The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. The SFAC envisions a San Francisco where the transformative power of art is critical to strengthening neighborhoods, building infrastructure and fostering positive social change. We believe the arts create inspiring personal experiences, illuminate the human condition and offer meaningful ways to engage with each other and the world around us. We imagine a vibrant San Francisco where creativity, prosperity and progress go hand in hand. We advance artists’ ideas to improve the quality of life for everyone through a united cultural sector whose contributions are vital and valued. Learn more about our work at: http://www.sfartscommission.org/

The SFAC has adopted the following Racial Equity Statement: 

The San Francisco Arts Commission is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.

The Director of Community Investments oversees the SFAC’s grantmaking portfolio, community capacity building efforts and the Street Artists Licensing Program. The Director will have knowledge and experience in promising practices and trends in arts grant-making, cultural equity, and the community arts field. The Director will guide SFAC Community Investments through the implementation of the 2019-2024 Cultural Services Allocation Plan.   

The Director of Community Investments oversees an approximately $10M grants portfolio, including multiple funding categories supporting city-owned neighborhood cultural centers, individual artists, small and mid-size nonprofit arts organizations, arts education initiatives and special projects. The Director oversees the Cultural Equity Endowment, the Cultural Centers Fund, and the new Arts Impact Endowment and works closely with the Deputy Director of Programs to ensure a vibrant and equitable arts ecology in San Francisco.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee a nationally-recognized public sector arts grantmaking program that embraces promising practices including an open and transparent panel review process, a commitment to racial and cultural equity, and data-driven accountability for public funds.
• Lead the implementation of strategic initiatives focused on affordability and equity, including cultural capital acquisition; professional development and technical assistance for individual artists and arts nonprofits; and capacity building.
• Implement the modernization of the Street Artists Licensing program, including improving the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative processes.
• Direct and manage program workflow and annual grantmaking cycle. 
• Direct and monitor all programmatic budgets, contracts and expenditures in compliance with City policies and procedures.
• Assist in developing and implementing operational policies to ensure the efficient operation of the program.
• Evaluate programmatic impact and alignment with the Arts Commission’s mission, goals and racial equity framework. 
• Ensure programmatic compliance with all Arts Commission and City rules, policies and processes. 
• Work with the Arts Commission’s Capital Analyst and peer City departments to ensure community access to affordable cultural space and housing.
• Represent the Arts Commission in various public and private partnerships including participation in interdepartmental City working groups, peer grantmaker collaborations and/or community-driven partnerships.
• Represent the Community Investments program to Arts Commissioners, the SF Board of Supervisors, the Mayor’s Office and community stakeholders.

Education:  Bachelors degree

Experience:  Three (3) years of professional experience Grantmaking administration and management. 

• Desirable qualification that 2 of those years include supervisory experience.
• Desirable qualification that grantmaking experience is in the arts and culture sector.

Substitution:  Additional experience as described above may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units equal one (1) year. 

Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Salary Range for Job Code 0922 is $115,544 to $147,524 annually (Range A).

Please refer to the PDF Compensation Manual for Ranges B and C.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

Carol Isen - Human Resources Director