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Chief Executive Officer

PREPARED BY:

Meg Becker

Aaron Mieszczanski

Ellen Pennow

Position and Candidate Specification

www.spencerstuart.com

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The Chief Executive Officer of Studio in a School (SIAS) will lead and inspire a transformational and nationally

recognized organization that supports students from classrooms to careers, transforming how young people

experience the visual arts. Building on SIAS’s legacy of connecting practicing artists with students, schools, and

cultural institutions, the CEO will shape the organization’s vision for the future to ensure that arts education

continues to remain accessible, inclusive, and innovative.

The CEO will be a passionate champion of arts education and equitable access to creative opportunities. As the

organization’s chief spokesperson, they will articulate its mission, goals, and values across all constituencies,

internally and externally, serving as a visible and inspiring advocate for its work. Building on the organization’s

track record of success and strong brand, the CEO will leverage opportunities for growth, innovation, and deeper

impact. They will engage, inspire, and empower a high-performing and deeply committed staff while

strengthening relationships with partner schools, artists, philanthropic and cultural partners, and communities.

Providing strategic and operational leadership, the CEO will oversee all aspects of the organization’s operations,

including artistic and educational programming, business management operations, staff leadership, and long-

term financial sustainability. They will enhance the organization’s long-term vitality by raising its external visibility,

building a strong organizational culture, empowering a high-performing team, and by engaging effectively with

the Board of Trustees to ensure sound fiscal stewardship and to deepen ties with the New York City arts education

community and beyond. In addition, the CEO will expand philanthropic and earned revenue streams, and cultivate

a vibrant organizational culture rooted in collaboration, creativity, and accountability.

Position

Summary

Studio in a School

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KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Board of Directors

Direct reports: Chief Development Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Chief Program Officer

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Other key

relationships:

Current and prospective donors, supporters, and partners

New York City Public Schools

Partner schools

Cultural organizations

Staff and Teaching Artists

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In partnership with the Board of Directors and staff, the Chief Executive Officer will:

Refine and implement a developing strategic plan that is aligned with the organization's vision, mission, and

values.

Serve as an important voice and advocate in the arts and art education in New York City and at the national

level.

Manage the day-to-day operations of the organization and foster a culture of collaboration, transparency,

professional development, accountability, and excellence across all levels of the organization.

Build and sustain SIAS’s existing partnerships and seek to actively create new, meaningful arts education

programming and initiatives.

Partner with the Chief Development Officer to build and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies,

including individual giving, foundation grants, and government support.

Cultivate and strengthen relationships with existing donors and actively seek new funding opportunities.

Collaborate with the Board and staff to develop and monitor annual budgets, operational plans, and impact,

ensuring financial sustainability and progress toward strategic objectives.

Serve as the main point of contact with the Studio’s union partner, including negotiating and managing

collective bargaining agreements.

Partner effectively with City and County leaders in New York City, including the Mayor’s office and other

elected officials and City agencies, the NYC Public Schools, New York state and national cultural

organizations, and other potential partners.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Studio in a School will be a passionate and engaging leader with a growth and

success mindset who can inspire, motivate, and lead an organization as it enters a key phase of its evolution. The

CEO will bring an inclusive, collaborative approach to team leadership and partnership management, internally

and externally, and will be an active, creative, and effective fundraiser in support of the organization’s mission.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Strategic Stewardship and Fundraising: A bold thinker who will play a highly visible advocacy role on behalf

of the organization, developing, maintaining, and expanding relationships with financial supporters.

Additionally, able to identify and build new sources of individual and organizational philanthropic support.

Mission-Orientation: Commitment to SIAS’s mission and core values. Deep understanding of, and/or

demonstrated appreciation for, supporting underserved communities with a focus on arts education access,

opportunity, and equity.

Inspiring and Enterprising Leader: Experience serving as an inspiring, authentic, and credible leader, skilled

in guiding leaders and empowering high-performing teams while successfully driving results and

implementing strategic goals.

Executive Leadership and Management: Strong track record of successful oversight, strong stewardship,

efficient management of finance, human resources, and operations and promoting a culture of inclusion,

excellence, and high-quality execution at all levels within the organization.

