Open Positions

The American Academy in Rome is the oldest overseas center for research and study in the arts and humanities. Each year, the Academy awards the Rome Prize to a select group of artists and scholars who are invited to live and work in a dynamic international community in the heart of Rome. To support the work of these Fellows, the Academy also hosts programming in Rome, New York, and around the United States.

AAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The President is the chief executive officer of the American Academy in Rome and is ultimately accountable for all aspects of its performance, ensuring that it continues to play a critical role in advancing the arts and humanities. They will have a nuanced intellect, a global mindset, and the ability to be a compelling advocate for the Academy and its mission. The President will partner with the staff and Board to refine AAR’s strategy and raise the visibility of the Academy and the Rome Prize, while at the same time building AAR’s organizational capacity and growing its financial resources. Key to the ongoing success of the Academy will be the President’s ability to foster a healthy, inclusive organization where diversity of thought and background are valued; to expand the Academy’s influence and impact in both the United States and Italy; and to accelerate the Academy’s ability to garner significant support from both institutional and individual donors.

Key Relationships

Reports to:

The Board of Trustees

Direct reports:

Director, Rome
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Communications
Vice President of Development
Director, Programs (Rome Prize Competition)

Other key relationships:

Individual and institutional donors
The Society of Fellows
Leaders of adjacent cultural institutions in the United States, Italy, and broader Europe

Key Responsibilities

• Organizational Leadership: The President will be accountable for ensuring that the Academy has the organizational culture, structure, talent, systems, policies, procedures, and financial wherewithal to deliver on its mission. The task of creating a cohesive, empowered, highly collaborative organization is complicated by the fact that the Academy operates in two different countries with very different mores and norms
• Impact and Influence: The President will be a compelling and committed advocate for the arts and humanities in general, and will for the work of the Academy and its Fellows and Residents in particular. They will work to elevate the profile of the Academy, driving the development of distinctive programming and expanding the Academy’s convening power. The President will serve as the public face of the Academy in a range of settings, articulating the value of its work and the singular importance of its mission
• Resource Building: The President will serve as the chief fundraiser for the Academy, and thus will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and husbanding both individual and institutional donors. In addition, they will ensure that the development function at the Academy is highly effective and has the resources it needs to continue to grow annual giving and deliver a successful capital campaign, which will be launched sometime after their arrival

Ideal Experience

Senior Leadership Experience

Senior leadership experience within a comparable organization of similar complexity and scale. Demonstrated strengths in building effective organizational structures and managing people.

Subject Matter Expertise

Credibility and standing in one or more of the Academy’s disciplines, coupled with intellectual curiosity about the full range of arts and humanities. A love for Italian history, culture, and language is highly desirable.

Fundraising Prowess

Significant experience in institutional advancement. Enthusiasm for fundraising. A strong track record in securing individual, foundation, corporate, and government funding.

External Engagement

Exceptional communication skills and public presence. Ability to articulate persuasively the case for supporting innovative artists, writers, and scholars. Knowledge and experience in new information and communication technologies, particularly as they relate to content dissemination, brand building, and public engagement would be an asset.

Demonstrated Commitment to the Values of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion

Has had meaningful impact on diversity and inclusion within a complex organization serving a large and varied set of stakeholders. Has demonstrated a commitment to including and engaging historically underserved communities.

Governance Expertise

Has reported to or interacted substantively with a Board of Trustees.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

Acting Strategically

The President will provide dynamic, imaginative leadership, including charting a path forward to raise the visibility and public profile of the Academy and the Rome Prize. As the chief executive officer, the President:

• Identifies and proposes potential changes to the Academy’s strategy or direction while also considering their implications across different parts of the organization, taking care to consider the operational and cultural differences between the United States and Italy
• Brings new thinking that challenges assumptions and conventional wisdom
• Contributes to the development of an organizational strategy for the Academy based on an understanding of the socio-economic trends impacting the arts and humanities
• Appreciates and communicates the trends and environmental shifts occurring in both the United States and Italy over a three-plus-year horizon that pose challenges to the Academy’s current strategy

