Job Details

Candidate Job Summary: Executive Director

Full-time | Hybrid | Richmond, CA

About NIAD Art Center

Founded in 1982 in Richmond, California, NIAD Art Center (Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development) is a pioneering progressive art studio dedicated to supporting the creative careers of adult artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Established by Florence Ludins-Katz and Dr. Elias Katz—who also founded Creative Growth in Oakland and Creativity Explored in San Francisco—NIAD was created to provide artists with a professional environment where they can develop their practice, earn income, and participate fully in the contemporary arts community. Today, NIAD is the only arts center in Contra Costa County serving adult artists with disabilities in this capacity, supporting more than 75 artists through integrated Studio, Community, and Exhibitions programs facilitated by a staff of 30 arts professionals. Artists at NIAD are paid for their work and regularly participate in gallery exhibitions, art fairs, and museum opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally. Grounded in the Progressive Art Studio model, NIAD emphasizes creative autonomy and professional development, empowering artists to build sustainable careers while engaging audiences around the world.

The Opportunity

NIAD Art Center is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to lead one of the nation's most innovative, artist-centered organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization. Other key duties include fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors. The ED will work hand-in-hand with an active Board to ensure strong governance, compliance, long-term planning, and leadership succession while safeguarding NIAD's culture and Progressive Art Studio legacy. They will step into a vibrant, welcoming community where artists and staff thrive, spending meaningful time in the studio observing and participating alongside artists, learning in real time, and drawing inspiration for programmatic innovation and strategic decisions. The ED will ensure every artist feels respected, heard, and supported—creating a safe space for creativity and authentic self-expression—while strengthening programs, systems, Board engagement, and operational stability, and elevating NIAD's visibility and impact within the Bay Area arts and disability arts communities.

Ideal Candidate

The Executive Director will be a supportive, grounded, and empathetic leader who fosters a comfortable, inclusive and collaborative workplace where artists and staff feel respected, heard, and supported. They will champion the creative autonomy, professional growth, and visibility of NIAD's 75+ artists, guiding the organization's artistic vision and operations while strengthening infrastructure, financial stability, and fundraising capacity. The ED will honor NIAD's Progressive Art Studio model and decades-long legacy, collaborating across a unionized staff of 30, the Board, and the artist community to align priorities, ensure equitable practices, and expand opportunities for artists' work to reach galleries, museums, fairs, and digital platforms nationally. They will model transparent, consistent, and fair decision-making, elevate NIAD's voice in the Bay Area and disability arts ecosystems, and support a culture that values trust, autonomy, creativity, joy, and community.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in a creative or nonprofit organization, including managing staff, programs, operations, and engaging and developing boards.
• Demonstrated ability to advance the professional growth and autonomy of artists or creative professionals.
• Commitment to accessibility, disability rights, equity, and inclusion in organizational culture and programs.
• Experience developing and executing fundraising strategies, including major gifts, grants, and earned-income opportunities.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term resource planning.
• Track record of engaging boards, donors, community partners, and other stakeholders to advance organizational mission.
• Collaborative, transparent leadership style, with the ability to mentor and inspire staff and foster a positive workplace culture.
• Strategic vision and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges and drive organizational growth.

We strongly encourage candidates who are passionate about NIAD's mission, committed to disability justice and inclusion, and excited to support a vibrant, artist-centered community to apply—even if they do not meet every listed qualification.

Our Team: Culture and Benefits

This is a full-time position based in Richmond, California. NIAD Art Center is a warm, collaborative, and artist-centered organization deeply committed to empowering professional artists with disabilities. The Executive Director will join a dedicated team that values creativity, autonomy, and joy, and works within a unionized environment to support staff and artists alike. NIAD fosters a culture of calm, patient, and supportive leadership, where collaboration, accessibility, and strong community partnerships are prioritized. Rooted in its Bay Area history but always open to new ideas, NIAD amplifies the voices and impact of its artists while nurturing a workplace built on trust, respect, and inclusion.

The budgeted salary for this role is $150–$180K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include 100% employer-paid health and dental coverage for full-time employees, optional vision coverage, FSA access, a 403(b) plan, paid vacation and sick leave, and hybrid work options to support work/life balance.

NIAD is an equal opportunity employer and invites applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. We strive to create a fully accessible and equitable workplace that centers disability, respects autonomy, and ensures that all artists, staff, and community members can participate meaningfully, contribute their talents, and flourish creatively and professionally.

How to Apply

Please usethis link to review the complete job description and the full list of essential job duties and responsibilities. To apply please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to: Susannah Sallin, Search Consultant to Nonprofits at ...@sallinsearch.com with "NIAD Executive Director" in the subject line. We will respond to all applicants, Thank you!