About the Residency

The Residency seeks to build a powerful community of young hip-hop artists equipped with the artistic and leadership skills, business acumen, and mentorship necessary to become creative and cultural change makers. Through their participation in The Residency, young artists acquire tangible artistic and professional skills while also gaining confidence, teamwork, communication skills and a deepened understanding of their own identity and power. The Residency is particularly focused on engaging young people from historically marginalized, under represented and under-resourced communities in the Seattle metro area.

The Residency, a 501c3 organization, was founded in July 2015 as a partnership between Arts Corps, MoPOP, and recording artists Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, born from a vision of building an inclusive, empowered music community from the ground up in contrast to the traditionally exclusive and opaque music industry. The program began as a summer intensive and cohort model; inspired by professional development programs for working artists, youth receive stipends for their participation, and build relationships with teaching artists and working creatives to create an authentic multi-generational community. The Residency has also provided exceptional performance and learning opportunities both in the Seattle area and across the country for its participants. Activities have included a visit to the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, fly-away concert experiences, and featured performances at community events, arenas and festivals both in Seattle and nationwide. The Residency

now has an alumni network of over 300 students, 90% of which are BIPOC. Co-founder Macklemore continues to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Now in the Residency’s ninth year, the organization is at a pivotal moment of growth. With a desire to return to the roots and ethos that inspired the creation of the program, we are poised to enter this next phase with new energy and ideas, including the vision of a permanent physical home for the organization and its participants. We seek an Executive Director to lead and collaborate with our community to realize an inspired next chapter in the Residency’s story.

Position Overview

Summary: The Residency’s Executive Director (ED) will be responsible for overall program operations and staff management of the organization. The ED is ultimately responsible for ensuring the effective management and implementation of the following areas: budget development, implementation and oversight; fiscal management; organizational planning; arts education programming; operations and HR; staffing and staff management; strategic partnerships; fundraising; board management; and strategic organizational development. The Executive Director will work closely with the Board of Directors and staff to ensure The Residency continues to grow its impact sustainably.

2024-2025 Executive Director Goals:

• Sustain and expand high quality arts education programming year round and engage new youth and audiences into the organization’s work
• Foster a collaborative, effective and inclusive staff environment and organizational culture, including hiring, management, and support of additional staff
• Stabilize and grow our funding, including defining fundraising targets, developing individual donor strategy and executing fundraising event(s)
• Lead review, update and realization of the organization’s strategic plan, including a roadmap towards a permanent home for The Residency

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee programmatic planning, oversight and management to ensure ongoing excellence and program standards, including equitable, inclusive and safe environment for all participants
• Lead organizational planning and development initiatives
• Oversee hiring for the organization and manage staff (employees as well as teaching artists and external contractors/consultants)
• Lead fundraising and donor cultivation efforts including individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners in collaboration with fundraising contractor/s
• Develop, implement and track annual budget
• Oversee and manage organizational finances
• Ensure proper HR functions and necessary tax and legal compliance in collaboration with organization’s board and accountant
• Oversee external communications & program marketing
• Spearhead the realization of a permanent home in Seattle for the Residency’s programming and operations Ensure appropriate training and professional development opportunities for staff
• Ideate and develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with local and regional schools, organizations, and artists
• Collaboratively plan for quarterly board meetings, lead board recruitment and development, and consistent engagement with board steering committees

Candidate Profile

Qualified candidates will hold the following values:

• Racial justice & intersectional equity framework
• Authentic connection to hip hop culture
• Authentic connection to Seattle arts & culture scene
• Passion for centering youth voice, leadership and development
• Open-mindedness, growth mindset and ability to adapt and skill-build

Qualified candidates will demonstrate:

• Ability to build and manage teams, including hiring, supervising, resourcing and evaluating Vision for cultivating inclusive organizational culture
• Ability to envision and implement long-term organizational strategic plans
• A confident, approachable demeanor and ability to be present
• Excellent communication skills, including:
• Ensuring people feel seen, heard & valued
• Accountability & Humility
• Transparency & Authenticity
• Leading with collaboration and emotional intelligence
• Fluency and comfort in connecting and building trust with youth, teaching artists & creatives Qualified candidates will have the following experience/understanding:
• Youth development (as instructor or administrator)
• Creative and/or arts education (as practicing artist, teaching artist or administrator)
• Team management; confident supervising both small and big groups
• Familiarity with non-profit and nonprofit fundraising structures
• Budget management

Any of the following experience and skills below are of interest to us but not requirements for competitive candidacy.

• Fundraising & network cultivation, including:
• Fostering external partnerships
• Strategic planning
• Cultivating and stewarding individual donors
• Leading within a non-profit organization as director or manager
• Working within or collaborating with schools and/or enrichment programs
• Managing a Board of Directors and leveraging its strengths
• Experience within the music industry and/or creative industries

To Apply

Please email your cover letter, resume, and 3 references to apply@theresidencyseattle.org with the subject line “Executive Director Application - The Residency.” Applications will close June 14, 2024.

Have questions? We’re happy to help – please write to us at apply@theresidencyseattle.org