Leading People

As the chief executive officer of a United States organization that has its main operations in Italy, the President will be a culturally agile, skilled, and inspiring leader of a staff that is spread across two continents. To ensure that the Academy is unified around its strategic priorities and is a cohesive, collaborative, and highly functioning organization, the President:

• Communicates the vision and purpose of the Academy to internal stakeholders with enthusiasm and passion
• Demonstrates consistency, authenticity, and empathy in interactions with the staff and the senior leadership team, building trust, empowerment, and collaboration across the organization
• Promotes cross-organizational collaboration to build or reinforce alignment around the organization’s purpose, vision, and direction
• Creates organizational structures and practices that enable people within the organization to work to their highest and best use, deliver meaningful results, grow as professionals, and find fulfillment in their work

Exhibiting Cultural Agility

The President is charged with ensuring a robust and diverse community of Fellows and Residents in Rome as well as with building strong partnerships with allied public and private institutions, both inside and outside the United States, with a demonstrated ability to lead a diverse group of people and foster an inclusive community. As such, the President:

• Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for American and Italian culture, and for the essential role that both the arts and humanities play in advancing the human condition
• Celebrates the distinctive contributions of different cultures and disciplines and, at the same time, advances opportunities for unique synergies that the Academy’s operating model affords. Establishes ground rules and promotes mutual respect and equity across functional, disciplinary, and geographic boundaries.

Other Personal Characteristics

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Energy and stamina

The Search Process

The American Academy in Rome is eager to receive input that will help it build a pool of talented individuals. To that end, the Search Committee welcomes your comments, inquiries, applications, and nominations, which may be submitted via the confidential search mailbox: AARpresident [at] spencerstuart.com.

As an integral part of the New York team of the American Academy in Rome, the Board Relations Coordinator is the administrator for the Academy’s Board of Trustees. In this role they work closely with staff across all levels of the organization and maintain regular communication with Trustees. This role is key in facilitating the Board’s governance work and building strong Trustee relationships with the organization. They coordinate upwards of 60 meetings a year and see that action items are followed through on, support the Nominating pipeline process, support Development leadership in securing Trustee gifts, and plan and execute Trustee events, among other Board-related duties.

Supervision

This position reports to the Director of Development and works closely with and takes direction from the President, the Chief Development Officer, and the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.

Responsibilities

• Support the administration of the Board of Trustees by delivering the content, logistics, and action items relating to the meetings and retreats of the Board of Trustees. Tasks include scheduling a robust calendar of meetings (upwards of 60/year), notifying Trustees of meetings, events and activities, coordinating attendance and participation, handling room, equipment, and refreshments logistics, and drafting remarks for staff and board leadership
• Work with the Board and Committee Chairs and staff liaisons to draft meeting agendas and coordinate the creation of materials, including Board books for Board meetings, to strategically and efficiently drive Board productivity
• Coordinate the official records of all Board and Committee meetings, including taking meeting minutes, drafting minutes, disseminating minutes to the Board and Committees, and ensuring meeting and minute files are accurate and complete
• Coordinate Board and Committee actions taken at or between meetings, including documenting and following up on action items and obtaining approvals as necessary
• Manage the annual conflict of interest disclosure and whistleblower policy processes, including distributing policies and forms, and tracking responses
• Assist the Director of Development on administrative and fundraising tasks relating to the development, nominating and governance, and executive committees, and other special committees as needed
• Support the process of Board recruitment, whose direction is determined by the Nominating Committee, by drafting communications for Leadership, conducting research, and scheduling meetings and events
• Support the onboarding process for new Trustees, including but not limited to supplying the appropriate materials, organizing introductory meetings, and organizing welcome events
• Actively and accurately maintain all Trustee records and files, both electronic and hard copy
• Manage the planning and implementation of the annual Trustees’ Week in Rome and Trustees’ Trip (to another location in Italy), which includes communication, event planning and logistics, and close coordination with colleagues in Italy and with travel consultants
• Support the annual Trustee dues solicitation and collection process. Track and report on Trustee dues revenue, and assist with revenue forecasting and re-forecasting in this area
• Assist with the planning and execution of cultivation events hosted by Trustees
• Respond to inquiries made by Trustees
• Complete other tasks and special projects relating to the Board as needed and assigned
• Assist with Academy events and programs as needed, including public programs, galas and other donor events
• Provide occasional coverage for the President’s Office and reception desk as needed
• Perform other coordination and support duties as needed and assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, demonstrated interest in the arts or humanities preferred
• A minimum 2 years of administrative or development experience, preferably at an academic or cultural institution
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills
• Experience working directly with leadership and boards preferred, including working familiarity with board and governing procedures, documents, and best practices
• Demonstrated skill to take accurate and thorough notes in a wide range of meetings and discussions, including transcribing, editing, and presenting information concisely and coherently
• Exceptional judgment and sensitivity in handling confidential information
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple diverse projects and manage concurrent timelines in a fast-paced environment
• High level of computer literacy: Microsoft 365, Google applications, and Adobe Acrobat are required. Knowledge of Canva and The Raiser’s Edge preferred
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends for events and programs, as well as travel
• Knowledge of Italian is helpful but not required.

