Executive Director

The Agency Head of the South Carolina Arts Commission serves as the chief strategist and leader responsible for advancing a statewide vision that ensures broad and equitable access to the arts. This role provides overall direction, management, and oversight of the agency’s strategic planning, resource development, and program execution, aligning initiatives with the evolving cultural, economic, and community needs of South Carolina. Working in close partnership with the Board of Commissioners, legislators, and a diverse network of stakeholders, the Agency Head drives policy development, cultivates funding opportunities, and strengthens partnerships at the local, state, and national levels. The position also oversees financial stewardship, grantmaking, organizational performance, and team leadership, ensuring the Commission operates with accountability, transparency, and impact while positioning South Carolina as a leader in the arts sector. Location: Columbia, SC Reports to: Board of Directors Staff Leadership: 26 full time employees Budget: $11.6M ABOUT THE AGENCY For more than 50 years, the agency has worked to build a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their circumstances or where they live. We help artists and arts providers offer unique arts experiences to residents and visitors. From free poetry readings and gallery crawls to sweetgrass basketry workshops and ticketed dance, music, or theatre performances, they create an environment that contributes to quality of life from three “corner” counties of Oconee, Horry, and Beaufort to the 43 arranged inside. Since1967, the SCAC has awarded more than$132million in grants to artists, arts organizations, school districts, schools, and teachers! KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Arts Planning, Development and Positioning Leads the development and implementation of the agency’s strategic plan, short and long-term. The strategic plan identifies priorities, objectives and strategies that respond to the current climate while meeting the needs of the state. Assists in the design and allocation of agency resources for arts and grants programs to accomplish the objectives and goals of the agency’s strategic plan. Arts Policy and Resource Development Advises the Board of Commissioners on arts policy development. In collaboration with the Board of Commissioners, solicits and raises funds and identifies resources from federal, state, corporate, foundation and individual sources, to ensure the highest quality in arts offerings to the citizens of the state and to advance the cultural and economic development of the state’s arts industry. Ensures a fair and equitable grants program exists, that is well publicized to constituents and awards funding to a variety of constituents, organizations, schools and artists. Assists in ensuring that statewide grant funds are disbursed to recipients in a timely manner and that grant guidelines and processes are continually refined to simplify access and streamline internal procedures. Also assists in ensuring that opportunities to expand and increase grants funding are explored and an evaluation process is developed to ensure awarded funds are utilized in the specified manner. Legislative Relations Communicates regularly with key legislators (subcommittee and committee members, etc.), members of the arts caucuses, House and Senate leadership, staff, and others, providing relevant information on matters related to the agency’s work, its budget, and legislation with potential impact on the creative industries and the arts. Ensures that an annual balanced budget is presented to the board and that state, federal and other funds are secured to support the agency’s activities. Assists in ensuring that effective internal fiscal controls exist, and financial reporting is accurate and meets deadlines. Assists in ensuring the budget is monitored and adjusted as needed and year-end financial reports indicate adherence to budget provisos. Board Relations Communicates regularly with Commissioners providing thorough and relevant information on matters of agency policy and programs and solicits input and decision making by the Commissioners as appropriate and according to agency policy. Partnership Relations Ensures networking and information exchanges occur and that membership and leadership positions are held on national and regional arts organization boards to strengthen South Carolina’s position as a regional and national leader in the arts. Assists in ensuring a variety of partnerships throughout the arts community with individual businesses, state, regional and national groups are initiated and that a strong rapport with members of the General Assembly, US Congress, county and municipal governments is developed and maintained. Communications Ensures marketing programs, plans and high-quality materials promote the programs of the Commission and that oversight is maintained for all publications, newsletters, electronic marketing tools and Board materials. Assists in ensuring agency vision, values, Long-Range Plan and Strategic Plan are communicated to all employees. Assists in ensuring that information about the agency and its programs is easily accessible to the public and that the agency is responsive to requests for information from the public. Evaluation Reviews performance of staff to meet objectives of agency’s strategic plan. Assists in ensuring feedback systems exist to collect information and reflect constituents’ interests, expectations and satisfaction and that planning processes exist to address future constituent needs. Assists in ensuring data and information is analyzed and used to make improvements in programs and the organization. Staffing Ensures recruitment, selection and hiring processes exist which deliver exceptional talent to administer the work of the agency. Assists in ensuring staff is empowered, self-directed, trusting and works cooperatively to fulfill the mission of the agency. Assists in ensuring an employee evaluation system exists to measure individual performance, to provide feedback and to develop employee potential. Assists in ensuring that an employee compensation, benefits, opportunities, recognition and development programs exist. Assists in ensuring workforce planning and needs analysis occurs on a regular basis. Administration Ensures administrative and operational policies and procedures exist to manage the agency and that internal program policies and procedures are in effect. Assists in ensuring the agency is in compliance with state and federal laws, rules and regulations and that evaluation processes exist to review and recommend improvements to agency procedures, operations and interdepartmental workflow. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION Bachelor’s degree with a major in arts administration or an arts related field, business or public administration, or educational leadership and policies. Minimum of 5 years work at the senior management level such as: Executive Dir. of a large metropolitan arts council; state arts agency management; major city or state arts institution; major performing arts or educational facility; major presenting company; Dean of a Fine Arts School at a university or college; Executive or Deputy Director at a regional or national arts organization. Prefer a Master’s degree with a major in arts administration or an arts related field, business or public administration, or educational leadership and policies. Prefer eight (8) or more years of proven professional management and supervisory experience in state, federal or local arts development, arts program administration, or a related field. COMPENSATION The salary at the time of hire is expected to be $112,126. The salary has the potential to be adjusted by the Agency Head Salary Commission; however, this is not guaranteed. Candidates should be comfortable with the starting salary mentioned above. Employees participate in the State of South Carolina benefits programs and the State of South Carolina retirement system. More information about benefits can be found at TO APPLY The application period will remain open until July 15th. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis by the FGP team during the application period with final application evaluations occuring the week of July 20th. Candidates must meet the qualifications listed above in order to be considered. CONFIDENTIALITY AND FOIA South Carolina FOIA laws require the release of the finalist’s names (at least three finalists) should the agency receive a FOIA request. Confidential interest will be possible early in the process; however, candidates should be aware of the FOIA requirements as the process moves towards finalist selection. #J-18808-Ljbffr