ARIZONA COMMISSION ON THE ARTS

417 West Roosevelt Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85003

Salary:  $85,000

Grade: E1

This position will close on 1/31/25

The Arts Commission maintains a lifelong learning mission, promoting and supporting learning in, through, and about the arts in formal and informal settings for all ages.

The Deputy Director has four core areas of responsibility and oversight: Agency Leadership; Grants, Programs, Strategic Initiatives, Communications; Supervision and Operations; and Other Duties as assigned.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. 

Agency Leadership:

• Develop and implement planning and performance-measurement processes, to support a just and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities in alignment with the agency's mission and goals

• Identify, manage, and actively foster inter-agency, community, and national partnerships supporting priority focus areas and the development of strategic opportunities

• Represent the agency’s work and interests within state government, in community partnerships, in media, and in statewide and national settings

• Work with the Executive Director on agency budgeting and relevant monitoring and reporting processes for grants and programs

• Provide strategic, ethical, credible, collaborative leadership for/with agency staff, board, partners, and constituents

• Collaborate with agency staff to integrate relevant research into program and policy decisions

Grants, Programs, Strategic Initiatives, Communications:

• Oversee the development and implementation of relevant timelines to encourage staff, stakeholder, and participant success, and to allow procedural and reporting deadlines to be met

• Oversee the development and implementation of systems and standards to ensure constituents receive responsive, high-quality counsel and technical assistance

• Develop and monitor the budgets of grants, programs, and initiatives in association with the Director of Finance and Operations and Executive Director

• Collaborate on the evaluation and assessment of existing systems and procedures to ensure continuous improvement and increased efficiency

• Oversee the codification and implementation of relevant logistics and procedures, including appropriate retention of data, files, and archives

• Collaborate with agency staff and diverse stakeholders to develop effective and accessible non-grant services and public programs

• Collaborate with agency staff and diverse stakeholders to develop and maintain innovative grant programs

• Direct the communications team to ensure relevant promotion and communication of grants and programs

• Monitor and stay informed of regulations and laws applicable to arts funding and other forms of support

• Provide oversight to or direct administration of strategic initiatives

• Provide backup to programs as needed in a small agency

Supervision and Operations:

• Manage and directly supervise Director level staff to set strategic goals with clear outcomes and deliverables in support of a values-based agency and positive team culture, including individual professional development and growth

• Responsible for staff in Arts Learning, Individual Artists, Organizational, and Tribal Relations program areas, plus occasional contractors and interns working in support of relevant program areas

• Correspond with constituents and develop sufficient knowledge of agency programs, procedures, and policy to respond accurately and comprehensively to requests for information

• Collaborate on operations design and certain human resources processes in association with the Executive Director and Director of Finance and Operations

• Identify and implement new opportunities to enhance a sense of belonging and social connection in an agency with satellite employees

• Ensure timely development and submission of grant application materials, annual funding requests, and periodic reports to authorizers

• Provide backup to operations as needed in a small agency.

Knowledge:

• Principles, practices, and techniques related to engagement strategies, intercultural communication, collaborative decision-making, consensus building, and facilitation

• Practices and approaches related to (and differences between) equity, inclusion, and access in arts and culture-based service and engagement

• Operational structure of the nonprofit sector, nonprofit arts organizations, and other public services

• Practices and approaches related to equitable, asset-based public service

• Grantmaking and grant writing principles, methods, and techniques

• Government and arts policy leadership and management

• Arts and cultural disciplines, policy, history, and trends

Skills:

• Strong decision-making skills and the determination to see projects through to the end while making necessary and sometimes difficult pivots when appropriate

• Exemplary organizational skills and the ability to prioritize concurrent projects with multiple stakeholders

• Exemplary listening, interpersonal communication, and creative problem-solving skills

• Strong skill/ability to supervise, support, and resolve conflict with and between staff

• Strong skill/ability to manage, organize, and properly document information

• Strong skill/ability with standard office products and diverse online systems

• Strong skill/ability related to program/project/event management

Ability to:

• Build effective relationships with individuals, groups, and communities of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures

• Provide useful, timely, and sensitive customer service to diverse constituencies and authorizers

• Connect with, inform, and engage various publics in service of the Arts Commission’s mission

• Learn about and navigate operational structures of local, state, tribal, and federal government

• Effectively guide agency staff on grants, programs, and services development and delivery

• Show respect for professional, avocational, formal, and informal art forms and practices

• Manage competing priority tasks with efficiency and good judgment

• Manage collaborative teams with respect and encouragement

• Know when to ask for help, advice, and support

• Bachelor's degree in an arts discipline, arts administration, public policy, education, humanities, nonprofit administration, or related discipline

• 5 or more years of experience and/or training within a nonprofit organization, government agency, grantmaking organization, educational institution, research entity, or creative sector business

• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• A valid driver's license is required

• This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

• Vacation plus 10 paid holidays per year

• Health and dental insurance

• Retirement plan

• Sick leave

• Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

• Note that enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Shawn McConnell at shawn.mcconnell@azdoa.gov