Union Negotiations: Success in working within a unionized environment and experience in negotiating

collective bargaining agreements.

Partnership with a Board: Experience partnering and collaborating effectively and transparently with a

Board of Directors. Ability to identify and cultivate new Board members for the organization.

Candidate Profile Studio in a School

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CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Building Organizational Capacity

Provide clear leadership and understanding of SIAS’s programmatic, financial, physical and human assets,

and meet the organization’s evolving needs.

In partnership with the Board of Directors and the staff, refine and implement a developing strategic plan

that has a clear emphasis on organizational growth and success and expands and diversifies development

opportunities, translating this plan into clear priorities and direction for the team and drives its successful

execution.

Provide critical leadership to attract, retain, and empower a talented and diverse team; promote and

sustain a culture of accountability.

Balance short-term decision making while conveying a long-term vision for how SIAS can evolve to drive

greater impact and results.

Effectively partner with and leverage the Board to ensure that both governance and leadership are aligned

to set and achieve organizational priorities.

External Relations and Fundraising

Cultivate and build donor relationships, creating and inspiring enthusiastic support for SIAS and creating

clear goals and outcomes for the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Bring new donors to the organization to support, expand, and diversify fundraising.

Articulate SIAS’s mission, value, and impact effectively and with passion and serve as an authentic and

compelling internal and external spokesperson.

Demonstrate impeccable credibility, integrity, and ability to create and maintain strong relationships built

on trust and transparency with staff, school partners, donors, and the extended SIAS community.

Work collaboratively with the Board to broaden and deepen relationships with cultural, corporate, and

philanthropic partners.

Collaborating and Partnering

Communicate the long-term direction and collaborate with the staff on how to reach it. Build a strong sense

of empowerment, accountability, and shared responsibility across the organization.

Authentically engage and develop trust and credibility with the Board, staff, and external constituencies.

Develop collaborative, inclusive, and ongoing partnerships with relevant organizations and enhance the

scope and impact of the organization’s impact.

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OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Authentic connection to and infectious passion for the SIAS mission.

A love and passion for being in partnership with school communities. Genuine interest in the lives of SIAS

colleagues, students, and members of the extended SIAS community.

An empathetic, inclusive, resilient, and decisive leader with good judgement in alignment with SIAS’s

mission and values.

Confidence and willingness to listen and learn openly, empower others, make challenging decisions, and

share credit.

Exceptional written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills with an eagerness to connect with

people from a range of backgrounds.

Strong understanding of and/or connection to New York City.

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Studio in a School believes every child deserves access to high-quality arts education—and SIAS has been making

that happen since 1977. Founded by philanthropist and MoMA President Emerita Agnes Gund during a fiscal crisis

that gutted public school arts programs, SIAS has spent nearly five decades proving that art isn't a luxury—it's

essential.

The Mission: Expand access to visual arts education and careers by connecting practicing artists with students,

schools, and cultural institutions.

The Approach: SIAS places professional artist instructors directly in underserved schools across all five boroughs,

delivering rigorous, engaging visual arts programming where it's needed most. Through summer internships with

leading cultural organizations, SIAS also opens pathways for students to explore careers in the arts.

The Impact:

30,000+ students served annually across 170 NYC public schools and beyond

250+ internships each year with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions

28 dedicated staff members

$9 million annual budget backed by a $15 million endowment

Support from individuals, foundations, and corporations

For more information, please visit https://studioinaschool.org/

About SIAS Studio in a School

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COMPENSATION

The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $240,000-$290,000 based on skills, experience,

abilities, and organizational needs. In addition to the annual salary, Studio in a School offers a generous and

comprehensive benefits package. This role requires working four days a week in the Studio offices and one day of

remote work each week.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

Studio in a School is being assisted in this important recruitment by Spencer Stuart. If you wish to confidentially

submit application materials or nominate someone for this role, please email: StudioCEO@SpencerStuart.com.

The Studio in a School Association is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire staff that reflect the diversity

of the communities we serve. All positions within Studio in a School are filled without regard to race, color,

religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, HIV/AIDS

status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by law.