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DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Naree Viner, Susan VanGilder, and Tenley Bank. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at Emerson_VPDMAV@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

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Located in the heart of Boston's vibrant Theatre District, Emerson College is internationally recognized as a premier institution for communication and the arts. The College's mission is to educate and elevate extraordinary artists, communicators, scholars, and professionals for the betterment of humanity.

Founded in 1880, Emerson serves approximately 5,800 graduate and undergraduate students from the United States and more than 70 countries and territories. The College maintains a global presence through campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and at Kasteel Well in the Netherlands, with a partnership with Paris College of Art.

Emerson's Extraordinary Emerson 2030 strategic plan positions the College as a global communication and arts leader, focusing on Academic Innovation, Collaborative Connections, Community Engagement, and Operational Excellence. The College's exceptional alumni network includes influential leaders across entertainment, journalism, marketing, performing arts, and media.

For more information on Emerson College, please visit https://emerson.edu/.

About President Jay Bernhardt

Jay Bernhardt became the 13th president of Emerson College in July 2023, bringing extensive leadership experience in higher education, public health, and strategic communications. Prior to Emerson, he served as dean of the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin, one of the nation's largest and most respected communication programs. President Bernhardt's vision for Emerson is captured in the Extraordinary Emerson 2030 strategic plan, which positions the College as a global leader in communication and the arts through Academic Innovation, Collaborative Connections, Community Engagement, and Operational Excellence. The creation of the Division of Media and Arts Ventures is a central pillar of this vision, reflecting his commitment to integrating Emerson's extraordinary arts and media assets into a unified strategic enterprise that serves students, the institution, and the broader community.

Emerson College invites applications and nominations for a visionary leader and experienced manager to serve as its inaugural Vice President for the Division of Media Arts and Ventures (DMAV). This newly conceived position represents a transformational opportunity to integrate and elevate the College's distinctive constellation of arts and media assets into a unified strategic enterprise that advances Emerson's mission while positioning the institution as Boston's preeminent cultural destination and a national model for arts-integrated higher education.

Reporting directly to President Jay Bernhardt and serving on the President's Council, the VP for DMAV will provide executive leadership over a portfolio that includes ArtsEmerson, Boston's leading presenter of global contemporary theater, along with WERS Radio, Emerson Contemporary gallery spaces, public art initiatives, and the operational infrastructure supporting five world-class performance venues in the heart of downtown Boston's Theatre District.

This position offers a rare chance to architect a comprehensive vision for how a premier communications and arts college can leverage professional programming to enhance student learning, strengthen community engagement, generate meaningful revenue, and establish cultural leadership at local, national, and international levels.

The Division of Media and Arts Ventures is positioned as essential infrastructure supporting Emerson College's Extraordinary Emerson 2030 strategic plan, a bold vision that positions the College as a global communication and arts leader in education and scholarship. The VP for DMAV will ensure that arts and media programming advances all four of the strategic plan's priorities:

• Academic Innovation: Professional programming becomes a laboratory for curriculum development, providing industry partnerships and real-world learning opportunities while enhancing faculty development through practitioner engagement.

• Collaborative Connections: Strategic programming positions Emerson as a convener of Boston's cultural community, engaging residents and alumni through high-quality professional events and cultivating corporate partnerships that leverage the College's arts credibility.

• Community Engagement: Vibrant campus programming integrates theaters into the heart of college life and admissions experience, while professional opportunities connect students with career pathways and the facilities serve as gathering spaces that strengthen ties with the City of Boston.

• Operational Excellence: Diversified revenue generation reduces institutional subsidy while optimized resource utilization and brand elevation through cultural leadership strengthen Emerson's competitive positioning.

The Vice President will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and/or coordination for the following realigned and reimagined entities and functions:

ArtsEmerson

Boston's leading presenter of contemporary international theater, serving over 40,000 patrons annually and generating significant media exposure for the College. The programming philosophy emphasizes sparking civic transformation through artistically rigorous, socially conscious work while maintaining deep community engagement through artistic residencies, educational initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations. ArtsEmerson is poised for an expanded vision and broadened focus that extends beyond its theater presenting origins to encompass a wider range of performance formats, community partnerships, and audience development strategies aligned with Emerson's institutional ambitions.

Venue Operations

Stewardship and operational management of five performance venues including the historic Cutler Majestic Theatre (1,180 seats), Robert J. Orchard Stage, Jackie Liebergott Black Box, Semel Theater, and Greene Theater. These venues support academic programming, internal college events, external rentals, and professional presentations.

