Opportunity: ArtsWA Deputy Director

ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission) is now hiring for their Deputy Director position. If you’re a skilled manager, have a collaborative and effective supervisory style, and can track and analyze complex financial and statistical data, you have some of the skills ArtsWA is looking for. Application closes on March 14. To learn more about this position and to apply, CLICK HERE.

Who we are:
The mission of the Washington State Arts Commission, also known as ArtsWA, is to be a catalyst for the arts, advancing the role of the arts in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state. Our many programs include the management and care of the state’s public art collection, arts in education programs and grants, grants and investments in arts organizations in diverse communities, a creative district certification program, and much more. All ArtsWA’s programs contribute to the vitality and economic wellbeing of communities large and small across the state. As an agency, we have a deep interest in serving diverse populations, and increasing equity and access in the arts.

Interested candidates are encouraged to visit our website at www.arts.wa.gov to gain further insight into the agency’s mission and strategic plan.

What you will be doing:
You will serve as the Deputy Director for agency administration, including budget, finance, and agency operations. You will serve as the agency’s chief budget and financial officer and coordinate core agency services that include policy development and contracting. You will have direct supervision over one administrative staff person.

As the closest liaison to the Executive Director, you will advise and work together to optimize agency performance and enhance the internal work environment. You will act on the Executive Director’s behalf when appropriate. You will focus on the agency’s internal wellbeing. You will represent the agency in different ways. You will attend/communicate in peer meetings with key state agencies and organizations within the arts field. You will have oversight for submissions and reporting to federal partners such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and Americans for the Arts. You will manage billing and communications with our regional partner, Western States Arts Federation.

Who we are looking for:
We are a small, cabinet-level state agency. You will need to be able to work under pressure at times and adjust focus when new or more urgent priorities arise. You will need to have or quickly develop a wide and deep understanding of state processes and priorities.  While this is largely an inward facing position, you will at times represent the agency and therefore the state of Washington in meetings, at conferences and in other ways. We will value your personnel management skills, verbal and written communication acumen, and customer service skills as you contribute to the agency’s support of the arts, and the creative economy statewide.

Why you would want this position:
We are a creative, dynamic agency serving diverse and creative constituents and organizations in large and small communities statewide. This makes us of interest to many. You will be supporting an agency that has grown considerably in the last six years and looks forward to more growth. Your work will help shape efficient and responsive administrative processes for multiple agency programs that have a deep impact on art in public places, arts in education, arts participation in communities, and the creative economy of Washington State. You will operate as a skilled, highly professional staff member with frequent interactions with our 20 person staff, with constituents and with other state and federal agencies.

The right candidate will have opportunities to develop, grow, and become deeply involved in the agency’s work. You will become familiar with the focus of each individual department and program. We work hard and truly enjoy what we do while maintaining pride in our work. We are busy year-round. If you enjoy a variety of duties and tasks, combined with staff, constituent and colleague interactions, we promise you won’t get bored.

Duties

Some of what you will enjoy doing will include:

Agency Budget and Financial Management: 

• Responsible for planning, coordinating and directing agency budget and financial management.
• Provide advice and financial information to Executive Director and program managers to make informed choices in resource management
• Ensure sound financial systems, policies and procedures are in place, and all funds are managed in compliance with state and federal policies and regulations
• Primary liaison to Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Small Agency Financial Services (DES/SAFS) and agency’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) Budget Analyst
• Coordinate, prepare and manage agency budget, including timely submittal of biennial and supplemental budget requests, allotments, and agency activity inventory updates
• Track legislative appropriations, prepare fiscal notes, compile and report performance measures. Monitor capital budget expenditures and recoveries for reimbursable Art in Public Places program, and coordinate DES/SAFS invoicing process
• Responsible for preparing budget components and submitting full application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for agency’s annual Partnership Grants
• Compile reports to state and federal government, including required NEA Final Descriptive Reports
• Respond to annual legislative appropriation and revenue surveys from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the membership organization that represents and serves the nation’s 56 state and territorial arts agencies
• Coordinate preparation of internal budget management reports for Executive Director and quarterly budget reports for Board, staff, and others. Conduct quarterly budget reviews with program managers and support their roles as budget resource managers
• In coordination with DES/SAFS, guide financial management activities of the agency, including fiscal year close, state financial disclosure, and certification of federal assistance
• Coordinate agency payroll support from DES/SAFS, including salary projections for budget preparation or when needed. Approve agency payroll journals.
• Coordinate with Executive Assistant, who manages Human Resources for the agency, on all payroll matters related to HR and personnel actions
• Maintain all confidential payroll files and all agency fiscal and budget records
• Perform research on agency budget, expenditures, performance measures, or special projects as assigned.

