Executive Director

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Pewabic Pottery
, one of the oldest continuously operating potteries in the country now a nonprofit with an array of programs, products, and partnerships in Detroit, Michigan, is seeking nominations and applications for its next Executive Director
. Famously woman co-founded in 1903 with important contributions to Detroit’s historic architectural landscape and the national Arts and Culture community for over a hundred years, Pewabic continues to advance a vision for elevating the human spirit in handcrafted work through its thriving production, its educational programs for local communities and youth, and its connection and commitment to artists and arts organizations in the region.

Now at the precipice of a new era with a sizeable campus on Detroit’s developing east side, a team of over 50 skilled artisans and leaders and a committed board, opportunities to expand partnerships and programs, and work conducted towards a fresh capital plan and strategic review, Pewabic is poised for a new leader who will collaboratively build and execute a strategic vision and plan for the future.

The next Executive Director will have the opportunity in the first year to work with the team to evaluate and validate key strengths and challenges of the organization, connect vision, strategy, and operations to shared program goals and funding opportunities, and harness the love of Pewabic’s stakeholders to build the pottery’s presence as a pillar of economic and artistic community building locally, regionally, and nationally.

Candidates for Executive Director will demonstrate vision, seasoned managerial and fundraising experience, humility, and proven commitment to Pewabic’s work. They will ideally have experience with diverse and distributed nonprofit funding models including a balance of earned revenue streams with strong and successful relationships with both individual donors and regional and national grantmakers in Education and the Arts. Capital campaign experience preferred.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a track record of effective team building and management including leadership of strategic planning processes, design of shared leadership and accountability systems, and support toward a culture of clear and transparent communication that builds team alignment and joy in the work. Qualified candidates will demonstrate a minimum of 10 years progressive executive leadership experience and familiarity and/or connection to the Detroit region is a plus.

The search is being led by Katherine Jacobs of NPAG & GDSI Leadership and complete application instructions can be found at the end of this document.

Pewabic Pottery was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry (Stratton), an artist and educator, and Horace J. Caulkins, a dental supplier and kiln manufacturer. Pewabic became a leader of the Arts & Crafts movement in Detroit during a time that was both a golden age for handcrafted pottery and tile and a boom in industrialization with the birth of the automotive industry.

Over the last 120 years, Pewabic and its historic building have remained a pillar of artistic production, education, and community building on Detroit’s east side.

Today Pewabic boasts a range of successful retail, education programs, and community activities. Pewabic’s retail store and production of masterfully handcrafted pottery and tile are a thriving operation bounded by the capacity of campus facilities and treasured by community members across the region. With a committed and hard-working team of artisans, both the physical and online stores are responsible for up to 70% of Pewabic’s overall budget each year.

Pewabic’s education programs advance artistic learning, craft, and community building through both adult classes and youth programs on Pewabic’s campus and offsite in Pewabic’s mobile offerings for schools, senior centers, and more. Seasoned educators lead guided tours of Pewabic’s museum on campus and also city tours of Pewabic installations in Detroit’s historic architecture. Finally, community events such as the annual Home and Garden Party on Pewabic’s campus in late Spring as well as national…