Executive Director at Pottery Northwest, Seattle
Posted on March 21, 2022
Closing date: April 15, 2022
POSITION SUMMARY
The next Executive Director of Pottery Northwest will join the organization during an exciting period of rebirth and transformation. They will start from a highly advantageous position, inheriting a financially diverse and stable budget, with a large reserve fund, an expanding and engaged board and staff, a newly-renovated ceramics studio with offices in Pioneer Square, and an extremely passionate base of artists, instructors, apprentices, students, donors, and volunteers.
The new ED will be responsible for the overall operations of Pottery Northwest, including overseeing short term and long-range strategic planning, leading budgeting and financial reporting, driving expansion and evolution of our programming, developing our team, building community partnerships, supporting development activities, and assisting with board governance.
Pottery Northwest seeks a multi-dimensional leader with a compelling combination of lived experience, professional work, and direct & transferable skills. If you feel like you are a good fit for this role but don’t have all the skills listed, we still encourage you to apply.The board is committed to supporting their next Executive Director in their professional growth.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The annual salary range for this position is set at $85,000-95,000.
Pottery Northwest emphasizes a culture that supports work-life balance and prioritizes the health and wellness of our staff. To this end, we support a hybrid workplace with flexible hours, and focus on creating a safe space to bring your whole self to work. We offer:
• 100% paid medical, dental, and vision and partial coverage for dependents
• Open (Unlimited) PTO / Vacation
• Annual Bonus Opportunity
• 401k Retirement plan
• $1,000 annual professional development stipend
• Monthly Transportation Stipend
• One-Time Technology Stipend
• Complimentary access to classes and studio
This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Relocation assistance may be available.
TO BE CONSIDERED.
The position is open until filled, with a priority deadline extended to April 15, 2022. Please make sure to read the complete profile.
Candidate materials are reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin by mid-April.
Please submit a resume and a cover letter addressed to Board President, Shruti Kataria. In your cover letter, we ask candidates to specifically and briefly answer the following two questions:
What draws you to Pottery Northwest now in your career?
What are 3-5 key accomplishments you are most proud of, that reflect the needs or challenges of this role? Bullet points are encouraged.
Please upload the resume and cover letter as a single, combined WORD or PDF document.
You may direct questions to Caitlin Pontrella at Caitlin@valtasgroup.com or 973.768.2915.
About Pottery Northwest
Founded in 1966 by a group of artists based in Seattle, Pottery Northwest celebrates innovation and access to education in ceramics, with a mission of fostering an inclusive community around clay. We have grown into a nationally recognized ceramics studio through long-standing and vibrant programming. All together, we serve over 1,000 students a year, and artists from around the world come to Pottery Northwest in the spirit of artistic dialogue and as a formative step in their careers.
Today we are in a period of transformation. In 2022 we approved our largest annual operating budget and, despite the impact of Covid-19, the organization is financially strong and debt-free. We are also doubling staff to seven full-time members and one part-time member by the end of July. Our newly renovated 8,000 SF community studio is set to open this spring in the heart of Pioneer Square and will feature x electric kilns and x wheels, as well as areas for handbuilding and glazing, large staff offices, exhibition and retail space, and semi-private studios for 8 Artists-in-Residents.
As we move beyond the limits and disruptions of the pandemic, the team is excited to work with a new leader to establish our new home and expand access to ceramics for new communities this summer.
We Create Community through Clay
Pottery Northwest programming has cultivated a vibrant and enthusiastic community of students and professional artists by ensuring access, promoting excellence, and fostering connection. Every year we sustain:
50+ All-levels classes and workshops, offered on a sliding scale
8-10 Exhibitions in our non-commercial gallery featuring local and nationally-recognized artists
8 Artists-in-Residence, supported over a 2 year period
A work-study program to teach folks all aspects of studio management
Multiple major community events including Clayfest and Salad Bowl.
Pottery Northwest is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and is continually building toward a more just, open, and democratic studio to celebrate artists and welcome people of every identity to its home.
In 2020, Pottery Northwest established a DEIA committee with the intention of transforming the organization into a place of cultural equity. We also have retained Epiphanies of Equity, a group that will work closely with us over the upcoming years as we evolve. Some DEIA initiatives to date include supporting emerging artists from historically underrepresented communities, committing to hiring diverse staff and instructors, and lowering barriers to access by offering sliding scale pricing and free community events. Our invitation to the world is to join us as we cultivate an inclusive future.
