Executive Director

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Employee discounts

About the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Founded in 1978, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring Alabama’s jazz legacy and preserving the stories, music, and cultural contributions of the
artists, educators, and community leaders who helped shape the art form. Through programming, exhibits, education, community engagement, and stewardship of the historic
Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts—home to WAJH 91.1—the organization celebrates Alabama’s role in jazz history while inspiring future generations of musicians, audiences, and cultural leaders.

Mission
To preserve, promote, and celebrate Alabama’s jazz heritage by honoring its artists, sharing their stories, and sustaining programs that educate, engage, and inspire the community.

Vision
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame envisions a vibrant future in which Alabama’s jazz legacy is nationally recognized, actively preserved, and continually used to inspire creativity, cultural pride, education, and community connection.

Values

• Artistic excellence and cultural authenticity
• Stewardship of Alabama’s jazz heritage, relationships, and resources
• Education, access, and community engagement
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for all people
• Collaboration across artists, educators, civic partners, and cultural institutions

About the Community
Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame serves a region with deep musical, civil rights, educational, and cultural roots. The organization is positioned to deepen local pride, strengthen
cultural tourism, expand arts education, and connect Alabama’s jazz legacy to audiences across the state and beyond.

About the Position
The Executive Director provides strategic, operational, financial, and fundraising leadership for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in partnership with the Board of Directors. This role oversees organizational
operations, advances the mission, builds community and donor relationships, manages administrative and financial functions, and supports high-quality programming, exhibits, education initiatives, and
public engagement. This full-time, exempt leadership position is based in Birmingham, Alabama, with regular on-site presence expected, including evenings and weekends for events, broadcasts, and donor functions. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair and directly supervises a staff of three: the Radio Station Director, the Marketing Director, and the Administrative Assistant. The organization’s annual operating budget is approximately $350,000 to $500,000.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Advocate for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame’s mission, vision, and values.
• Lead implementation of strategic priorities in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Evaluate community needs and opportunities to expand the organization’s impact.
• Build partnerships with artists, educators, civic leaders, funders, and cultural organizations.
• Monitor progress toward organizational goals and recommend adjustments as needed.

Fund Development

• Serve as the organization’s lead fundraiser, responsible for raising approximately $500,000 in contributed revenue annually; the organization does not currently have dedicated development staff.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and public funders.
• Lead grant writing, reporting, prospect research, and funder relationship management.
• Oversee membership, annual giving, sponsorship, and fundraising campaigns.
• Develop compelling donor communications and fundraising materials in coordination with the Marketing Director.
• Strengthen contributed revenue to support long-term sustainability.

Financial and Administrative Management

• Develop and manage annual budgets, forecasts, and multi-year financial plans.
• Provide timely financial reports to the Board and relevant committees.
• Oversee the annual audit or financial review, Form 990 filing, and insurance coverage.
• Oversee administrative systems, vendor relationships, compliance, and internal controls.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources
• Track and report key metrics, such as attendance, listenership, membership, and donor retention, to guide decisions and inform the Board.

Radio Station Oversight (WAJH 91.1)

• Supervise the Radio Station Director and set goals for programming, listenership, and station revenue.
• Ensure compliance with the station’s FCC license obligations, including the public inspection file, EEO reporting, and license renewal.
• Ensure on-air underwriting and sponsorship announcements meet FCC rules for noncommercial educational stations.
• Grow station support through underwriting, listener membership, and on-air fundraising.
• Align station programming with the Hall of Fame’s mission, programs, and events.

Carver Theatre and Facility Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the historic Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts, including maintenance, safety, and event staffing.
• Manage facility rentals, ticketed events, and other earned-revenue activities.
• Plan for capital needs and the long-term preservation of the historic building.

Programs, Exhibits, and Collections

• Oversee the care, display, and interpretation of the Hall of Fame’s exhibits and collections.
• Lead the Hall of Fame induction program and other signature events.
• Guide education and public programs for students, families, and visitors.

Board and Staff Coordination

• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors.
• Provide clear, timely, and transparent communication to board members.
• Support board meetings, committee work, policy review, and governance needs.
• Support board recruitment, orientation, and engagement.
• Supervise, hire, evaluate, and support the professional development of staff, and oversee contractors, volunteers, and program partners.
• Foster a professional, collaborative, and mission-focused organizational culture.

Community and External Relations

• Represent the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in the community and with public stakeholders.
• Maintain relationships with cultural, educational, civic, tourism, and media partners.
• Strengthen the organization’s public visibility and institutional reputation.
• Set organizational messaging and guide the marketing, communications, and audience development efforts led by the Marketing Director.
• Identify opportunities to expand engagement with diverse communities and audiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, museum studies, music, humanities, business, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least five years of experience in nonprofit, arts, cultural, museum, education, or community-based organizational leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, grant writing, donor relations, or sponsorship development.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing budgets, projects, people, or organizational operations.
• Commitment to cultural preservation, community engagement, and inclusive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Seven or more years of senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, cultural, museum, education, or community organization.
• Proven success in securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, or other contributed revenue.
• Experience working with boards of directors, public agencies, foundations, and community partners.
• Familiarity with jazz, Alabama music history, cultural heritage, arts education, or historic venues.
• Experience developing programs, exhibits, events, or public-facing cultural initiatives.
• Familiarity with public or community radio operations and FCC regulations.
• Experience managing a venue or facility, including rentals and other earned-revenue operations.

Year-One Priorities

• Build relationships with key donors, funders, sponsors, and community partners.
• Develop a fundraising plan to stabilize and grow contributed revenue.
• Complete an assessment of the Carver Theatre’s condition and needs and present a facility plan to the Board.
• Review station operations and FCC compliance with the Radio Station Director.

Work Schedule and Requirements

• Full-time, exempt position. Regular evening and weekend work is required for events, broadcasts, and donor functions.
• Ability to move throughout the historic facility and to stand for extended periods during events.
• Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background check.

Compensation
The salary range for this position is $58,000–$65,000, based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate. Performance bonuses tied to annual goals set by the Board may be available.
Benefits include health insurance and paid time off.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind in accordance with applicable
federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave, compensation, and training.

Application
Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing sample, such as a grant application, fundraising appeal, sponsorship proposal, or public communications sample

Submit all materials to View email address on aiapply.co by October 14, 2026. Questions may be directed to
Albert Jones, View email address on aiapply.co or Shanice Harrison, View email address on aiapply.co.

Learn more about the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at jazzhall.com