Director of Tandem Press

Job Summary:

BACKGROUND:
Founded in 1987, Tandem Press is a publisher of fine art prints that hosts internationally renowned artists in its studio space, assisting them as they create original fine art editions. It is also one of only four professional university presses. Using an array of traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques, Tandem Press stands at the forefront of innovation, experimentation, and new developments in the field of printmaking and has established itself as a leader among international fine art print publishers.
Since its inception, Tandem Press has produced original fine art editions by numerous world-renowned artists including Judy Pfaff, Suzanne Caporael, Robert Cottingham and Alison Saar. More recent artists include Derrick Adams, Mickalene Thomas, Jeffrey Gibson and Dyani White Hawk. Some of these collaborations have spanned over 30 years.
In 2017, the Press expanded its footprint to open the Tandem Press Apex Gallery at the front of their space. In 2019, the Press expanded their studio space to open a technology center, which allowed them to acquire a large format scanner and laser engraver to better serve collaborating artists and studio production.
Tandem Press represents, promotes, and sells the artworks created in the studio both locally through exhibitions in its gallery, and nationally through participation in several internationally renowned annual art fairs. The prints created at Tandem Press are sold through various avenues to a wide range of collectors including individuals, galleries, corporations, healthcare institutions, etc. Many prestigious museums throughout the world have acquired prints from Tandem Press for their permanent collections. The Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wisconsin is the official archive of Tandem Press and receives one print from every edition that is published.
In addition to its professional and innovative operatives, Tandem Press is also an important educational entity and is part of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and affiliated with the Art Department. Students employed at Tandem Press complement their coursework with practical hands-on experience, gaining an unparalleled insight into the professional art world by working as assistants to the Tandem Press collaborative printers and curators in the production and promotion of fine art prints created by leading contemporary artists. Tandem Press also partners with other departments at the university and organizations throughout Wisconsin to offer tours, printmaking workshops, and other special events that serve artists, students, faculty, staff and the general public.
The School of Education is a unique school made up of ten diverse academic departments, three major research units, and many outreach and support units, all known for their dedication to high-quality outcomes and their desire to positively impact our world. The School is also home to the number one print making program in the country.
Reporting to the Dean of the School of Education, the Director is responsible for planning and implementing all artistic and administrative policies for Tandem Press. The Director will identify, cultivate, and retain artists who come to Tandem press for services, as well as manage artist visits and their related educational activities while they are in Madison.
To learn more about the Tandem Press please visit their web site: https://tandempress.wisc.edu/  
To learn about the University of Wisconsin - Madison please visit their web site:
http://www.wisc.edu/about/  
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
The director will be expected to build upon Tandem's existing strengths including financial stability, an excellent staff and long-term relationships with numerous artists, as well as take the organization to the next level through new initiatives, and by infusing Tandem Press with vision, energy, and excitement.
The director will explore and deepen collaborations on campus in order introduce more students to Tandem and to develop new approaches in teaching, learning, and content as well as creative applications of technology to enhance its exhibitions and programs. The director will also work to build closer ties with the local artistic community.
The director, in partnership with the Press' Advisory Board, will lead the effort to develop new sources of funding and revenue.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Tandem Press provides leadership through extensive knowledge of the contemporary art market and ideally an understanding of printmaking. They are responsible for overall management, growth, and sustainability of the Press. The Director shapes the vision and future directions of the Press and is the guiding force in its philosophy, strategic planning, programming, and management. The Director also collaborates with faculty in the art and art history departments and other departments across the university to serve the needs of UW-M students. The Director reports directly to the Dean of the School of Education.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Specifically, the Director is responsible for supervising and/or participating in the following activities:
Creative Leadership
- Maintains professional contacts and pursues new artistic ideas in the visual arts.
- Work effectively with the Press Advisory Board, a non-fiduciary board comprised of champions and donors of the Press.
- Identifies and approaches new artists to invite to Tandem Press and fosters ongoing relationships with existing artists.
- Provide conceptual leadership to programming and exhibitions for the Tandem Press Apex Gallery.
- Respond to changes in the art market.
- Respond to changes in resources needed by Tandem Press staff to effectively meet the needs of Tandem Press' artists, clients, students and additional stakeholders.
Strategic Leadership
- Increase attention within the international art community as well as the national and local community in new and innovative ways.
- Travel to art fairs and conferences at least five times each year.
- Provide clear, consistent communication with colleagues and broader audiences to articulate program content and goals and coordinate strategies.
- Develop and implement short- and long-range plans for the efficient management of the Press assuring a consistent direction toward achievement of vision and mission.
- Represent the Press to the university community, general public, the donor/collector population, appropriate government agencies, professional organizations, and the national and international arts community. Advocate and act as spokesperson for the Press.
Financial Responsibility
- Responsible for the financial strength of the organization, by growing revenue and overseeing fundraising to support the Press' operations.
- The Director will provide support to the curators who handle the majority of marketing and sales. Sales avenues include art fairs, direct sales, outreach, online marketing and partner sites such as Artsy, Arnet, and Artspace and account for 85% of the Press' budget.
- Oversee fundraising, including the development of various funding sources,
- Analyze and encourage efficient and sustainable operations.
- The Director is responsible for leading and managing the annual wine auction fundraiser, or other type of annual fundraiser that supports the Press ensuring compliance with all applicable statues, Wisconsin administrative codes, and UW policies and procedure.
- In collaboration with the Dean of the School of Education, the development team, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation (UWF), identifies and cultivates donors to ensure long-term viability of the organization.
Administrative Responsibility
- Develop policies and procedures and all associated professional practices related to the Press.
- Exercise independent judgment and some delegated authority regarding budget, and personnel; responsible for marketing and public relations.
- Manage the Press staff; serves as the key leader and motivator of the staff in meeting the goals of the institution.
- Oversee and assures a consistently high level of quality in all activities of the Press.
- Oversee all Press business activities, including budgeting, financial management, marketing.
- Offer lectures and tours of the Press.
- Develop and maintains rapport, cooperation, and a productive working relationship with the faculty, administration, and students at the university.

