Director of Artists Residencies

Oolite Arts seeks a Director of Artists Residencies who will provide strategic and operational leadership for the program and oversee all aspects of the Oolite Arts Residency Program. In this role they will serve as the key liaison to artists, partners, stakeholders, and the Board of Trustees. This position works strategically with the Vice President of Programming and Artistic Director, CEO, CDO, and Board for funding opportunities. They also work collaboratively with Exhibitions and Community Outreach, Education, Community Art Classes, Fabrication Facilities, and Digital Lab Programs to provide resident artists with a fuller experience and access to all of Oolite Arts resources. The core purpose of the position is to envision and implement a transformative artist residency experience for all of Oolite Art’s Studio and Home + Away residents and Alumni. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to):

Studio Residency

• Manage Studio Residency, Home + Away Residency and Alumni Programs.  
• Serve as a primary point of contact for resident artists before, during, and after their residency.
• Facilitate orientation, professional development opportunities, public engagement activities, and community interactions. 
• Update the artists on upcoming opportunities regularly.
• Keep artists informed about Oolite Arts’ initiatives.
• Schedule regular studio visits, assist with quarterly reports, and coordinate open studios during exhibition openings.
• Schedule monthly gatherings for studio residents to share programming information and discuss any concerns.
• Oversee creation of promotional materials including resident postcards, videos, resident artists webpages.
• Organize resident program guests including studio visits, Skills, critiques.
• Manage and collaborate with Studio Residency Artist Mentor to support resident career development.
• Stay informed about residents’ happenings and share it with the communications team.
• Process Knight Artist Housing Stipend monthly payments (only Studio Residency).
• Maintain budget.
• Administer the alumni grant drawing at quarterly Open Studios.
• Support resident and alumni artists with letters of recommendation and references for applications.
• A “people person” – Ability to provide individual artist support for the cohort.

Studio Residency Application Process

• Oversee program application cycles, jury correspondence, selection processes, contracts and onboarding for artists residences.
• Prepare all documentation before the application goes live.
• Create the application on Submittable and coordinate with the communications team for website updates.
• Assess the eligibility of all applications, assign them for review, and facilitate the selection of new residents.
• Manage Residencies schedules, facilities usage, and resource allocations. 
• Ensure compliance with policies, legal requirements and risk management processes. 
• Contact jurors, schedule jury sessions, and ensure a smooth application review process.
• Coordinate with the board for final approvals and communicate results to applicants.
• Initiate contract preparations and gather necessary information from winners for seamless onboarding.

Fundraising and Budget Oversight

• Work closely with Senior Director of Programs and CFO to create initial budgets and scope proposals and present to leadership for approval. 
• Help develop and manage the residency program budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational goals. 
• Partner with development staff to secure funding – including grants, sponsorships, and individual gifts-to support residency initiatives. 
• Develop and manage the residency program budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational goals. 

Partnerships and External Relations

• Help build and maintain relationships with cultural organizations, funders, collaborators, and community partners. 
• Develop strategic collaborations that expand program reach and impact.

Additional Duties:

• Establish performance metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess program impact. 
• Prepare reports for funders, board committees, and leadership on residencies outcomes, metrics, and strategic opportunities. Display adherence to the organization’s mission.
• Collaborate with leadership to integrate residency activities into broader organizational planning and branding. 
• Maintain proficient knowledge of the organization’s history and programs.
• Assist with writing of grants related to the residency. 
• Work to develop and coordinate programs and events that qualify for grant proposals.
• Furnish prospective funders with supporting documentation.
• Adhere to the established policies and procedures of Oolite Arts.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of three (3) years of applicable experience working in a membership-based institution or non-profit required or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Proficient with MS Office Word and Excel.
• Excellent knowledge of fundraising and grants information sources.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• A demonstrated understanding of philanthropy and special events.
• Strong critical thinking and technical skills.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to juggle numerous projects with attention to both process and people.
• Calm and collected demeanor, willingness to support the team at every level.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively across departments in a team environment.
• Must have a guest focus and a commitment to excellence.
• Detail oriented and exceptional organizational skills required.
• Strong people skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work evenings, holidays and weekends as scheduled.
• Excellence in English language (oral and written) required; preference for bilingual Spanish and/or Creole. 
• Experience working with an integrated (CRM) system. 
• Proficiency in Blackbaud a plus.

EEO/DFWP

Job Type: Full-time

Salary:  $90,000

Benefits:

• Dental Insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan

To apply, please send your resume to: [email protected]