Organizer Information
NXTHVN was co-founded in 2018 by artist Titus Kaphar and impact investor Jason Price, both longtime New Haven residents, with artist Jonathan Brand also part of the founding team. The organization combines arts and entrepreneurship in a model that, through access, education, programming, and impact investing, launches the careers of artists and curators while strengthening the livelihood of the surrounding community. NXTHVN operates from a 40,000-square-foot adapted-reuse campus in two former factory buildings in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, designed by TenBerke (the firm led by Yale School of Architecture dean Deborah Berke), with adjacent fellows' housing. The organization operates with an annual budget of approximately $2 million and is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors, expanded over the past year under new Board Chair Hassan Smith. Cornerstone programs include a ten-month Fellowship Program for emerging and underrepresented artists and curators, a paid High School Apprenticeship Program for local Dixwell teens, an exhibition program producing four shows annually, and local strategic initiatives supporting entrepreneurial ventures in the neighborhood.
Title & Description
NXTHVN Executive Director
NXTHVN seeks an Executive Director to provide visionary leadership at what the organization describes as a defining moment in its evolution. Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Directors with frequent collaboration across all Board members, the Executive Director will partner with the founders, the Board, and staff to steward NXTHVN's model into its next chapter — deepening its impact for artists and curators, for the Dixwell community, and for the broader arts and cultural sector.
The role combines organizational stewardship with organizational building. The Executive Director will serve as NXTHVN's primary external ambassador and internal anchor, ensuring that programs, partnerships, and resources stay aligned with the mission, the founders' vision, board policy, and community needs. The source specifies that the successful candidate will bring a multi-million dollar fundraising track record, sound nonprofit financial stewardship, operational rigor, and an authentic connection to the role of the arts in advancing equity, opportunity, and community well-being.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time, exempt
- Salary: $175,000–$200,000 annually, commensurate with experience
- Reports To: Chair of the Board of Directors, with frequent collaboration with all Board members
- Direct Reports: Senior leadership team
- Location Requirement: Must reside in or within 45 miles of New Haven, CT
- Working Hours: Full-time; willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends required
Position & Tasks
- Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Lead development and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives, ensuring alignment between programs, operations, and mission
- Foster a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement throughout the organization
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships that advance NXTHVN's goals and impact
- Stay informed on trends and best practices in the arts, entrepreneurship, and community development
- Fundraising and Financial
- Steward existing institutional and individual funder relationships and cultivate new relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government agencies, sustaining and growing multi-million dollar revenue
- Develop and implement strategies to diversify and expand revenue streams
- Oversee financial health, including budget development, financial planning, and fiscal management
- Provide comprehensive management of the facility's balance sheet, including debt service obligations
- Ensure compliance with financial reporting requirements and best practices; work with the Board on financial policies, procedures, and KPIs
- Community Engagement and External Relations
- Serve as primary spokesperson and ambassador at community events, conferences, and other forums
- Build and maintain strong relationships with the Dixwell community, with deep respect for its history, dynamics, and aspirations
- Develop and maintain partnerships with arts organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and community groups
- Oversee communications and marketing efforts to raise NXTHVN's profile locally and nationally
- Operational and Administrative Leadership
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the 40,000 square foot creative campus and adjacent fellows' housing
- Develop and implement policies, systems, and procedures for efficient operations
- Recruit, supervise, and evaluate staff, providing professional development opportunities
- Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative organizational culture
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- Programmatic Leadership
- Work closely with the Director of Programs and Exhibitions to oversee development, implementation, and evaluation of all programs
- Ensure programs align with mission and meet needs of artists, curators, and the community
- Identify opportunities to enhance existing programs and develop new initiatives
- Board Relations
- Work closely with the twelve-member Board of Directors, providing regular reports on activities, finances, and strategic initiatives
- Support continued Board development and engagement
- Implement Board policies and decisions; ensure clear communication between Board and staff; leverage Board members' expertise and networks
Categories
- Arts Administration
- Art Management
- Nonprofit Leadership
- Curatorial Practice
- Visual Arts
- Community Development
- Fundraising & Development
- Cultural Programming
- Museum & Institution Studies
Eligibility
- Open to candidates with international or national backgrounds; no geographic origin restriction stated, but must reside in or within 45 miles of New Haven, CT
- At least ten years of increasing senior leadership responsibility and direct management of staff and teams
- Track record of success in nonprofit management, ideally in arts, cultural, educational, or community-based organizations
- Established multi-million dollar fundraising track record across institutional and individual donor communities
- Fluency in nonprofit finance, including budgeting, cash flow management, audit oversight, and financial dimensions of capital and facilities
- Experience overseeing capital projects, physical facilities, and campus operations
- Demonstrated success aligning resources with strategic goals in organizations known for innovative artistic, educational, or community-based programs
- Genuine connection to the arts and the role of arts in community life, with cultural fluency and appreciation for the creative process
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
- Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel domestically and internationally as required
Program Benefits
- Annual salary of $175,000–$200,000, commensurate with experience
- Health insurance (employee contributory)
- Dental insurance (employee contributory)
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Not specified in the source: pension/retirement contributions, professional development allowance, relocation support, or other in-kind benefits
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Location
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Additional Details
- Search conducted on behalf of NXTHVN by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy for the cultural sector, led by Edie Demas
- The source explicitly welcomes candidates who meet an average of 60% of the listed criteria, including those returning from an employment gap or transitioning careers
- NXTHVN is an Equal Opportunity Employer; does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership, parental status, or military status
- Role requires managing the facility's balance sheet and debt service obligations tied to NXTHVN's capital campus
- First two-to-three-year priorities include a comprehensive fundraising/business development plan, strengthening the organization's financial position, and a strategic planning process