WERS Radio (88.9 FM)

Boston's longest-running radio station with approximately 100,000 weekly listeners, providing a platform for student engagement and professional broadcast experience while serving as a distinctive element of the Emerson brand with deep emotional connection among alumni.

Emerson Contemporary

Visual arts initiatives including gallery programming and public art installations that extend the College's cultural footprint into urban spaces and community engagement.

UnCommon Stage

A seasonal street-level performance and gathering space that serves as a neighborhood anchor and programming laboratory, hosting live music, community events, and public-facing activations that connect the College to Boston Common and the surrounding Theatre District.

Student Media

Coordination with student-led media outlets and productions that provide experiential learning opportunities and serve as a pipeline between academic programs and the division's professional operations.

Emerson Stage

The College's academic producing program, managed by the Performing Arts department, stages student and faculty-directed productions across DMAV venues. While Emerson Stage does not fall under the VP's direct oversight, close coordination between the division and the program is essential to scheduling, production support, and ensuring that academic and professional uses of shared venues reinforce one another.

New Programming Initiatives

Development of new content verticals including comedy programming, speaker series, news hours, podcasting, and other formats that leverage Emerson's distinctive alumni network and brand strengths to diversify audiences and revenue streams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, integrated strategic vision for the Division of Media Arts and Ventures that elevates the Emerson brand, drives institutional distinction, and positions the College as Boston's leading cultural destination

• Architect innovative programming strategies that diversify content offerings beyond current specializations to include comedy, speaker series, musical performances, podcasting, and other formats that leverage Emerson's distinctive alumni network and brand strengths

• Lead the transformation from isolated cost center to integrated institutional capability that advances multiple strategic priorities while generating sustainable revenue

• Champion the arts and media within Emerson College and across the Boston region, establishing the institution as a convener of cultural conversation and civic engagement

Academic Integration and Student Success

• Create seamless pathways between professional programming and academic curricula, ensuring students gain meaningful professional experience and career acceleration opportunities

• Foster collaborative relationships between DMAV operations and academic departments, particularly Performing Arts, Film, Marketing Communication, and Journalism, to enhance learning outcomes and industry preparation

• Develop student professional development programs including internships, masterclasses, and guaranteed placement opportunities that distinguish Emerson's experiential learning model

• Integrate theaters and venues into campus tours and the overall Emerson student experience

Revenue Generation and Financial Stewardship

• Drive diversified revenue generation through facility optimization, corporate sponsorships, innovative programming, digital monetization, and enhanced ticketing strategies with a target of generating $2+ million in additional annual revenue

• Lead strategic fundraising initiatives in partnership with Advancement, cultivating major donors and building relationships with foundations, corporations, and government funders

• Provide strong fiscal oversight for an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million, ensuring expenditure control while achieving revenue goals

• Optimize space utilization and scheduling to maximize venue availability for revenue-generating activities while maintaining priority support for academic programming

External Relations and Community Engagement

• Build and strengthen relationships with Boston's cultural community, civic leaders, peer institutions, and municipal officials to enhance Emerson's position in the regional arts ecosystem

• Represent the College in cultural leadership forums, arts advocacy initiatives, and community partnerships that amplify Emerson's visibility and impact

• Cultivate strategic partnerships with arts organizations, recording companies, artistic management firms, and promoters nationally and internationally

• Develop alumni engagement strategies that leverage the College's extraordinary network of successful graduates in entertainment, media, and the performing arts

Team Leadership and Organizational Development

• Build and lead a high-performing, collaborative team of approximately 37 FTEprofessional staff, supported by students and intermittent staff across artistic programming, production, marketing, development, operations, and administration

• Coach and mentor direct reports including Directors, Department Heads, and senior managers to achieve institutional vision and strategic objectives

• Foster a culture of collaboration, service excellence, and institutional alignment that replaces siloed operations with integrated teamwork

• Maintain effective communications with the President, President's Council, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students to ensure alignment and transparency

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic Leadership and Transformation

• Articulates and advances a compelling vision for arts presenting within a higher education context

• Navigates academic structures and aligns programming with institutional priorities

• Translates complex goals into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes

• Leads effectively across multi-campus or global environments

Revenue Generation and Operational Excellence

• Demonstrates entrepreneurial leadership in developing sustainable revenue streams

• Oversees budgets, financial planning, and resource allocation with strong fiscal discipline

• Uses data and analytics to inform decision-making and measure success

• Drives organ...