Vice President & Chief Operations Officer

Vice President & Chief Operations Officer
Newfields

The Organization
About Newfields
Newfields is a multi-disciplinary institution that features art galleries, lush gardens, an art and nature park, historic properties, performance spaces, seasonal festivals, and an outdoor amphitheater available to all. From inspiring exhibitions in the Indianapolis Museum of Art Galleries to a rejuvenating stroll through The Garden to concerts in The Tobias Theater, guests are encouraged to interact with art and nature in exciting, unexpected ways.

Visitors may be invited to take a moment of respite in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park on one of artist Jeppe Hein’s playful yellow benches, to catch a film from the National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series in the outdoor amphitheater, to explore works created by culturally diverse artists from Indiana in the Museum, to participate in art making with kids through a Wee Wonders education program, or to experience The Garden during Winterlights.

In 2018, a comprehensive 30-year master land use planning study was completed. With a successful $70M campaign to fund key projects of the master plan complete, many significant enhancements are currently underway to innovate gallery and exhibition experiences, develop and enhance The Garden, and improve community access to art and nature.

Newfields is home to the renowned Indianapolis Museum of Art, among the ten largest and longest operating art museums in the nation with an encyclopedic collection of 43,000 works of art; The Garden, featuring 40 acres of contemporary and historic gardens including the National Historic Landmark Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens complete with a working greenhouse; and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, 100 acres of managed natural land in the middle of Indianapolis proper. The Newfields campus extends outside of Indianapolis with another National Historic Landmark property, The Miller House and Garden in Columbus, IN—one of the nation’s most highly regarded examples of midcentury modern architecture and landscape architecture.

Diversity

• Celebrating the diversity of our donors, guests, volunteers, and staff is a key part of this Newfields vision. Diversity is understanding, respecting, and valuing differences. Simply put, we believe our guests and donors are best served by a team, comprised of both staff and volunteers, that reflects the diversity represented within our communities and that leverages and listens to the unique viewpoints, talents, and experiences of each person who works here. We strive to attract and retain exceptional employees who feel comfortable in an inclusive culture that supports their ability to thrive and adds their voice to the ongoing conversation.

About Indianapolis

• Greater Indianapolis is a metro area with over 2,000,000 people. More than 60% of the population is under 44 years of age and the city’s racial demographic breakdown is approximately 53% White, 28% Black, 4% Asian, and 5% other, with 10% of the overall citizenry identifying as Hispanic. With a host of new bars and restaurants, nationally recognized symphony, theater, cabaret, sports teams, and the Herron School of Art + Design, Newfields’ hometown is a perfect place to build a career and enjoy life.

For more information about Newfields, please visit: https://discovernewfields.org/

The Opportunity
Position: Vice President & Chief Operations Officer
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Reporting Relationship: President & Chief Executive Officer
Website: https://discovernewfields.org/

Purpose of the Position
The Vice President & Chief Operations Officer (COO) is a highly visible role that will serve a key position in the success of Newfields. Reporting to the President & CEO, the COO will demonstrate experience working with diverse communities and a strong commitment to Newfields’ mission to enrich lives through exceptional experiences with art and nature. The COO is responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of the institution, will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and will work closely with related Board committees to develop the vision, strategy, and master plan of the organization.

This role will oversee daily campus operations while managing contractual relationships, capital projects, risk management, and the development of policies and procedures specific to areas of responsibility. Their primary responsibility will be to provide leadership and oversight to the following functional areas: Construction Operations & Support, Project Management, Concession Services (all Food & Beverage services), Security & Safety, Festival & Events, Retail, Hospitality, Campus Operations, and Guest Experience. This organizational leader will play a key role in any capital campaign plans as well as any infrastructure or campus initiatives.

Key Responsibilities
Specific duties and responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

Administrative

• Directly manage operations, construction, capital projects, and personnel budgets for all departments in their division.
• Work with the President & CEO, ELT, and Board of Trustees to develop and implement the strategic plan for the organization.
• Maximize unique programmatic opportunities, preserve and maintain the campus’ physical assets, and partner with the ELT in determining and implementing the best use of available indoor and outdoor space in support of institutional activities and mission.
• Provide concise, relevant, and timely reporting to the Board.
• Partner in cross-divisional initiatives such as master planning, the accreditation process, project management, and sustainability efforts on the Newfields campus with executive and non-executive leaders.
• Identify growth opportunities, especially those impacting underserved communities, foster strategic partnerships, and effectively manage revenue expectations and expenses for areas of responsibility.
• Attend and contribute to all Board and select committee meetings.

