With over 13 years of service, Dance/NYC has emerged as a cultural force and spokesperson on behalf of the dance field to the media, government and private funders, and the wider creative sector. It has historically supported dance in the city and advanced the field by improving conditions for individual dance artists and organized entities through:

• Advocacy
• Action-Oriented Research
• Leadership Training, Networking and Convening
• Technology and Visibility
• Grantmaking

Learn more about Dance/NYC’s mission and organizational values by clicking on the link below:

www.dance.nyc/about/mission

Dance/NYC seeks an innovative and equity-driven Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization into its next phase, guided by a new five-year strategic plan. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will serve as a prominent advocate, fundraiser, and representative for New York City’s diverse dance community. This leader will be deeply connected to the field and committed to ensuring that dance workers and organizations have the resources, recognition, and support needed to thrive. The ED will provide inclusive leadership, oversee a $1.5M budget, manage a team of 8–10, and partner with a newly hired Director of Programming & Operations role to foster balanced, sustainable leadership and long-term organizational sustainability.

Status: Full-Time, At-Will, Exempt
Reports to: Board of Directors
Start Date: Early 2026 (Search concludes late 2025)
Compensation: Package includes a salary of $120,000 and competitive benefits such as Health care, 401K, pre-tax Commuter and Health contributions, flexible PTO, and more
*Dance/NYC offers the highest available salary our budget can afford as an alternative to salary negotiation, which can introduce bias and reflect an individual’s positional power or negotiation skills rather than their job qualifications.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead implementation of Dance/NYC’s new five-year strategic plan, aligning programs and initiatives with mission, values, and community needs.
• Drive long-term sustainability and impact, ensuring organizational priorities are responsive to the evolving needs of the dance field.
• Foster a collaborative, transparent, and equitable organizational culture in partnership with staff and board.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Design and implement ambitious fundraising strategies across government, foundation, corporate, individual, and board giving.
• Secure new and increased support to sustain and grow Dance/NYC’s programs and regranting initiatives.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to expand contributed revenue and diversify funding streams.

Community Engagement & Program Oversight

• Cultivate relationships with peer organizations, field leaders, and funders to expand organizational capacity and deepen partnerships.
• Ensure Dance/NYC reflects and uplifts the diverse communities it serves, with emphasis on historically underfunded and underrepresented dance workers.
• Provide strategic direction for programs, including research, advocacy, grantmaking, convenings, and digital platforms.
• Provide editorial leadership for communications and articulate Dance/NYC’s research agenda and advocacy priorities.

Advocacy & Policy Leadership

• Serve as a prominent advocate for the dance sector with civic leaders, public officials, and cultural partners to ensure dance is represented in civic and cultural policy decisions at the city, state, and national levels.
• Build coalitions and maintain partnerships to secure greater public investment and advance systemic change.
• Represent Dance/NYC at performances, convenings, and events, serving as a trusted presence for the community.

Financial & Organizational Management

• Oversee fiscal health, budgeting, and revenue strategies to ensure long-term sustainability.
• In partnership with Director-level leadership, manage a team of 8–10 staff, as well as interns, volunteers, and contractors.
• Engage organizational best practices for communication, workflows, and record keeping.

Justice, Equity & Inclusion

• Deepen Dance/NYC’s commitment to racial justice and systemic equity, ensuring inclusive access to resources, funding, and platforms for all dance makers.
• Regularly engage in learning focused on justice, equity, and inclusion (including racism, xenophobia, ableism), and apply these practices in leadership and management.
• Uphold Dance/NYC’s values of justice, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across all aspects of organizational work.

Ideal Qualifications

• Deep connection to the dance community and demonstrated commitment to its growth and sustainability.
• An open-mindedness and curiosity to more deeply understand Dance/NYC’s constituents.
• Proven record of advocacy and policy leadership within arts, culture, or nonprofit sectors.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and resource development, including government, foundation, corporate and individual giving.
• A demonstrable record of success in leading racial justice, equity, inclusion, and/or access initiatives.
• Senior leadership experience with strong skills in strategy, team management, and coalition building.
• Adaptable and proactive in encountering new technologies or ways of working.
• A compelling, values-driven communicator able to inspire funders, artists, and policymakers.

The application deadline is Monday, September 29, 2025.

This search process is managed by our talent partner Zocalo and the Search Committee comprised of select Board and staff members. The timeline will run approximately:

• September 9-29 – initial outreach and applications
• October 3-17 – first round interviews by Zoom
• October 20-31 – second round interviews by Zoom, including an assessment task to be provided at least 1 week in advance and presented during the interview
• November 3-17 – third and final interviews in person. References will be requested and contacted by candidate’s consent following the final interview.
• November 17 – December 15 – offer and onboarding

*Dance/NYC can provide candidates with access requests, if needed. Candidates are asked to submit accessibility requests directly in their application so we can ensure your interview experience meets your needs.

To apply, please email your cover letter and resume to our talent partner, Zocalo, kimberly@zocalo.cc

Cover Letter:

Your cover letter should include answers to each of the following questions:

• How does your background and interest align with the Core Responsibilities of the Executive Director at Dance/NYC?
• How would you characterize your understanding of the NYC dance ecosystem?
• Dance/NYC is a values-driven organization, please review our values of Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (found at: www.dance.nyc/equity/values) and discuss two instances in your professional career where you have demonstrated at least one of them?
• Please briefly describe your leadership style and the type of workplace you cultivate.