Category: Professional Development

Creative Strategies for Change (CSC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013, in Denver, Colorado, with a mission to mobilize arts and education for social justice. CSC is rooted in a racial equity imperative – maintaining majority Black, Indigenous, and People of Color through every aspect of the organization. Our offerings include: community and youth programs, interactive performances and workshops, consulting, leadership, and professional development. 

The Executive Director (ED) is a member of the team that stewards CSC mission, vision, and values. Our collaborative leadership structure allows each team member to be accountable to one another, not solely the ED as in traditional nonprofit models. As a constituent led organization it is essential that our ED has shared lived experience, represents and reflects our community and especially the most marginalized among us. CSC is seeking a candidate with experience in organizational growth, who knows the value of arts and restorative practice in the work of equity and justice, to guide our devoted, creative, badass visionary team through the journey from start up to sustainable, from surviving to thriving! 

In collaboration with the brilliant staff, board, and community, the ED will galvanize our internal and external commitment to equity, excellence, creativity, and wellness. Current priorities for the position include: 

• Lead a collaborative process with the staff and board to capture, operationalize, activate, and evaluate our short and long term strategic vision
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and Capacity Building to bolster administrative systems and build organizational capacity centering wellness and equity
• Support thriving programs in partnership with Co-Directors of Arts and Education as we grow up and glow up
• Fortify our Restorative System and Human Resource needs for sustainability and growth as individuals and a collective 
• Grow the constituent-led board of directors, deepen engagement and accountability, improve information sharing and communications between the board and staff and broader community
• Work with our accountant to manage the organizational finances, and collaborate with the executive committee and administrative team to develop, review, refine, and implement an annual operating budget in alignment with program budgets and needs
• Lead from the heart, shine light where it is needed, show up for the unpredictable and messy needs of our beloved grassroots organization as we navigate the nonprofit industrial complex and dismantle white supremacy norms with love and creativity. 

Schedule-wise, you’d be looking at 40 hours a week between 8am – 6pm, M-F. (some evenings and weekends will be required). This position is based in the CSC office space at 2900 N. Downing St. Suite 1B. Typically we have 1-2 flex days / work from home days each month. While covid restrictions are in place, we honor individual needs and have all precautions in place, with most staff continuing to work from the office.

Preferred start date May/June 2021.

The salary range is $70,000-$80,000 annually (depending on experience). CSC currently offers the following benefits to all employees, this is negotiable as an area we want to improve and may be able to provide supplementary pay to cover a transition period of onboarding a new health insurance / benefits package.

• Health Care Contributions : $400/month (FTE)
• Accrual of PTO – 2 days per month

As an ideal candidate, you…

• Know that social justice is a lifestyle commitment and align with the CSC mission, vision, values, and racial equity imperative.
• Wield the magical skill of aligning organizational scope, with the goals, mission, and vision of a small organization with big ideas.
• Are not afraid of budgets and operations, and have experience and expertise in the field.
• Have 3-5 years consecutive experience in an administrative leadership role with nonprofit, arts, or community-based organizations. 
• Have experience with organizational change and growth, and guiding a committed team through the start up to sustainable experience.
• Are familiar with some or all of the following: community organizing, performing arts and arts education, youth leadership development, restorative/transformative justice.
• Know the nimble workings of nonprofit boards, including relationships, development, management, and fundraising. 
• Recognize that hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating personnel are relational and not transactional aspects of this work, and have experience navigating the balancing act.
• Are a collaborative communicator! Practiced in culturally responsive interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Are proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently and interdependently.
• Enjoy working with diverse teams and communities. 
• Get down with critical, strategic thinking and the capacity to manage a variety of projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Actively engage in restorative practices and conflict transformation, giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• Believe in the value of the arts as an expression and foundation to the work at CSC.

This position is not for you if are not willing to disrupt and dismantle the following norms:

• Perfectionism
• False Sense of Urgency
• Value Quantity over Quality 
• Power Hoarding 
• Fear of Open Conflict 
• Defensiveness
• Paternalism
• Either / Or Thinking
• Any other White Supremacy Cultural Norms… 

The work of the ED includes the following tasks and responsibilities…

ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS (Approximately 35%)

• Collaborative stewardship of the organizational mission, vision, and values.
• Collaborate with the executive committee, staff, and board of directors to develop and implement an annual and long term strategic plan. 
• Build organizational administrative capacity and provide leadership for support staff for efficient and effective management and evaluation. 
• Provide leadership with space and facilities needs, rent, maintenance, relationships, etc.
• Support thriving programs in partnership with Co-Directors of Arts and Education as we grow up and glow up.

HUMAN RESOURCES (Approximately 20%)

• Navigate, improve and manage all organizational HR needs, including operationalizing the CSC Restorative System through collaboration with the staff and board of directors.
• Attend regular staff, board, and team meetings and guide our growth as individuals and a collective. 

BOARD DEVELOPMENT & RELATIONS (Approximately 20%)

• Provide leadership for the board of directors, including engagement, development, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Nurture relationships with the board of directors and recruit new board members, especially to fill current gaps.
• Plan and budget for annual board and staff retreat as an opportunity for community and culture building as well as strategic planning and other administrative / operational needs. 

FISCAL MANAGEMENT (Approximately 15%)

• Collaborate with the executive committee and administrative team to develop, review, refine, and implement annual operating budget in alignment with program budgets and needs.
• Build a lasting relationship with the CSC accountant to manage all organizational bookkeeping and finances as required by law and in alignment with CSC mission, vision, and values. 

COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (Approximately 10% – as well as inherent overlap with other focus areas)

• Nurture new and existing partnerships with cultural, artistic and social justice organizations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Process information requests from current and prospective donors, sponsors, foundations, and board members.
• Nurture a culture of integrity with internal and external relationships, developing and maintaining open lines of communication. 

ADDITIONAL TASKS AS NEEDED 🙂

CSC strongly encourages applications from diverse women and BIPOC leaders for all positions. Creative Strategies for Change is committed to a policy of equitable representation across the organization and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ability status, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or other social identities. 

If you’re interested in applying, please submit your application here.