Executive Director of Arts & Culture

Title: Executive Director of Arts & Culture

Reports To:The Mayor with support from the Chief of Housing and Economic Development

Employment Status: Full-time

Location: San Francisco City Hall (In-Person Role)

Classification: 0962 Department Head II

Pay Scale: $210678 - $268814

Appointment Status: Permanent Exempt (PEX)

Description

The Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie seeks an Executive Director of Arts and Culture to lead San Franciscos citywide arts and cultural strategy. The Executive Director will ensure that the arts remain a cornerstone of San Franciscos identity civic life and economic vitality. The Executive Director will serve as the Mayors principal advisor on policies that advance San Franciscos creative economy cultural equity and public arts programming.

From galleries and museums to theaters venues and street festivals San Franciscos arts and culture ecosystem unites us strengthens our local economy and helps shape our collective identity.The City aims to better support San Franciscos arts and culture
ecosystem through a more unified approach to arts and culture administration. To that end the mayor has announced his intent to unify the work currently residing within the San Francisco Arts Commission Grants for the Arts and the Film Commission under a new single organization thataligns civic design review community investments cultural policy film production galleries grantmaking (including operating grants) public art and allocation of city resources to foster a thriving and inclusive creative ecosystem. The Executive Director will be the head of this new organization guidinginitiatives that create opportunity for artists effectively steward cultural spaces and expand public access to the arts. The role requires close coordination with City departments community partners and the private sector to elevate San Francisco as a global hub for artistic innovation and cultural expression. The position will play a key leadership role in navigating governance structures commissions and public accountability processes associated with arts and culture.

As a senior leadership role the Executive Director of Arts and Culture will represent the City of San Francisco in high-level policy discussions funding decisions and cross-agency collaborations. The position demands vision diplomacy and deep knowledge of the cultural landscape. Decisions made in this role will shape how the City invests in creativity tells its collective story and sustains a vibrant arts community for generations to come.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Citys strategy and long-term planning for arts and culture advancing policies and programs that strengthen San Franciscos creative ecosystem and promote cultural equity.

• Oversee a new organization that unifies and aligns the work of the San Francisco Arts Commission Grants for the Arts and the Film Commission to ensure coordination accountability and shared priorities.

• Serve as the Mayors Office principal liaison to the arts community cultural organizations philanthropic partners and creative industry stakeholders.

• Champion the integration of arts and culture into broader City priorities including housing economic development tourism and neighborhood revitalization.

• Oversee City investments in arts funding public art projects and cultural infrastructure ensuring transparency equity and measurable community benefit in alignment with City policies and governance requirements.

• Develop and implement strategies to steward and activate cultural spaces create opportunity for working artists and attract creative enterprises to San Francisco.

• Collaborate with City departments and external partners to advance film production cultural events and public programming that showcase the diversity of San Francisco.

• Represent the Mayors Office in high-level policy discussions commission meetings and public forums related to the arts and creative economy.

• Monitor program outcomes assess impact and provide data-driven recommendations to strengthen City arts investments.

• Serve as a visible advocate for San Franciscos creative community ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the Citys identity economy and civic life.

Minimum Qualifications:

These minimum qualifications are to be used as a guide for establishing the education training experience and special skills that may be required for employment.

• 7 years of full-time relevant experience in arts administration cultural policy creative industry leadership or nonprofit and public-sector management and

• 5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing strategic initiatives managing staff and shaping organizational priorities and

• Possession of a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university preferably in arts administration public policy business or a related field.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications listed below may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Possession of a graduate degree (masters degree or higher) from an accredited college or university preferably in arts administration public policy business public administration or a related field.

• Demonstrated success in leading complex arts culture or creative economy initiatives across multiple organizations agencies or sectors.

• Knowledge of San Franciscos cultural ecosystem including its public art programs arts nonprofits philanthropic institutions and creative industries.

• Experience managing public funding programs or grantmaking processes that support artists cultural organizations or community-based arts initiatives.

• Proven ability to engage diverse communities balancing artistic innovation with cultural equity and neighborhood representation.

• Experience working directly with elected officials municipal departments or public commissions to advance arts and cultural policy.

• Knowledge of cultural programming public art management arts funding and grantmaking and the role of arts in economic and community development.

• Ability to coordinate closely with a wide range of stakeholders including City departments arts organizations philanthropic partners and community leaders to advance complex cultural initiatives.

• Experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams and managing programs in fast-paced dynamic environments.

• Ability to navigate complex political and organizational contexts with discretion tact and professionalism.

• Experience leading change management strategies that align people processes and systems with organizational goals.

• Strong strategic thinking policy development and project management skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and design effective solutions.

• Skilled spokesperson able to represent the Mayors Office publicly communicate effectively with diverse audiences and engage with the arts and cultural community.

• Deep commitment to equity cultural preservation and ensuring that San Franciscos arts ecosystem reflects and uplifts the Citys diversity.

• Strong understanding of Mayor Luries priorities and the critical role of arts and culture in fostering community identity social connection and economic vitality.

Compensation and Benefits:

The City and County of San Francisco (City) offers a competitive salary and benefits program. The annual salary range for this position is between $210678 - $268814. The salary is dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

The City offers flexible benefit plans with pre-tax elections that include: medical and dental insurance; the San Francisco Employee Retirement System (); deferred compensation plan; long-term disability plan; life insurance; 12 paid holidays per year; 5 floating holidays; and 10 to 20 vacation days per year depending on years of service. Please follow this link to review a summary of benefits available for this position:

Your employee benefits City and County of San Francisco.

Application and Recruitment Process:

Candidates are encouraged to express interest early in the process. This recruitment is considered open until filled. For first consideration submit your application by March 30 2026

For more information contact:

Amanda Kreller Director Executive Recruiter Healthcare & Public Sector

-or-

Julia Morse VP Healthcare & Public Sector

Required Experience:

Director