Organization
The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California (CRIISC) is a new organization that inspires people of all walks of life through lifting up the historic and ongoing civil rights stories of the region, fostering community advocacy, and building champions of tomorrow. Its vision is to connect people from all walks of life through stories, sharing of information, and personal relationships to make Inland Southern California a center of civil rights and social justice. CRIISC’s values are Inclusive, Collaborative, and Good Trouble.
The CRIISC builds on the work of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County (FHCRC), Riverside African American Historical Society, and diverse community members who worked for years to raise funds and support for the development and construction of a mixed-use building to house CRIISC and FHCRC. Referred to as the Mission Heritage Plaza, the project includes 72 units of affordable housing designed by GGA Architects in collaboration with Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation. The five-story $95 million project entered the design development phase in 2017 and construction is currently underway. The CRIISC is on track to open in fall 2022.
The CRIISC will be a regional center within the Mission Heritage Plaza and will serve as a place of action and conversation to tell the story of civil rights in the region. There will be exhibitions and programs that focus on both the history and the ongoing work in this area, as well as opportunities for the collection and archiving of public oral histories and other current and historical information about regional civil rights events. Through a comprehensive planning process, the CRIISC has established an initial operating plan for the new facility and is now ready to hire its inaugural Executive Director to support the final phase of construction and lead the CRIISC into full operation.
The new facility includes both major and traveling exhibitions that are open at least five times per week and a publicly accessible space for community meetings and events. The CRIISC’s 12-member board of directors is led by President Ron Loveridge. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, CRIISC reported $389,156 in revenues, including $389,060 in contributions and grants. Total reported expenses were $33,886. Projections for annual operating expenses during the initial years of operation are estimated at $275,000. Separate budgets and funding for exhibits and other programming is anticipated. The inaugural Executive Director will hire additional staff, including program assistants who will help CRIISC’s marketing, grant writing, and community engagement.
Community
Known as the Inland Empire, Inland Southern California is a region comprised of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. It is home to 4.6 million people, two dozen nationally registered historic sites, and more than 100 city landmarks. Recognized as the city that gave birth to the California citrus industry, Riverside is the largest city in the region. It is located 60 miles east of Los Angeles with access to international airports, major highways, state parks, national forests, desert attractions, and ski resorts. The region has two public four-year universities, 12 community colleges, and 61 school districts. According to the Urban Land Institute, the region’s number of adults ages 25 through 34 is growing.
A thriving and vibrant community, Riverside is known as a City of Arts and Innovation—a place where people of diverse talents choose to work and live and where entrepreneurs and businesses choose to locate and invest. The city has a rich history of civil rights; many landmark civil rights decisions in housing and LGBTQ issues were made in Riverside. Downtown Riverside is the cultural, entertainment, and retail center of the region, with cultural landmarks including the upcoming Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, Main Street Pedestrian Mall, and the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties is at Riverside Community College. The University of California Riverside is home to the UCR Botanic Gardens and more than 20,000 students. Riverside is the 12th largest city in the state, with a population of more than 317,000 residents. The area offers a variety of housing options, quality schools, and an affordable Southern California lifestyle.
Sources: Edited from visitcalifornia.com, inlandcivilrights.org, inlanempire.us, riversidecvb.com
Position Summary
Reporting to the board of directors, the inaugural Executive Director will provide direction in the development and implementation of exhibitions, public programs, collections management, resource development, and community engagement. A collaborative and passionate leader, the inaugural Executive Director will be committed to increasing access and making life better for others. They will build authentic relationships with the community by regularly communicating with civic leaders and public officials. The Executive Director will also develop and nurture partnerships with diverse community groups, regional cultural partners, and the nonprofit community. This individual will be accountable for the management of the CRIISC’s fiscal, physical, and human resources, ensuring adherence to the policies and budgets set forth by the board.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Communication
- Develop annual work plans that ensure institutional priorities guide community partnerships and operational activities.
- Actively engage in community activities to represent the institute to civic and public leaders, educational and community organizations, and nonprofit partners.
- Develop collaborative partnerships that increase both organizational visibility and visitation, as well as participation in its programs and events.
