Berkeley Search Consultants · 1 day ago
Executive Director of Arts & Culture
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$211K/yr - $269K/yr
7+ years expBerkeley Search Consultants is seeking an Executive Director of Arts and Culture to lead San Francisco’s citywide arts and cultural strategy. This role involves guiding initiatives that create opportunities for artists and ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the City’s identity and economic vitality.
RecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Julia Morse
Responsibilities
Lead the City’s strategy and long-term planning for arts and culture, advancing policies and programs that strengthen San Francisco’s creative ecosystem and promote cultural equity
Oversee a new organization that unifies and aligns the work of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, and the Film Commission to ensure coordination, accountability, and shared priorities
Serve as the Mayor’s Office principal liaison to the arts community, cultural organizations, philanthropic partners, and creative industry stakeholders
Champion the integration of arts and culture into broader City priorities, including housing, economic development, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization
Oversee City investments in arts funding, public art projects, and cultural infrastructure, ensuring transparency, equity, and measurable community benefit in alignment with City policies and governance requirements
Develop and implement strategies to steward and activate cultural spaces, create opportunity for working artists, and attract creative enterprises to San Francisco
Collaborate with City departments and external partners to advance film production, cultural events, and public programming that showcase the diversity of San Francisco
Represent the Mayor’s Office in high-level policy discussions, commission meetings, and public forums related to the arts and creative economy
Monitor program outcomes, assess impact, and provide data-driven recommendations to strengthen City arts investments
Serve as a visible advocate for San Francisco’s creative community, ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the City’s identity, economy, and civic life
Qualification
Required
7 years of full-time relevant experience in arts administration, cultural policy, creative industry leadership, or nonprofit and public-sector management
5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing strategic initiatives, managing staff, and shaping organizational priorities
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in arts administration, public policy, business, or a related field
Preferred
Possession of a graduate degree (master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university, preferably in arts administration, public policy, business, public administration, or a related field
Demonstrated success in leading complex arts, culture, or creative economy initiatives across multiple organizations, agencies, or sectors
Knowledge of San Francisco's cultural ecosystem, including its public art programs, arts nonprofits, philanthropic institutions, and creative industries
Experience managing public funding programs or grantmaking processes that support artists, cultural organizations, or community-based arts initiatives
Proven ability to engage diverse communities, balancing artistic innovation with cultural equity and neighborhood representation
Experience working directly with elected officials, municipal departments, or public commissions to advance arts and cultural policy
Knowledge of cultural programming, public art management, arts funding and grantmaking, and the role of arts in economic and community development
Ability to coordinate closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including City departments, arts organizations, philanthropic partners, and community leaders, to advance complex cultural initiatives
Experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams and managing programs in fast-paced, dynamic environments
Ability to navigate complex political and organizational contexts with discretion, tact, and professionalism
Experience leading change management strategies that align people, processes, and systems with organizational goals
Strong strategic thinking, policy development, and project management skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges and design effective solutions
Skilled spokesperson able to represent the Mayor's Office publicly, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and engage with the arts and cultural community
Deep commitment to equity, cultural preservation, and ensuring that San Francisco's arts ecosystem reflects and uplifts the City's diversity
Strong understanding of Mayor Lurie's priorities and the critical role of arts and culture in fostering community identity, social connection, and economic vitality
Benefits
Medical and dental insurance
The San Francisco Employee Retirement System (mySFERS.org)
Deferred compensation plan
Long-term disability plan
Life insurance
12 paid holidays per year
5 floating holidays
10 to 20 vacation days per year depending on years of service
Company
Berkeley Search Consultants
Berkeley Search Consultants is a full-service executive search and placement firm which focuses in technology, consumer packaged goods,etc.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Jim Beach
Vice President, Banking and Financial Services
Julia Morse
Vice President, Healthcare & Public Sector Practices
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