Deputy Director
Indigo Arts Alliance | Portland, Maine
Build the operational systems that enable cultural transformation.
At Indigo Arts Alliance, we've grown 400% in six years, hosting 85 international artists and creating Maine's (first) Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.
We present curated experiences independently and in partnership with world-class institutions. We need an operational leader to build the infrastructure that sustains this growth.
As Deputy Director, you'll transform strategic vision into operational reality. While our Executive Director focuses on fundraising, board development, and national expansion, you'll ensure every program, system, and team member delivers excellence.
How You Will Engage
Operational Excellence & Program Management
- Guide standards and systems for IAA's 85 and growing Artist-in-Residence alumni
- Manage day-to-day operations, resolving issues while keeping initiatives on track.
- Provide direction to evaluate the effectiveness of all programs, including large-scale public events such as our annual symposium series and the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.
- Manage facilities operations, establish documentation protocols, database infrastructure, and operational workflows to improve efficiency, utilizing the strengths of all team members
Team Leadership
- Directly supervise the Studio and Programs Manager and contractors.
- Partner to implement hiring, onboarding, and performance management
- Take a lead role in resolving personnel issues as needed
Strategic Implementation & Financial Operations
- Collaborate with the ED and Board to operationalize strategic plans, assuring alignment across programs and priorities.
- Manage $1.5M operational budget with fiscal responsibility
- Coordinate local and national programmatic partnerships organizations that align with IAA’s mission and expand program reach.
- Support grant implementation and reporting
- Lead the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
How You'll Partner with the Executive Director
Your ED will: Set vision, lead Board and fundraising, serve as external spokesperson, and drive national expansion.
You'll ensure her success by: building operational systems, managing day-to-day operations and staff, ensuring program excellence, and providing operational analysis.
Who You Are
- 5+ years in nonprofit operations or program management with systems-building expertise
- Bachelor's degree in Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field (Master's preferred)
- Proven track record managing teams, budgets, and complex programs in arts/cultural organizations
- Systems thinker with project management excellence and process improvement orientation
- Strong people leader who coaches, develops staff, and fosters inclusive environments
- Mission-driven professional committed to advancing Black and Brown communities through the arts
- Experience working with artists and diverse communities in culturally responsive ways
Why Join Us
Build Expertise: Develop mastery in nonprofit operations, gain senior leadership experience, positioning you for executive director roles.
Direct Impact: Partner with Executive Director Jordia Benjamin and co-founders Marcia and Daniel Minter, watch artists create transformative work in facilities you manage, access networks spanning major museums and cultural institutions worldwide.
You're the leader who finds satisfaction in: Building seamless systems, solving operational challenges, enabling others to shine, seeing programs succeed because you built the infrastructure.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $80,000 annually, based on experience, with comprehensive benefits (health, dental, vision, retirement)
- Time off: Average total of 20+ off days including: 1 week vacation, 3 personal days, 11 federal holidays, 2-week winter break, Fridays off in August.
- Benefits
- Health, Dental, Vision, and Retirement
- Workers Comp
- Professional development opportunities
Position: Full-time, Portland, Maine (not remote)
About Indigo Arts Alliance
Indigo Arts Alliance's mission is to foster global connections by amplifying and supporting the professional development of Black and Brown artists through multidisciplinary and intergenerational artist residency programs. Through a Black-led approach, this unique program embodies co-mentorship among artists of color, empowering them to utilize their thought leadership and vision to lead community transformation.
How to Apply
Submit resume, cover letter, and references through our Submittable link. Tell us about: (1) an operational system you built and its impact, (2) your team leadership approach, and (3) why you're energized by enabling others' success through operational excellence.
We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others from traditionally underrepresented communities.
Indigo Arts Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.