- Implement an effective communication strategy that includes online marketing, social media, press releases, newsletters, and other communication tools to promote the institute’s exhibitions, education programs, and special events, acting as the institute’s principal media spokesperson.
Fund Development and Community Engagement
- Provide strategy and leadership to the CRIISC’s fund development activities, working with the board and cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors and foundation and corporate partners.
- Leverage the networks of the board and other organizations to maximize contributed revenue and sponsorship opportunities for the institute’s annual campaign, exhibition, and programs.
- Collaborate with the board and relevant committees to organize and develop a rich membership program that supports the CRIISC’s financial and civic needs and encourages public participation in its activities.
- Lead grant application calendar and work with CRIISC staff to prepare and submit grant applications, monitoring compliance and reporting within grant parameters.
Management and Operations
- Provide day-to-day management and supervision of the institute staff and volunteers, set performance goals and objectives, encourage staff’s creative and professional development, and create and support a workplace environment that fosters employee engagement, satisfaction, and a high level of professional performance.
- Direct the development of an exciting and relevant combination of exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that ensure the CRIISC is a center for dialogue on emerging civil rights issues.
- Establish a robust human resources management process that includes annual revisions of personnel job descriptions and compensation, performance reviews, and updates of the employee policy manual.
- Assume primary responsibility for the preparation of the annual financial budget and operating plans, collaborating with the treasurer and the finance committee for submission to the full board.
- Monitor the budget throughout the year, present monthly or periodic reports to the finance committee, and establish the appropriate internal controls for all financial matters of the institution.
- Ensure proper standards of care for the physical and digital collections, as well as loaned items, based on professional standards and best practices as set forth by the American Alliance of Museums.
Governance and Board Relations
- Build and nurture a strong relationship with the board and support the work of board committees as appropriate.
- Ensure the efficient and timely development and distribution of agendas and reports.
- Provide board members with information to help them reach decisions that advance the mission and goals of the institute.
- Attend monthly board, executive committee, and other committee meetings to facilitate the flow of information.
- Serve as an effective partner to the board’s policy-making role by researching and recommending best practice policies, procedures, and plans and lead the organization in the successful implementation of board decisions.
Traits and Characteristics
The inaugural Executive Director will be a dynamic, passionate, and altruistic leader who values teamwork and collaboration with others. An active member of the community, this individual will be people-oriented and will appreciate others’ skills, experience, and input in formulating plans and achieving successful outcomes. The inaugural Executive Director will bring a balance of professional expertise, interpersonal skills, and commitment to building a shared vision and working with a variety of stakeholders. Able to easily navigate frequent change and be open to new methods and ways of doing things, this individual will be an intellectually curious, innovative, and harmonious professional with a proven track record of success and a desire to ensure the success of this new organization.
Other key competencies include:
- Diplomacy – The commitment to demonstrate respect for others, treat others fairly regardless of personal biases or beliefs, and maintain positive relationships.
- Leadership – The adeptness to inspire and motivate others to accomplish goals while building trust and demonstrating integrity.
- Appreciating Others – The ability to demonstrate a sincere interest and concern for others.
- Self-Starting and Personal Accountability – The capacity to take action, prioritize, and complete tasks necessary to meet or exceed the agreed-upon expectations of the role and to utilize feedback to self-evaluate.
- Time and Priority Management – The ability to effectively manage difficulties and delays to complete tasks on or before the deadline.
Qualifications
Qualified applicants will have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in history, museum studies, political science, or other fields that relate to the mission of the CRIISC; a master’s degree is preferred. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience, including personnel and resource management preferably with a museum or cultural nonprofit organization, is required. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated fundraising experience with a successful track record of securing gifts from individuals and grants from foundation, corporate, and public sources. They will also have excellent communication skills and will be comfortable speaking publicly.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated salary range for this position is between $90,000 to $110,000. The benefits package includes health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development opportunities.
Applications and Inquiries
To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please click here or visit artsconsulting.com/employment. For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, please contact:
Wyona Lynch-McWhite
Senior Vice President
292 Newbury Street, Suite 315
Boston, MA 02115-2801
Tel (888) 234.4236 Ext. 225
Email CivilRightsInstitute@ArtsConsulting.com
The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is an
equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace.
Categories: Job Postings