Agency Operations Management: 

Oversee administrative operations of the agency, with lead responsibility for and as liaison to other state or local agencies for:

• Facilities, including office and work/storage space leases, and space planning (DES)
• Contracts and procurement, including advising agency program managers (DES)
• Policy development and coordination in cooperation with the Executive Director
• Surplus property purchase and disposal (DES)
• Agency records management and Records Officer (SOS)
• Continuity of Operations Plans planning (MIL, CTS, DES)
• Other statewide initiatives as required, including mandatory Greenhouse Gas Emissions reporting (ECY) and Commute Trip Reduction (Thurston Regional Planning Council)
• Represent agency administrative needs with DES, OFM and other state agencies.
• Develop, coordinate, and monitor implementation of administrative policies and procedures
• Identify and implement process improvements
• Coordinate fiscal activities with agency administrative support staff, to optimize agency performance

Qualifications

REQUIRED:
A Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, financial management or closely allied field, or a degree in another subject combined with at least five (5)+ years of related/relevant experience as listed below

AND

Four (4) years of related and progressively professional experience in the public sector, with:

• Comprehensive knowledge and skills preferably in state government budgeting and in accounting, payroll, and public administration
• Intermediate skills in effective internal controls for budgeting, contracting, and risk management, including managing contracts for IT support and strategic planning.
• Competence in information analysis and statistics
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and the internet
• Solid work ethic and high level of integrity
• Capable of communicating complex facts to various audiences through written, oral and on-line presentations
• Must be a strategic thinker and committed to the mission of the agency

PREFERRED:

• A Master’s degree or Knowledge of: State of Washington budgeting and accounting policies and regulations;
• Principles and procedures of governmental accounting and budgeting;
• Financial records and reports;
• Effective internal controls;
• Washington State government policies and procedures for procurement, contracting (including competitive bid and sole source),
• Risk management, and records management; and office practices and procedures.

The preferred candidate will also have the ability to:

• Analyze complex financial and statistical data and determine their significance
• Recognize and solve accounting, budget, or business problems
• Advise management in budget planning and development
• Analyze, monitor, and evaluate fiscal and/or accounting activities; direct the development of controls and procedures for programs and appropriations; project and report on expenditure and revenue trends
• Prepare and present comprehensive reports and recommendations
• Research and access support services from central service agencies to support ArtsWA’s mission
• Skilled in management, supervision, and positive motivation of staff
• Demonstrate a collaborative and effective supervisory style, and a commitment to individual and group learning
• Respect and value co-workers, and work well individually and collaboratively
• Ability to lead and manage organizational change

**Special Note:
We encourage everyone to apply, but please note that currently ARTSWA is unable to accommodate relocation reimbursements.

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

•  A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting;
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

NOTE: 
The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the “duties summary” section of your application in Careers.wa.gov, completeness of the application material submitted, and the supplemental questionnaire.  A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application. Responses to the supplemental questionnaire regarding work experience must be reflected in the “duties summary” section of the application.

By submitting materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The State may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Opportunity for All: 
ArtsWA celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:
For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov.  Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.