MFA in Cultural Administration Director

Description

 Summary of Responsibilities:   

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico—the world’s premier higher education institution for Indigenous arts and cultures—seeks a dynamic, visionary, and experienced academic leader to serve as Director of the MFA Program in Cultural Administration (MFACA). Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, the Director provides senior-level leadership for one of IAIA’s flagship graduate programs, stewarding its academic integrity, strategic growth, operational excellence, and national and international profile.

  The Director serves as the primary academic and administrative director of the MFACA program and holds responsibility for its academic direction, administrative management, and long-range development. The Director provides leadership and accountability for curriculum, assessment, faculty and staff supervision, student success, fiscal stewardship, external partnerships, and program sustainability. In this role, the Director represents the program locally, nationally, and internationally and works in close collaboration with academic leadership, institutional offices, faculty, students, alumni, Tribal Nations, and Indigenous communities.

In alignment with IAIA’s mission, the Director ensures the program centers Indigenous values, knowledge systems, and cultural sovereignty, and reflects a curriculum grounded in respect for community-based traditions and the support of community-led growth and the preservation of Indigenous language, art, history, and policies. Through this work, the Director prepares the next generation of cultural leaders to serve Tribal communities through arts and culture and to advance Indigenous self-determination through leadership of Tribal, museum, and cultural organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.

Essential Functions 

Administrative Responsibilities:

· Provide leadership in supporting and growing the MFACA Program within the mission of the college.

· Oversee and manages the annual MFACA Program budget.

· Seek out, obtain, and manage external grants in support of the MFACA Program.

· Manage the strategic direction, organization, and operation of the MFACA Program. 

· Organize annual residency for guest lecturers and students.

· Supervise MFACA Coordinator and MFACA Thesis Tutor.

· Supervise MFACA Adjunct Faculty and guest lecturers. 

· When vacancies arise, lead hiring of MFACA Coordinator, MFACA Thesis Tutor, and MFACA Adjunct Faculty.

· Lead the MFACA Admissions Committee and invite the IAIA Provost, MFACA Coordinator, and other IAIA faculty and staff members to serve on the MFACA Admissions Committee.

· Recruit and select students in collaboration with the IAIA Admissions department and MFACA Admissions Committee.

· Collaborate with related IAIA departments.

· Provide a minimum of 40 hours per week of high-level campus and office time.

· Participate in assigned committee work and meetings.

Academic Leadership: 

· Serve as the primary MFACA Program contact for the institution locally and nationally. 

· Oversee MFACA academic program delivery.

· Lead curriculum development for the MFACA Program.

· Lead program assessment utilizing the IAIA Indigenous Assessment model.

· Create and update yearly program reports in collaboration with the IAIA Office of Institutional Research.

· Maintain ongoing professional practices and demonstrate a recognized standing in the cultural support and administration profession.

· Participate in educational and professional activities within IAIA.

· Develop and review a wide range of relevant academic information.

Student Support:

· Respond to all MFACA student issues and concerns in a timely manner.

· Provide students with proficient advising in the MFACA degree program.

· Provide guidance and information on career opportunities for MFACA students.

· Organize annual graduation hooding ceremony and help coordinate graduation activities for MFACA graduates.

· Work with the IAIA Office of Institutional Advancement to identify and secure scholarships from donors. 

· Create and lead a committee to review and award MFACA scholarships.

· Oversee and communicate with accepted MFACA students. 

Requirements

Required Experience and Education: MFA or PhD in a cultural leadership or administrative field, with recent and relevant teaching and curriculum development experience at the graduate level.  Three years of administrative experience in higher education, cultural affairs, and/or arts administration. Must demonstrate a successful track record in leadership experience.

Preferred Experience: Five years’ administrative experience in higher education, cultural affairs, and/or arts administration. Extensive experience with American Indian and Alaskan Native cultures, students, artists and communities. 

Must complete a satisfactory background check. IAIA adheres to a “Native American preference” hiring policy. 

Required Competencies (Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities): 

· Knowledge of Indigenous leadership pedagogy and theory.

· Knowledge of museology and/or arts administration.

· Proven excellence in problem solving skills. 

· Proven excellence in academic leadership and program management. 

· Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all levels and with all people and groups.

· Proven ability to interact and work successfully with faculty, students, staff, and Indigenous communities as related to job responsibilities.

· Proven ability to manage large operational and grant budgets.

· Demonstrated ability and willingness to support MFACA Program goals and objectives and take a leadership role in further developing strategic goals of the MFACA Program. 

· Demonstrated ability to guide and facilitate students through a process of knowledge and skill building at the graduate level.

· Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous individuals and communities.

· Demonstrated ability to motivate and teach students from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

· Demonstrated commitment to working in a shared governance environment.

· Adherence to appropriate professional standards of conduct and ethics, including:

1. confidentiality
2. integrity and honesty
3. compliance with directives
4. cooperate and work respectfully with others
5. participate in meetings as required

· Ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changes in the work environment.

· Ability and skill to demonstrate a pleasant, courteous, and professional demeanor and presence at all times.

· Ability to be a self-starter and highly self-motivated to support and improve the MFACA Program goals.

· Ability to respond to requests in a timely manner.

· Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.

· Ability to work with moderate supervision, to begin assignments independently (or as assigned), and to bring assignments to conclusion on a timely basis.

· Demonstrate compliance with all applicable and essential IAIA policies, processes and/or procedures.

· Ability to perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions: 

· Position is in-person, full-time, on the IAIA campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

· Position may be required to perform other duties as requested by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.  

· A yearly performance evaluation will be assessed on program results as described herein.

· IAIA reserves the right to revise this job description at any time, with or without notice. 

· The job description is not a contract for employment.