artists working across seven creative disciplines and has hosted a veritable who’s who in arts and letters, including James Baldwin, Celine Song, Meredith Monk, Isabel Sandoval, Michael Chabon, Bebe Miller, Paula Vogel, and Faith Ringgold. Through the admissions process, MacDowell brings together artists whose chance encounters may forever influence one another’s work. No function of the program is more important than identifying the most compelling talent. This work provides the foundation upon which the entire organization can succeed and continue to attract future artists of the highest caliber.

MacDowell’s incoming Admissions Director (AD) will steward each step of the admissions process, providing a user-friendly experience for artist applicants, managing discipline-specific artist selection panels, and welcoming incoming Fellows before their arrival on campus. The AD oversees a small Admissions team that centers respect for artists, confidentiality, diplomacy, consistency, and clarity in their daily work.

The ideal candidate will combine a deep understanding of and passion for the arts with a rigorous approach to administration and the ability to communicate effectively across a diverse set of stakeholders, including Board members and donors. We are looking for a compassionate and collaborative leader who will provide steady, structured guidance to Admissions staff and a rotating roster of selection panelists.

Responsibilities:

Application Management

• In partnership with Board and Staff leadership, ensure that MacDowell’s admissions process aligns with the organization’s strategic goals and priorities
• Oversee the artist application experience
• Research new trends in artists’ work and update application guidelines to support new formats and concepts; remain responsive to artists’ needs by staying on top of best practices for artist applications and trends in the field and in the world at large
• Oversee external communications with artists related to their application, acceptance or rejection, and pre-arrival onboarding, coordinating with Communications staff to ensure that information is accurate and uses MacDowell’s institutional voice
• Continuously evaluate the application process with an eye to improving the artist experience and increasing accessibility
• Generate admissions-related statistics and reports as requested

Admissions Panel Management

MacDowell Fellows are selected by admissions panels, which are comprised of a revolving group of distinguished professionals in each artistic discipline who serve anonymously for up to three years.

• Working with the Executive Director (ED), recruit, onboard, and steward ~80 panelists across 7 disciplines, collaborating with panel chairs to identify and evaluate potential panelists
• Schedule, oversee, and actively manage 7 panel meetings for each application cycle
• Oversee administrative work related to panels, including honorariums, travel arrangements, and confidentiality agreements
• Conduct regular panel reviews of each artistic discipline to assess the effectives of MacDowell’s admissions process

Outreach

• In partnership with staff leadership, increase awareness of MacDowell’s program through outreach to diverse artistic communities
• Ensure residency listings and deadlines up to date on arts-related websites and platforms
• Serve as a key ambassador for MacDowell by participating in outreach events, conferences, panel discussions and other art world convenings
• Support Fundraising Staff on communications to fellowship funders and partners

Organizational

• Manage a 2-3 person Admissions staff team
• Set departmental priorities and work schedules; facilitate smooth cross-departmental collaboration as needed
• Collaborate with IT Staff to oversee application software, data management, and reporting; identify and evaluate new technological tools to improve departmental processes
• Coordinate with Finance Staff and the ED to create and oversee the department’s annual budget and expense reports
• Attend Department Head and All-Staff Meetings
• Manage the Board’s Admissions Committee; report to the Executive Committee and full Board as needed

Qualifications & Skills:

• 5+ years of professional experience leading projects and/or teams of similar size and scope
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities with changing priorities and accomplish objectives in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational, project management, and proofreading skills
• In depth knowledge of and passion for the arts and the artistic disciplines represented at MacDowell
• Strong connections within diverse artistic communities
• Ability to tactfully and diplomatically handle sensitive and confidential information
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to effectively steward relationships with artists, board members, donors, and program partners
• Computer skills proficiency with MS Office suite required; Salesforce CRM preferred
• Prior experience with admissions processes preferred
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn software and systems tools for non-profit management
• Enthusiastic, positive attitude and the ability to work both independently and in a team setting

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to regularly commute to the New Hampshire office preferred
• Ability to sit or stand in front of a computer workstation for 40 hours/week
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff members and other stakeholders by email, phone, virtually and in person
• Some evening and overnight travel required
• Valid driver’s license required

MacDowell’s Culture

Our staff is our greatest asset, and we strive towards a kind, equitable, and respectful work culture that values a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences.