Now + There is on a mission to spark radical cultural change by curating and producing free, accessible contemporary art experiences by international and local artists that engage citizens in conversation, cultivate joy, and challenge our biases. We seek thoughtful and dedicated partners to help make Boston a public art city.

Now + There values new perspectives and opinions and a thoughtful approach to our work of building an open public art city. We acknowledge the unjust power dynamics inherent in contemporary art exhibitions and in the creation of works displayed in the public realm. We are committed to building more equitable ways of public-making by creating greater involvement and learning with communities of color, Black, and Indigenous Peoples in the creation of public artworks; ultimately co-creating diverse public audiences and building toward more openness in Boston. We respect and hold room for differences across race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and physical abilities.

Operations Director

TIME STATUS & SCHEDULE: Full-time

JOB OVERVIEW: The Operations Director leads N+T’s annual plan and motivates the team to create and meet ambitious quarterly OKRs. As a strong leader, they enable organizational scalability and sustainability to fulfill N+T’s vision of an open public art city. The Operations Director reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Director of Development and Project Director. The Operations Director is supported by a Controller and an Operations Manager.

JOB MISSION: Create, develop, and execute efficiencies and standards in organizational operations, financial performance, and culture to sustainably scale the organization; facilitating N+T’s vision to create an open public art city.

KEY BEHAVIORS:

The Operations Director is:

  • Analytical, inquiring, and imaginative with strong problem-solving skills

  • Demanding, critical, and exacting in their work

  • Fast-paced and self-motivated with a focus on timely, correct results

  • Diplomatic, superior communicator; succinctly communicating complex messages

  • Committed to building greater equity and inclusivity in the arts

METRICS:

The Operations Director succeeds when:

  • The team is consistently reporting quarterly OKRs and meeting annual goals

  • Leadership and the Board have accurate and timely projections with contingency plans

  • The team’s growing human resources needs are met

  • The Boston Public Art Triennial is open by May 2025 with 15 projects

  • Data on the Triennial is collected, analyzed, and reported by December 2025

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

  • Lead Annual Planning process and quarterly review of deliverables across all departments; integrated with the organization’s 5-year Strategic Plan and equity goals

  • Lead the 3-year organizational timeline, inclusive of the Triennial, Lot Lab, and Accelerator, and ensure it is up to date and integrated into team calendars

  • Lead Triennial contingency planning and, with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, execute the plan as needed

  • Manage the Triennial data collection with the team and the evaluation process with consultants

  • Develop, track, and maintain a 3-year operating budget ($3M-$5M annually) with quarterly forecast updates

  • Manage short and long-term cash flow requirements and planned release of restricted cash to ensure the organization's operational cash needs are met

  • Manage Human Resources for up to 15 staff and 30 volunteers with support from an outside consultant; including but not limited to hiring, onboarding, performance development, performance management, growth of benefits package, and offboarding.

  • Manage the annual audit preparation and execution and required Commonwealth and Federal filings

  • Oversee the integrity and technical quality of all financial systems by managing a Controller and Bookkeeper

  • Manage Operations Manager’s delivery of IT services, on/offboarding, office management, lease agreements, and banking relationships 

  • Oversee compliance standards for grants, foundations, and major gift management with the Development Department

  • Oversee vendor and artist contracts with Production Director

  • Develop and ensure the adoption of organizational filing and project management standards across multiple platforms; implement improved or streamlined systems as appropriate and manage team training

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 10 plus years in operations and human resource management with proven results in designing and executing annual operations and management plans that motivate team members and volunteers

  • Skills and proven results in managing a budget of or greater than $4M, forecasting and contingency planning

  • Hands-on experience designing and managing complex program delivery systems (e.g. events, products, services) with previous festival experience a plus.

  • Experience with non-profit accounting and reporting

  • Proficiency with QuickBooks, Excel and Google Suite is mandatory; Systems experience with Salesforce, Paychex, and Wrike are a plus

  • A demonstrated commitment to furthering diversity and equity in the arts

HOURS: This is a full-time, 40-hour/week position in N+T’s open floor-plan office with the option for some remote work. Weekend and evening work may be required around project implementation.

SALARY: $120,000-$140,000

HOW TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@nowandthere.org, with the email subject line: “Operations Director interest.” Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Qualified candidates can expect an inquiry from Jaye Smith, FSG Consultants. Apply by Monday, May 13, 2024.

Banner photo: (c) Charles Mayer