The American Academy in Rome is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the Academy, the contributions you expect to make to the Academy’s mission, and your qualifications for the position of Board Relations Coordinator via aarome.bamboohr.com/careers/42. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The American Academy in Rome seeks a passionate and experienced programs manager to help oversee and execute US-based programming, including talks and panels (including the Academy’s series Conversations/Conversazioni), musical performances, readings, receptions, exhibitions, and other events. The position will be responsible for running five to nine events a year, from ideation to execution, as well as assisting with the annual Rome Prize competition and Affiliated Fellowships program. The ideal candidate is someone with a demonstrated interest in the arts or humanities and will be given a unique ability to shape the Academy’s US-based programming as part of the Communications and Programs department, working closely with staff in New York and in Rome.

The role requires setting curatorial and programming objectives for the American Academy in Rome, strategizing with key internal and external stakeholders, helping to oversee the overall programming calendar for the Academy. The right candidate will work with the Academy’s senior leadership on building public events that are engaging and appealing to different audiences. The successful candidate will bring an entrepreneurial approach to the role and navigate team dynamics with ease. The role requires creativity, energy, a positive attitude, attention to detail, and strong organizational and project management skills, as well as a passion in the Academy’s work as a leading cultural organization operating in the United States and Italy. Sound judgment, excellent communications skills, and familiarity with current trends in the arts or in scholarship are critical qualities for the successful candidate.

Responsibilities

• Event Management: plan major events from start to finish, in the context of an annual programming theme. Create programs, plan event budgets, invite guests, and execute events with confidence and skill
• Stakeholder Engagement: help manage relationships with key stakeholders as they relate to public programming to ensure positive outcomes
• Fellowships: assist the Director of Programs with the annual Rome Prize Competition, including assembling juries and assisting to manage the application process for Rome Prize Fellowships as well as Affiliated Fellowship programs; a sound judgment, particularly around confidential information, is critical
• Collaboration across multiple teams: work closely with several teams, including the Communications and Programs Department, the Development Department, and programs staff in Rome on setting a larger strategic vision and achieving measurable results
• Assist with maintenance of Raiser’s Edge database, online fellowship application portals, departmental records, and institutional archives

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in one of the academic disciplines in/for which the American Academy in Rome offers fellowships (ancient studies, archaeology, art history, design, English/literature, Italian studies, medieval studies, visual arts, etc.) or in education, museum studies, or related fields
• 4–7 years of events or programs management experience in cultural or academic organizations
• Demonstrated ability to multitask, problem solve, and take initiative
• Driven, creative individual with strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities simultaneously
• Ability to operate at two levels: both on a strategic level and also at a granular level in the execution of programs and events
• A people person skilled at building and nurturing relationships
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent budget management and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) as well as Google applications (Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive)
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge/Blackbaud software is a plus
• Able to work in our New York office full time
• Willing to staff occasional events outside business hours
• Fluency or proficiency in Italian is a plus but not a requirement

The American Academy in Rome is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the Academy, the contributions you expect to make to the Academy’s mission, and your qualifications for the position of Curatorial and Programs Manager via aarome.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=39. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.