Executive Director

 The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation is in its fiftieth year of operation and and is seeking its second Executive Director who will continue its programs and help lead the Foundation into a new period of stewardship and philanthropy.  

Background

The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation has been operating since 1976 with two main purposes. We offer grants to individual visual artists through two programs: an annual Individual Support Grant and a separate program to assist visual artists in cases of catastrophic events through an Emergency Grant Program. We also maintain an archive on the art and life of Adolph Gottlieb and organize exhibitions of his art.

Executive Director Key Responsibilities and Opportunities

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s missions, and coordinating with the Board of Directors, staff, and its artist community to clearly and consistently implement the policies and programs the Foundation maintains. This includes day-to-day supervision of staff, management of finances, daily appraisal of both grant programs, representing the organization and missions to press and public, communication with professionals in both galleries and museums, and oversight of the Foundation’s premises. The Executive Director will propose adjustment to policies, private and public exhibition projects, and will work closely with the Board of Directors to keep the Foundation and its programs relevant and effective.

The Executive Director will:

●   Bring vision and leadership to the organization’s direction, growth and development, including an assessment of its current grantmaking, programs, and goals;

●   Learn the history and values of the Foundation, and establish strong working relationships with the Board of Directors, staff, colleagues, and artists;

●   Manage the Foundation’s financial operations; develop its budget; ensure that staff and programming keep within approved budgetary limits; provide the Board with timely financial data for budgeting decisions; coordinate with accountants to prepare annual financial reports and tax filings;

●   In cooperation with the Board, coordinate with art galleries to plan and develop exhibition projects and potential sales;

●   In cooperation with the Board, convene panels for annual grant reviews; organize and present applications for emergency grants on an ongoing and as-needed basis;

●   Develop ideas for public exhibitions utilizing the Foundation’s collection of Adolph Gottlieb’s art as a nucleus; develop budgets and formal proposals offering exhibition projects to appropriate public venues; coordinate with partners to develop and produce publications and programming;

●   Manage an archive of Adolph Gottlieb’s papers; work with an experienced archivist to make this material available to scholars and to organize it for inclusion in a catalogue raisonné;

●   Coordinate with staff to extend the Foundation’s active social media presence and quarterly newsletter; and develop informational programming for on-line symposia to assist visual artists;

●   Represent the Gottlieb Foundation and Adolph and Esther Gottlieb to the public; build relationships with similar organizations, scholars and colleagues; cultivate speaking engagements and interviews with the press;

●   Supervise professional staff; maintain a collaborative relationship among a small, dedicated staff, working with individuals and as a team to accomplish tasks and implement the Foundation’s programs; maintaining a positive environment that advances staff satisfaction, mentorship, and retention;

●  Ensure that the Foundation’s operations comply with legal and financial limits and obligations of a 501 c (3) tax exempt organization. 

Desired Qualifications 

Prospective candidates must have a demonstrated background in leadership roles, as well as exhibit excellent written and verbal communication, analytic, computer and organizational skills. 

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experiences: 

●     Strong leadership, facilitation and managerial skills, including proven supervisory, staff development, program management, and budgetary skills 

●     A resumé that includes senior positions in visual arts organizations

●     Understanding of and an engagement with the visual arts community, including artists, foundations, scholars, gallerists, and collectors

●     Creative problem solver with the demonstrable ability to think strategically

●     Ability to understand and carry out a number of specialized efforts such as legal issues, government and private support programs for individuals, tax and finance in collaboration with legal and accounting professionals 

●     A minimum of five years relevant experience in the visual arts or corresponding field.

Reporting Relationships and Work Environment  

The Executive Director reports to and works in cooperation with a Board of Directors (currently 6 individuals), and directly supervises the Grants Manager, Art Collection Manager, and Archivist. The Executive Director will be responsible for maintaining and developing the positive and collaborative work environment. Our current work environment is:

●     The position is envisioned as full time (40 hours per week) with regular hours; additional hours required for events and occasional travel

●     This position currently functions as in-person, with an office in lower Manhattan.At the time of employment, the Executive Director will live within commuting distance of the Foundation’s Soho, New York office. The Executive Director is expected to work in person from the Foundation office.

●     Candidates must be willing to relocate to the New York City metropolitan area

The Foundation is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 Please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of 3 references to Gottlieb Foundation Search Committee at [email protected] by no later than Friday, June 12, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT. Please do not phone the Foundation or send materials to any other employee or officer of the Gottlieb Foundation. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and initial conversations will be conducted on a rolling basis. A Search Committee made up of members of the Gottlieb Foundation Board of Directors will review applications and first round interviews will begin in late June 2026. Interviews will initially be conducted via Zoom video conference. We anticipate two rounds of interviews and a final in-person meeting in New York. Reference checks will be conducted as part of the review process. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.