Responsibilities:
Responsible for overseeing the development, implementation and strategic growth of arts programming. Develops and evaluates program curriculum using established standards. Plans and monitors logistics and budget in accordance to the strategic vision.

• 20% Leads a collaborative approach to artistic planning that combines all elements of programming, including community engagement and student learning, in supports the strategic vision
• 15% Oversees the quality and success of all aspects of program operations, management, relationships, curriculum development, staff and volunteer training, and supervision
• 10% Leads program planning and evaluation, including special opportunities and events, designed to engage a wide range of audiences and participants
• 10% Maintains professional contacts and pursues new artistic ideas in the performing arts field
• 10% Provides clear, consistent communication with colleagues and broader audiences to articulate program content and goals, and to coordinate strategies and implement initiatives related to collaborative efforts, and deeper engagement opportunities
• 5% Manages the operations, and technical production goals and objectives
• 15% Develops and monitors program logistics and budgets
• 5% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• 10% In collaboration with the Dean of the School of Education, the development team, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation (UWF), identifies and cultivates donors to ensure long-term viability of the organization.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Preferred
Master's Degree
An advanced degree in art or art history or another appropriate academic discipline is preferred.

Qualifications:

The Director must be a dynamic and experienced professional who is a creative thinker with a minimum of five to seven years of experience. The Director should be able to lead a creative team by participating in, implementing, and supervising the Press' activities. The ideal candidate must be an innovative thinker and capable of navigating a complex organization and working with a diversity of stakeholders. The Director must be able to motivate staff to perform at its highest level, negotiate and collaborate with university departments, represent the Press in the public arena, and inspire private donors to invest in this exciting institution.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A minimum of five -seven years of progressively responsible management experience in a senior level position;
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access;
- Proven success as a well-respected leader;
- Experience and success in fundraising;
- Strong communication skills;
- Initiative and perseverance;
- The ability to deal with multiple constituencies throughout the institution and beyond;
- A big vision for the future of the Press. An appreciation for and a significant knowledge of contemporary art;
- Knowledge of professional practices and significant experience in staff management. A knowledge of business operations, including budgeting, financial management, and marketing;
- Ability to work within university priorities, policies and structure;
- Ability to work with individuals and diverse constituent groups to resolve differences and develop constructive consensus. The director must simultaneously manage and motivate a professional staff, successfully attract substantial community support, and sustain a high level of quality and scholarship. Short- and long-range planning related to budgets, educational programming, and the development of funding for all of these are an on-going responsibility of the Director;
- Creativity is required for the conceptualization and organization of Press programs, and activities as well as for the development of innovative fundraising initiatives. Because the Director serves as spokesperson for the institution to the press, to funding agencies, and to the scholarly world at large, original thinking and clarity of expression are essential.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Negotiable
ANNUAL (12 months)
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience; UW Madison offers a robust benefits package including health, vision, dental, and life insurance as well as generous paid time off.

Additional Information:

School of Education Guiding Principles:
We are a creative, engaging, and innovative community.
We strive for continued excellence.
We are an inclusive and diverse community.
We treat all others with respect and dignity.
We consider our students, faculty, and staff when making decisions.
We adhere to shared governance at all levels and engage in broad based and transparent decision
making.
We engage in clear communications to foster broad information sharing and collaboration.

How to Apply:

Management Consultants for the Arts are the consultants assisting Tandem Press with this search. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit in complete confidence a cover letter, resume, and four professional references. The cover letter of no more than 1 1/2 pages should describe why this post and organization is attractive to the applicant and what about them and their work makes them a potentially strong contributor as the leader of Tandem Press.
To ensure consideration, candidate materials should be received by April 1, 2024, however this position will remain open, and applications may be considered until this position is filled. Materials should have the applicant's name as part of each file name and must be submitted electronically through the following portal: https://mcaonline.com/searches/director-tandem  
Once all applicant materials have been submitted online, applicants will receive confirmation of their submission via the email address provided in their application. For clarification on any of this information, please contact Christy Wall at [email protected]  
Applicants are encouraged to visit https://apps.diversity.wisc.edu/questionnaire.aspx  to complete voluntary self-identification information.

Contact:

Lyndsey Johnson
[email protected]
608-262-9149
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Arts Program Director(AR003)

Department(s):

A17-SCHOOL OF EDUCATION/ART

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

294562-AS

 
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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