Creative Operations Director

Rainbow Serpent is a Black LGBTQ+ artist-led organization dedicated to myth-making, ancestral 

healing, immersive technology, and Afro-diasporic spiritual traditions. We produce work across 

performance, XR, literature, sculpture, public installation, photography, and film while offering 

residencies, rituals, retreats, and workshops grounded in ancestral knowledge.

We root our work in service to Black queer artists, cultural workers, ritualists, and technologists 

across the United States, Nigeria, and England. Our installations, performances, and immersive 

media also engage global public audiences by sparking wonder, dialogue, and cultural transformation 

across communities.

We are visionaries, but we need a Creative Operations Director to build the backend engine that 

turns vision into lasting structure.

About the Role

This is a high-trust, high-autonomy leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of 

systems, strategy, and soul. You’ll be the sole operational lead managing our XR films, 

exhibitions, publications, partnerships, and public activations. You’ll work directly with our 

Co-Executive Directors (Marques Redd and Mikael Owunna) and help lay the technical and structural 

foundation for national and international growth.

You’ll Lead:

● Project management for interdisciplinary creative and institutional projects

● Grant writing, submission, and reporting

● Building SOPs, dashboards, and systems that scale

● Strategic research (festivals, funders, residencies, and partners)

● Communications and coordination with artists, funders, and collaborators

You Should Have:

● 4–6 years experience in operations, arts management, or nonprofit development

● Strong writing, coordination, and digital organization skills

● Ability to self-direct and manage multiple timelines

● Alignment with Black LGBTQ+ cultural and spiritual work

● Comfort being the only operations lead in a fast-paced, high-standards environment

Bonus Points For:

● MA in Library Science, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, Cultural Studies, Literature, 

or allied field

● Experience with XR or immersive tech projects

● Familiarity with museums, academic ecosystems, or cultural funders

● Background in archiving, data systems, or public art workflows

If you are hungry to help build a cultural institution that matters, energized by execution, driven 

by values, and ready to build systems that support operational flow with clarity and care, this is 

for you.

Application Process

● Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to those received by Friday, August 15, 5pm

● Top candidates will receive a skills test

● Finalists will be invited to a virtual interview

● Offer will follow for selected candidate

To Apply

We are asking candidates to submit an application for this position at our website: https://www.therainbowserpent.org/opportunities/creative-operations-director. This application will require you to submit a resume and answers to the questions below (instead of a cover letter):

1. Why does the work of Rainbow Serpent speak to you, and how do you see yourself in alignment with our mission?

2. What are you building toward in your career, and how do you pursue excellence in the work that matters most to you?

3. [Case study] Rainbow Serpent is currently producing three book projects. One is an anthology featuring contributions from painters, poets, photographers, sculptors, and essayists. How would you plan a workflow to get this project printed and launch a national tour to promote it? 4

4. [Case Study] You inherit an inbox with 200+ unread emails from collaborators, clients, and the general public. What is your step-by-step approach to triaging, responding, and putting systems in place to prevent future overload?

5. [Case Study] Rainbow Serpent has been successful with receiving local and state grants. How would you craft a national grants strategy to secure support from major cultural funders, philanthropic institutions, and arts foundations?

08/15/2025