Executive Director and Associate Dean for the Arts

Position Summary
Colorado State University seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the inaugural Executive Director for the Arts and Associate Dean for the Arts. This position provides strategic leadership for the visual and performing arts at CSU, working collaboratively with department chairs to elevate the arts as a signature strength of the university and a cultural cornerstone for the state of Colorado.

Full Consideration Date
Feb 17, 2026

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Vision and Advocacy
* Provide visionary leadership to position CSU as a flagship institution for the arts in Colorado and the region.
* Articulate the value and impact of the arts to internal and external constituencies.
* Champion the arts as central to CSU’s land-grant mission and research enterprise.
* Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance the visibility, reputation, and impact of the arts at CSU.

External Relations and Communications
* Develop and manage external partnerships with arts organizations, community partners, K-12 schools, and cultural institutions locally, regionally, and nationally.
* Partner with CLA Advancement and the Dean on development efforts, including major gifts, planned giving, and campaign initiatives.
* Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, alumni, foundations, and corporate partners.
* Represent the arts at university, community, state, and national venues.
* Coordinate staff efforts for marketing and communications strategies across arts units.
* Enhance public engagement with the arts through strategic programming and outreach.

University Center for the Arts (UCA) Operations
* Manage operational systems and staffing structure that oversees performance spaces, galleries, and common maker spaces across the University Center for the Arts and the Visual Arts Building, as well as other management tasks. Teams and staff include:
* Facilities team that coordinates master calendar for shared performance spaces to minimize conflicts, including curricular and non-curricular performances as well as rentals and external use of space.
* Production and technical staff, including Technical Director and production crew, who support CSU productions; plan and implement technical upgrades and capital improvements; ensure maintenance, safety, and accessibility of all spaces; oversee audio/visual support and livestreaming capabilities; and manage inventory of equipment, instruments, and technical assets
* Box office operations team, ticketing systems, and revenue generation.
* Partner with the Dean’s Office Communication team that advertises arts programming; provides public relations for faculty, staff, and student achievements; and coordinates cross-arts recruitment activities.

Visual Arts and Gallery Operations
* Oversee Visual Arts Building operations, including maker spaces and fabrication facilities that provide technical and fabrication activities across visual and performing arts.
* Work closely with Senior Director of Visual Arts Engagement on GAMA (Gregory Allicar Museum of Art) operations and staff as well as other CLA gallery spaces and visual arts exhibitions.

Budget Management
* Manage and allocate funds from PAC (Performing Arts Center) fee revenue, Box office and ticket sales, Facilities rentals, and non-curricular entrepreneurial activities.
* Allocate production budgets for non-curricular and external events.
* Develop business models for sustainable revenue generation.
* Monitor budgets and ensure financial accountability.

Collaborative Leadership Responsibilities
* Chair the Arts Leadership Committee, comprised of chairs and program directors across arts programs, for shared strategic and tactical planning and problem-solving.
* Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and programming across arts units.
* Coordinate collective planning for scheduling and programming in shared facilities.
* Process and assign external requests for faculty and student artistic services.
* Support resource planning and collective decision-making around allocation of shared resources (PAC fee, box office revenue, etc.).
* Cultivate alumni relationships across arts disciplines.
* Provide collaborative problem-solving around external-facing curricular artistic activity, management of technical support labor, interdisciplinary curriculum development, cross-unit programming and initiatives.

Support for Academic Excellence
* Advocate for resources to support faculty scholarship and creative activity.
* Support grant applications, fellowships, and awards for arts faculty.
* Facilitate professional development opportunities.
* Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusive practices.

Staff Supervision and Development
* Supervise and evaluate staff reporting to the Executive Director.
* Foster professional development and career growth for staff.
* Advocate for equitable workload distribution and appropriate compensation.
* Build and maintain positive staff morale and culture.
* Coordinate staff activities across multiple buildings and units.

Organizational Management
* Work collaboratively with department chairs to ensure smooth operations.
* Maintain clear communication channels between the Executive Director office and departments.
* Participate in college and university governance and committees as appropriate.
* Ensure compliance with university policies and accreditation standards.
* Oversee assessment and continuous improvement processes.

Transition Leadership (2026-27 Academic Year)
* Serve as Interim Director of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance during transition year.
* Facilitate smooth transition from current SMTD structure to new departmental model.
* Work closely with outgoing director and emerging department heads.
* Build relationships with faculty, staff, and students across all arts units.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
– Terminal degree in Art, Art History, Dance, Music, Theatre, or related arts discipline.
– Record of achievement that merits appointment as Full Professor with tenure in an arts discipline at CSU.
– Three years of progressive arts leadership experience.
– Two years of higher education experience.

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PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
– Five years of experience leading or working within multi-disciplinary arts organizations or academic units.
– Demonstrated fiscal management experience.
– Demonstrated personnel management experience.
– Demonstrated facilities and operations management experience in arts or cultural organizations.
– Demonstrated success in or strong aptitude for fundraising and resources generation.
– Demonstrated experience developing and sustaining external partnerships with arts organizations, community stakeholders, and educational institutions.
– Demonstrated results of strategic thinking and entrepreneurial mindset.

APPLICATION Instructions
Applicants should submit with a resume/CV cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position, with specific examples of relevant experience, and your vision for the arts at a land-grant research university. Contact information for five professional references.

Salary Range
$165,000 – $190,000

Required Application Documents
To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.