Director of SMoCA

Scottsdale Cultural Council•Scottsdale, AZ

44d•$100,000 - $107,000•Onsite

About The Position

SUMMARY: The Director of the Scottsdale Museum for Contemporary Art (SMoCA) provides visionary and strategic leadership for the museum in alignment with the mission and strategic plan of Scottsdale Arts. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director is responsible for the overall artistic, operational, financial, and community success of the museum. This role leads and empowers a team of curatorial, exhibitions, collections, visitor engagement, and administrative professionals, entrusting subject matter experts to lead within their discipline while ensuring cohesive strategy, fiscal responsibility, and institutional excellence across all functions. The Director serves as the museum’s chief spokesperson and ambassador, cultivating strong relationships internally, within the community, and across regional, national, and international art networks. The Director provides long-range strategic direction, oversees accreditation standards and best practices, and works closely with the Museum Advisory Council to advance the museum’s vision, sustainability, and reputation. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Under the direction of supervisor) Strategic & Executive Leadership: · Provide clear strategic direction for SMoCA in alignment with the President & CEO and the Scottsdale Arts Strategic Plan. · Develop and implement a long-range vision and multi-year strategic roadmap for exhibitions, collections growth and conservation, audience engagement, and institutional advancement. · Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team on organization-wide strategy, cross-divisional collaboration, and institutional priorities. · Establish measurable goals and key performance indicators and communicate progress to the CEO, the Senior Management Team, the Board of Trustees, the Advisory Council, and other stakeholders. · Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusiveness, innovation, and performance across the museum. Museum Operations & Oversight · Provide executive oversight of exhibitions, collections, education, public programs, retail operations, and museum administration. · Ensure that exhibition planning, collections stewardship, and public programming align with the museum’s strategic vision and contemporary relevance. · Oversee and ensure compliance with AAM accreditation standards and museum best practices, including leading reaccreditation processes and ongoing institutional assessment. · Guide institutional planning to ensure excellence in collections management, conservation standards, risk management, and ethical practices. · Ensure that museum operations meet the highest standards of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in both practice and programmatic expression. · Empower team to operate effectively within their areas of expertise while maintaining cohesive direction and fiscal discipline. Financial & Resource Stewardship · Develop and manage the annual operating budget and capital budgets for SMoCA in partnership with the Assistant Director and with finance leadership. · Ensure fiscal accountability and compliance with organizational policies and procedures. · Collaborate with Development staff to identify funding priorities, cultivate donor relationships, support grant proposals, and participate in donor solicitations. · Provide strategic oversight of fundraising initiatives specific to exhibitions, acquisitions, programs, and special projects. · Support earned revenue strategies and audience development initiatives in collaboration with Marketing, Programming, and Visitor Engagement teams. Community Engagement & External Relations · Serve as the Primary spokesperson and public representative of SMoCA by building meaningful partnerships that expand access, deepen community engagement, and position the museum as a vital cultural resource. · Actively cultivate and maintain relationships with artists, collectors, galleries, scholars, cultural leaders, peer institutions, and community stakeholders. · Elevate SMoCA’s visibility and influence locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. · Represent the museum at public events, openings, lectures, civic gatherings, and professional conferences. Governance & Advisory Leadership · Lead and collaborate with the SMoCA Advisory Council to refine and advance institutional priorities. · Oversee the Acquisition Committee in partnership with Registrar and Collections Manager, guiding collections growth consistent with mission, strategy, and fiduciary responsibility. Provide regular reports and strategic updates to the Board of Trustees and other governance bodies.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies or related field.
Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in a contemporary art museum or comparable cultural institution.
Demonstrated senior-level leadership with responsibility for strategic planning, staff oversight, and budget management.
Experience working within accredited institutions and knowledge of AAM standards.
Proven experience supporting fundraising, donor cultivation, grant writing, and acquisition strategy.
Experience working effectively with advisory boards or governance bodies.
Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams while fostering autonomy and accountability.
Visionary strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into actionable plans.
Collaborative leadership style that empowers experts while maintaining organizational cohesion.
Exceptional relationship-building skills across diverse constituencies.
Financial acumen with experience managing complex institutional budgets.
Strong public speaking and written communication skills.
High emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and sound judgement.
Deep knowledge of contemporary art and museum practice.
Demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and ability to lead through change.
Commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusive leadership.
Must be available for evenings and weekends as required for events and programs.
Must hold and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license with acceptable driving records and appropriate proof of insurance.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide clear strategic direction for SMoCA in alignment with the President & CEO and the Scottsdale Arts Strategic Plan.
Develop and implement a long-range vision and multi-year strategic roadmap for exhibitions, collections growth and conservation, audience engagement, and institutional advancement.
Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team on organization-wide strategy, cross-divisional collaboration, and institutional priorities.
Establish measurable goals and key performance indicators and communicate progress to the CEO, the Senior Management Team, the Board of Trustees, the Advisory Council, and other stakeholders.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusiveness, innovation, and performance across the museum.
Provide executive oversight of exhibitions, collections, education, public programs, retail operations, and museum administration.
Ensure that exhibition planning, collections stewardship, and public programming align with the museum’s strategic vision and contemporary relevance.
Oversee and ensure compliance with AAM accreditation standards and museum best practices, including leading reaccreditation processes and ongoing institutional assessment.
Guide institutional planning to ensure excellence in collections management, conservation standards, risk management, and ethical practices.
Ensure that museum operations meet the highest standards of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in both practice and programmatic expression.
Empower team to operate effectively within their areas of expertise while maintaining cohesive direction and fiscal discipline.
Develop and manage the annual operating budget and capital budgets for SMoCA in partnership with the Assistant Director and with finance leadership.
Ensure fiscal accountability and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
Collaborate with Development staff to identify funding priorities, cultivate donor relationships, support grant proposals, and participate in donor solicitations.
Provide strategic oversight of fundraising initiatives specific to exhibitions, acquisitions, programs, and special projects.
Support earned revenue strategies and audience development initiatives in collaboration with Marketing, Programming, and Visitor Engagement teams.
Serve as the Primary spokesperson and public representative of SMoCA by building meaningful partnerships that expand access, deepen community engagement, and position the museum as a vital cultural resource.
Actively cultivate and maintain relationships with artists, collectors, galleries, scholars, cultural leaders, peer institutions, and community stakeholders.
Elevate SMoCA’s visibility and influence locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Represent the museum at public events, openings, lectures, civic gatherings, and professional conferences.
Lead and collaborate with the SMoCA Advisory Council to refine and advance institutional priorities.
Oversee the Acquisition Committee in partnership with Registrar and Collections Manager, guiding collections growth consistent with mission, strategy, and fiduciary responsibility.
Provide regular reports and strategic updates to the Board of Trustees and other governance bodies.