About Art Bridges

Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 200 museums of all sizes and locations on nearly 900 projects—impacting more than 5.3 million people across 49 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges Collection and Partner Loan Network, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.

Required Documents to Apply:

The Director of Administration and Strategy serves as a senior leader and strategic partner to the CEO, advancing organizational priorities through enterprise-wide coordination, disciplined execution, and cross-functional alignment. This role strengthens organizational systems, translates vision into actionable plans, and ensures high-priority initiatives move forward with clarity and accountability across Art Bridges and the broader ecosystem.

Operating at a strategic level, the Director works across departments rather than leading a single functional area, guiding complex initiatives and leading organizational change to reinforce alignment among leadership, operations, and shared services partner Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE). The role provides strategic oversight and integration, supporting executive decision-making and long-term planning.

Success in this role requires strong strategic judgment, organizational discipline, and executive presence. The Director must influence without direct authority, navigate a complex, multi-entity environment, and ensure continuity and momentum on critical initiatives in alignment with the organization’s mission.

Job Description:

Job Title: Director of Administration and Strategy
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
FLSA Classification: Exempt

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

About Art Bridges Foundation

Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Founded in 2017, Art Bridges creates and supports projects that share works of American art with communities across the United States and its territories. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 300 museums—impacting 25 million people nationwide—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibitions, collection loans, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local communities. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices.

For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.

About the Position

The Director of Administration and Strategy serves as a senior leader and strategic partner to the CEO, advancing organizational priorities through enterprise-wide coordination, disciplined execution, and cross-functional alignment. This role strengthens organizational systems, translates vision into actionable plans, and ensures high-priority initiatives move forward with clarity and accountability across Art Bridges and the broader ecosystem.

Operating at a strategic level, the Director works across departments rather than leading a single functional area, guiding complex initiatives and leading organizational change to reinforce alignment among leadership, operations, and shared services partner Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE). The role provides strategic oversight and integration, supporting executive decision-making and long-term planning.

Success in this role requires strong strategic judgment, organizational discipline, and executive presence. The Director must influence without direct authority, navigate a complex, multi-entity environment, and ensure continuity and momentum on critical initiatives in alignment with the organization’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy and Execution

• Refine organizational priorities and translate strategy into actionable plans in collaboration with the CEO and leadership.
• Monitor the strategic plan and report progress on strategic objectives and key results.
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, including new programs, organizational design, partnerships, and enterprise projects.
• Prepare briefing materials, analyses, and decision frameworks for leadership and the Board.
• Support the CEO with all Board of Directors planning, materials, and governance matters, including those of high confidentiality.
• Shape and prioritize information flowing to the CEO to support timely, high-quality decision making.
• When designated, represent the CEO internally or externally on strategic initiatives.

Organizational Alignment and Operations

• Serve as a connective leader across departments, strengthening collaboration and shared accountability.
• Identify organizational bottlenecks, structural challenges, or misalignment and develop solutions.
• Support leadership in documenting, improving, and scaling internal systems and workflows.
• Ensure key processes are recorded and maintained in organizational knowledge systems (e.g., Trainual or similar platforms).
• Serve as a senior liaison with shared services partner Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE), including People Services, Finance, Facilities, IT, and Legal, on strategic and organizational initiatives to ensure connectivity, understanding, and inclusion into workflows.
• Collaborate with Finance and organizational leadership on annual budgeting, financial reporting, and long-term planning.
• Partner with People Services to support recruitment, onboarding, and leadership development aligned with the organization’s mission and culture.

Culture and Change Management

• Support strong internal communications and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Lead planning and facilitation of leadership meetings, all-staff meetings, and strategic retreats.
• Foster a collaborative, creative, and people-centered culture.
• Serve as a trusted resource to leadership and staff on organizational matters.
• Lead and support organizational change initiatives, ensuring clarity, communication, and adoption.
• Manage select strategic projects requiring executive oversight, cross-departmental coordination, and/or confidentiality.
• Support ecosystem-wide training and leadership development initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary, high-performing team fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and growth.
• Promote continuous improvement, professional development, and collaboration within your team to drive results and support organization priorities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members to ensure alignment with organization standards and practices.
• Monitor and manage team performance, addressing attendance, conduct, or productivity issues promptly and professionally.
• Encourage employee engagement and morale through recognition and open communication practices.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support evolving organizational needs.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, public administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred.
• 8–10+ years of experience in senior leadership, strategy, operations, consulting, or nonprofit management required. Experience within complex, multi-stakeholder environments, including the arts, cultural organizations, philanthropy, or other mission-driven organizations preferred.
• 5–8+ years of progressive leadership experience overseeing strategic initiatives, organizational systems, cross-functional projects, or enterprise-wide operations within mission-driven or nonprofit organizations.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and enterprise projects, including alignment of strategic priorities, operational execution, and measurable performance outcomes.
• Strong strategic and analytical capability, with the ability to synthesize complex information, develop decision frameworks, and translate insights into actionable planning and organizational strategy while balancing long-term vision with attention to detail.
• Experience supporting executive leadership and governance processes, including preparation of materials and presentations for senior leadership teams and Boards of Directors.
• Experience with nonprofit governance, regulatory compliance considerations, and shared services operating models preferred.
• Ability to cultivate, influence, and sustain collaborative relationships with senior leaders, cross-functional teams, shared services partners, and external stakeholders.
• Financial acumen and experience collaborating on annual budgeting, financial reporting, and long-range planning processes.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex strategy and organizational priorities clearly to executive leadership, Boards, and staff.
• High level of professional integrity and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with discretion and sound judgment.
• Strong emotional intelligence and executive presence, with a trusted-advisor mindset and the ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives, fostering cultural alignment, and stewarding cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana), organizational systems, enterprise platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary leadership team.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and innovative environment where change is constant.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Physical Demands: In the work environment described, position requires utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, and the physical stamina to lift and transport a minimum of 10 pounds. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

Work Environment: Work is performed full-time (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) in a professional, climate-controlled office environment with standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and telephones. This role requires working in an open setting near colleagues. The noise level is typically low to moderate. The role also requires regular interaction with both the public and internal team members in a professional and courteous manner. Some local travel will be required, and a flexible schedule may be necessary to accommodate business needs, including occasional evening and weekend work hours.

Art Bridges and DEAI

At Art Bridges, diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are central to all work and decisions made within our organization. We support our colleagues and partners in learning and growing together to make this important work part of our daily lives.

Art Bridges is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.