Financial

• Provide financial oversight of operations, including preparation of the divisional annual operating budget in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• Develop optimization of campus rental spaces (including private parties, corporate events, festivals & events, filming opportunities, etc.) to maximize the revenue potential of the museum space on mission-related opportunities.
• Oversee operational cash flow and forecasting for Newfields’ seasonal events and operations.
• Manage project profit and loss to ensure that Newfields’ targets for growth and profitability are achieved by operational and organizational strategies.
• Work collaboratively with Executive Leaders on annual and long-term fundraising for institutional efforts.

Facility Management

• Maintain a Facilities Management Policy and implement a preventative maintenance program.
• Direct internal and external construction services, project management, and renovations to campus as well as capital projects.
• Partner with the ELT on the development of annual and long-range capital planning and improvements for the entire campus, including remediation of deferred maintenance.
• Work collaboratively with ELT to implement a five-year strategic plan for the museum buildings and campus enhancements.
• Work closely with ELT on exhibitions as well as the Festival & Events team on campus initiatives to support the mission and goals of Newfields.
• Act as Newfields risk manager in relation to its enterprise risk management program. Partner with the CFO to implement processes and changes.

Operations

• Cultivate a visitor-centered operational plan to support the annual earned revenue goals and build financial resilience for ongoing programs and operations.
• Serve as the responsible staff member for internal and external festivals and events.
• Assess staffing and resource needs to ensure Newfields is an efficient operation and outline its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
• Build and maintain trusting and cross-cultural relationships with key customers, clients, partners, and stakeholders in the community.
• Direct a budget-appropriate security deployment plan that provides service to guests and protection of assets.
• Oversee all safety and security programs, ensuring compliance with local, state, industry, and federal regulations.
• Will manage Certified Cargo Screening Program at Newfields through Transportation Security Administration.
• Implement environmental sustainability initiatives across the organization.
• Be available to work outside normal museum hours while on-call for after-hours emergencies.

The Candidate
Experience and Professional Qualifications
Newfields seeks a talented, strategic, dedicated, and passionate executive who values Newfields’ commitment to increasing its emphasis on combining art with nature. Given Newfields’ regional and national acclaim, well-suited candidates will have respect for its prior accolades and a desire to contribute to the institution’s future.

Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:

• At least 8–10 years’ experience as a Chief Operations Officer or similar leadership role in a non-profit, mission-driven organization of comparable size and complexity.
• A minimum of 8–­10 years of applied knowledge of professional museum principles, practices, and procedures at museums or non-profits of comparable or larger size than Newfields.
• Experience managing substantial departments, projects, and program budgets with a track record of demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams to the successful attainment of measurable goals.
• A desire to strategize and collaborate with Newfields staff and non-executive leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.

Personal Attributes
The Vice President & Chief Operations Officer demonstrates:

• A knowledge of non-profit governance, profit and loss management, accounting, and an understanding of mission-driven organizations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills that are effective with a range of audiences including staff, volunteers, board members, professional and industry groups, the public, and the media.
• Skilled leadership capable of delegating, managing, and prioritizing activities and responsibilities with clarity and confidence combined with strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. The skillset to effectively manage intercultural and diverse teams in a variety of functions.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage budgets and personnel effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to assimilate a high volume of information across disciplines and departments while providing leadership and support to senior staff.
• Capacity to problem solve and implement decisions quickly and soundly.
• A track record of thriving in a fast-paced environment and exemplifying leadership and composure under pressure.
• Ability to work with and lead a wide range of people representing various backgrounds, levels of training, and career stages.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as collections management databases, facilities management preventive maintenance systems, and project management software.
• An entrepreneurial spirit and business savvy to make decisions effectively and grow Newfields’ impact.
• A commitment to personal ethics and organizational transparency.

Key Relationships

Newfields Executive Leadership Team

• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief People and Diversity Officer
• The Melvin & Bren Simon Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
• The Ruth Lilly Director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park
• Vice President of Advancement
• Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs

Direct Reports

• A team across the Construction Operations & Support, Project Management, Concession Services (all Food & Beverage services), Security & Safety, Festival & Events, Retail, Hospitality, Campus Operations, and Guest Experience functions.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution is required. A master’s or advanced degree in organizational leadership, non-profit administration, or other related fields is preferred.

Compensation

• A competitive compensation package will be provided to the successful candidate including a salary of approximately $190,000–$225,000 with a bonus opportunity of 6-8%.

Apply

• To apply, please email NewfieldsVPCOO@KornFerry.com

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Newfields provides equal employment opportunities to all employees without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.