The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 34 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,100 non-profit cultural organizations that receive regular annual support. This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs – that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City’s Percent for Art Program.
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the Assistant Commissioner for its Program Services unit. With an annual grantmaking budget of approx. $28.5 million, the Program Services Unit provides fiscal support and technical assistance to non-profit cultural organizations of all sizes working in every discipline throughout the five boroughs of New York City. More than 1,000 groups receive funding; over 1,300 apply. DCLA is committed to expanding access to the public funds it stewards through this funding program, and particularly in increasing investment in the cultural lives of communities of color, low-income communities, and other underserved residents. The Assistant Commissioner role offers a major opportunity to help shape these efforts to foster more equitable funding from one of the largest cultural grant makers in the U.S. The Assistant Commissioner reports to the Deputy Commissioner and has responsibilities that include but are not limited to:
• Providing executive leadership, vision, strategic planning and direction for the Program Services Unit; and supervising the staff in the full range of activities and the day to day operations that
the Unit undertakes;
• Developing, executing and advising the on policies and procedures concerning the Programs’ grantees on special projects, DEI, and governance issues;
• Representing the Administration, specifically cultivating and maintaining effective and open relations with Programs’ grantees on identifying and anticipating issues and operational concerns;
responding to requests for information and assistance; and consulting with Senior Leadership and Administration on relevant matters;
• Communicating regularly with the elected officials, and other relevant cultural stakeholders about the City’s rules about Programs’ grantees;
• Developing a new RFP process based on best practices to awards grants equitably;
• Tracking and evaluating Programs’ grantee data;
• Identifying and recommending special projects, business practices reforms, and/or new programming designed to advance and support the Administration’s policy goals;
• Works collaboratively with other DCLA units including ACCO, Finance, IT, and Legal.
Preferred Skills:
• Senior professional with ten years of executive level leadership; including managing teams effectively;
• Highly skilled with extensive knowledge of cultural field, is strongly desired;
• Demonstrated ability influencing cross-functional decisions;
• Strategically manage an array of internal and external stakeholders;
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and writing skills; as well as excellent research skills and ability to communicate complex information in a clear and straightforward way;
• Demonstrated team player, with experience working collaboratively, building relationships at all levels of an organization to achieve goals;
• Ability to handle multiple and changing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Board governance and experience working in an administrative field, e.g., development, marketing and/or finance, preferably in a not-for-profit context, is important.
• A general knowledge of City government is a plus, as is a working knowledge and deep commitment to serving the City’s non-profit cultural community Also, very important is the ability to
deal with a diverse constituency and work productively under pressure, both independently and as a team member.
• Additionally, new diversity equity and inclusion efforts are an important part of the work of the Programs’ unit, and DCLA is seeking a candidate with demonstrated knowledge of and
experience with diversity equity and inclusion efforts
Minimum Qual Requirements
1. Graduation from an accredited college with a baccalaureate degree and four (4) years of satisfactory, responsible full-time paid administrative or managerial experience in the visual and /or performing arts or related field, two (2) years of which shall have been in a responsible capacity; or
2. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Information
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. For more information about DCLA, visit us at: www.nyc.gov/culture.
All appointments are subject to OMB approval.
To Apply
Click Apply Now
For City employees, please go to Employee Self Service (ESS)
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. For more information about DCLA, visit us at: www.nyc.gov/culture. All appointments are subject to OMB approval.
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the Assistant Commissioner for its Program Services unit. With an annual grantmaking budget of approx. $28.5 million, the Program Services Unit provides fiscal support and technical assistance to non-profit cultural organizations of all sizes working in every discipline throughout the five boroughs of New York City. More than 1,000 groups receive funding; over 1,300 apply. DCLA is committed to expanding access to the public funds it stewards through this funding program, and particularly in increasing investment in the cultural lives of communities of color, low-income communities, and other underserved residents. The Assistant Commissioner role offers a major opportunity to help shape these efforts to foster more equitable funding from one of the largest cultural grant makers in the U.S. The Assistant Commissioner reports to the Deputy Commissioner and has responsibilities that include but are not limited to:
• Providing executive leadership, vision, strategic planning and direction for the Program Services Unit; and supervising the staff in the full range of activities and the day to day operations that
the Unit undertakes;
• Developing, executing and advising the on policies and procedures concerning the Programs’ grantees on special projects, DEI, and governance issues;
• Representing the Administration, specifically cultivating and maintaining effective and open relations with Programs’ grantees on identifying and anticipating issues and operational concerns;
responding to requests for information and assistance; and consulting with Senior Leadership and Administration on relevant matters;
• Communicating regularly with the elected officials, and other relevant cultural stakeholders about the City’s rules about Programs’ grantees;
• Developing a new RFP process based on best practices to awards grants equitably;
• Tracking and evaluating Programs’ grantee data;
• Identifying and recommending special projects, business practices reforms, and/or new programming designed to advance and support the Administration’s policy goals;
• Works collaboratively with other DCLA units including ACCO, Finance, IT, and Legal.
Preferred Skills:
• Senior professional with ten years of executive level leadership; including managing teams effectively;
• Highly skilled with extensive knowledge of cultural field, is strongly desired;
• Demonstrated ability influencing cross-functional decisions;
• Strategically manage an array of internal and external stakeholders;
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and writing skills; as well as excellent research skills and ability to communicate complex information in a clear and straightforward way;
• Demonstrated team player, with experience working collaboratively, building relationships at all levels of an organization to achieve goals;
• Ability to handle multiple and changing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Board governance and experience working in an administrative field, e.g., development, marketing and/or finance, preferably in a not-for-profit context, is important.
• A general knowledge of City government is a plus, as is a working knowledge and deep commitment to serving the City’s non-profit cultural community Also, very important is the ability to
deal with a diverse constituency and work productively under pressure, both independently and as a team member.
• Additionally, new diversity equity and inclusion efforts are an important part of the work of the Programs’ unit, and DCLA is seeking a candidate with demonstrated knowledge of and
experience with diversity equity and inclusion efforts
Minimum Qual Requirements
1. Graduation from an accredited college with a baccalaureate degree and four (4) years of satisfactory, responsible full-time paid administrative or managerial experience in the visual and /or performing arts or related field, two (2) years of which shall have been in a responsible capacity; or
2. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Information
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. For more information about DCLA, visit us at: www.nyc.gov/culture.
All appointments are subject to OMB approval.
To Apply
Click Apply Now
For City employees, please go to Employee Self Service (ESS)
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. For more information about DCLA, visit us at: www.nyc.gov/culture. All appointments are subject to OMB approval.
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