Director of Cultural Affairs - Denver Arts and Venues

City and County of Denver

6d • $109,134 - $180,071 • Hybrid

About The Position

Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum, Loretto Heights, and McNichols Civic Center Building. DAV also oversees the Denver Public Art Program, administers cultural funding opportunities such as the DENVER CREATES Fund, Five Points Jazz Grant, and P.S. You Are Here, and leads implementation of DENVER CREATES: A Collective Commitment to the Arts, Denver’s cultural plan.

Revenue generated by the agency is reinvested into the community through grants for artists and arts organizations, free and low-cost cultural events, public art, venue operations and maintenance, and arts education programs.

Denver Arts & Venues is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) through practices that expand access to arts and culture, foster authentic community relationships, and create meaningful, lasting impact across Denver’s diverse communities.

Denver Arts & Venues is seeking a Director of Cultural Affairs to lead the Cultural Affairs Division and advance the agency’s mission of supporting arts, culture, and community throughout Denver. Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director of Arts & Culture, this position provides strategic leadership for Denver’s cultural plan, grantmaking programs, cultural initiatives, and community-based events and activations.

The Director of Cultural Affairs serves as a key leader within the agency, responsible for developing long-term strategies, managing division operations, overseeing staff and resources, and building partnerships across the arts and cultural sector. This role also plays a critical part in advancing DAV’s equity, diversity, and inclusion goals and ensuring alignment with agency-wide priorities.

Requirements

• Ten (10) or more years of experience leading, managing, and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating grant programs, cultural initiatives, community engagement efforts, or related public-sector programs.
• Deep understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, particularly as they relate to community engagement, cultural programming, and grantmaking practices.
• Exceptional relationship-building and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans and successfully translate vision into measurable outcomes.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data and performance metrics to inform decisions and communicate results.
• Experience navigating complex challenges and developing practical, innovative solutions.
• Knowledge of local, national, and emerging trends in arts, culture, creative industries, and community-centered cultural development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
• Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors
• Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for a team of five employees, including senior program managers and program managers.
• Establish strategic direction, priorities, and performance measures for the Cultural Affairs Division and support implementation of agency and divisional goals.
• Provide direction and oversight for the team to serve as stewards of DENVER CREATES: A Collective Commitment to the Arts, including guiding implementation efforts and helping shape future goals and priorities.
• Lead the planning, administration, evaluation, and continuous improvement of cultural programs, grant initiatives, and community activations.
• Oversee the equitable and effective administration of grant programs, including development of funding processes, timelines, guidelines, evaluation methods, and performance outcomes.
• Direct the planning and execution of cultural events and activations, ensuring strong community engagement, exceptional customer service, and responsible budget management.
• Manage divisional budgets and resources, ensuring expenditures and align with approved funding levels and organizational priorities.
• Track, analyze, and report program outcomes and key performance indicators to support informed decision-making and demonstrate impact.
• Collaborate with internal departments, city agencies, community organizations, artists, cultural institutions, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support implementation of DAV’s equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives through participation in agency efforts, training, goal setting, and progress tracking.
• Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to promote cultural programs, events, sponsorship opportunities, and community engagement initiatives.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for strategic partnerships, innovative programming, and community-centered cultural development.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director