The Executive Director serves as the chief executive of Eyebeam, leading the organization through a period of renewal and transformation. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED is responsible for strategic direction, financial sustainability, and community relationships that advance Eyebeam’s mission at the intersection of art, technology, and society. 

The ideal candidate combines visionary leadership with emotional intelligence, balancing decisiveness with empathy and inspiring confidence across staff, artists, alumni, funders, and partners. This person is an experienced cultural leader with credibility in the art/tech field and a demonstrated commitment to artists, equity, and experimentation. Eyebeam values curiosity, collaboration, and growth. We understand that leadership takes many forms, and we welcome candidates whose strengths may be concentrated in some areas more than others, provided they bring the insight and openness to build collective capacity across the team.

Location: Must live within transit distance of New York City for a weekly hybrid working schedule.

Compensation

Classification: Full-Time, Salary Exempt

Salary Range:  $135,000 – $165,000

Benefits Package: This is a full-time position that offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees residing in New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey. The benefits also include generous paid time off (PTO), life insurance, and a Safe Harbor 401(k) employer-matched retirement plan, in accordance with the organization’s policy.

• Lead Eyebeam in a manner that supports and advances its mission as defined with the Board of Directors. 
• Collaborate with the Board to evolve participatory governance models rooted in transparency and trust. 
• Communicate effectively with the Board, providing timely and accurate information for informed decision-making.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainability

• Ensure the long-term financial health of the organization through thoughtful budgeting and resource management. 
• Lead fundraising efforts with rigor and creativity, cultivating relationships with foundations, individual donors, and institutional partners.
• Maintain fiscal integrity through accurate, transparent reporting and compliance with nonprofit standards.

Programs, Communications, & Strategy

• Partner with the Program Team and other staff to sustain and evolve residencies, fellowships, and new initiatives that advance Eyebeam’s mission. 
• Lead Eyebeam’s communications strategy in collaboration with the Communications team, ensuring consistent, values-driven messaging across all platforms. 
• Steward digital engagement initiatives such as FEED, oral histories, and other storytelling programs that amplify Eyebeam’s network and public presence. 
• Balance bold experimentation with operational discipline and risk management. 
• Establish clear, reciprocal partnerships with aligned organizations and collaborators. 
• Engage in ongoing strategic planning that positions Eyebeam as a leader in the global conversation on art, technology, and society.

Operations & People

• Manage and collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to steward day-to-day administration and align resources with strategic priorities. 
• Hire, manage, and support qualified staff; foster a culture of equity, participation, and shared leadership. 
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence in leadership—empowering staff, nurturing collaboration, and modeling accountability. 
• With the COO, ensure compliance with nonprofit governance, employment law in New York City, and ethical standards of the organization. 
• Review and implement organizational and human resource policies and procedures with the COO to best support staff, organizational administration, and other operational processes.

Community & Network Engagement

• Serve as a visible ambassador for Eyebeam across artistic, civic, and technological communities. 
• Cultivate meaningful relationships with alumni, fellows, and peer institutions to strengthen Eyebeam’s global network. 
• Foster inclusivity through practice—ensuring artists and collaborators feel welcomed, heard, and supported. 
• Represent Eyebeam publicly, including at events, conferences, and in the media.

Technology, Innovation, & Cultural Competence

• Demonstrate digital literacy and the ability to critically assess and deploy new technologies aligned with Eyebeam’s values. 
• Encourage innovation while exercising discernment to avoid unsustainable or hype-driven practices. 
• Engage with diverse artistic practices and communities with cultural competence and care.

• Deep commitment to Eyebeam’s mission at the intersection of art, technology, and society.
• Substantial leadership experience in a cultural, nonprofit, or movement-based organization. 
• Recognized credibility in the art/tech field and as a supporter of artists. Strong network of contacts in arts, technology, philanthropy, and adjacent fields. 
• Demonstrated fundraising success and financial stewardship. 
• Proven ability to build authentic, reciprocal partnerships with clear goals and accountability. 
• Skilled in strategic thinking, risk management, and operational discipline.
• Exceptional oral, written, and visual communication skills; able to synthesize complex ideas for diverse audiences. 
• High emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. 
• Proficiency with digital tools and platforms for nonprofit management and organization (e.g., Zoom, Submittable, Slack) and openness to emerging technologies. 

Eyebeam aims to create a hub for conversation and practice-sharing that is aware and responsive to systemic inequities in technology and invests in the meaningful inclusion of historically marginalized groups and voices. Eyebeam is committed to and values diversity in its organization and programs as defined by gender, race, ethnicity, disability status, age, sexual orientation, immigrant status, and socioeconomic status. With a history rooted in innovation and collaboration, Eyebeam’s programs are grounded in artist-community dialogue. Eyebeam supports meaningful access to technology for everyone.

We will accept and review applications on a rolling basis, but we will be prioritizing applications submitted by Friday, November 28, 2025. Only applications completed via Submittable will be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Communications on behalf of Eyebeam will come from edsearch@eyebeam.org.

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