Chief Operating Officer

The Position

MCA Denver seeks a dynamic, driven executive to serve as the next Chief Operating Officer. The COO is a pivotal member of the MCA Denver team, serving as the administrative leader with responsibilities to oversee and coordinate functions of visitor services, hospitality and retail operations, facility operations, security, finance and accounting, IT, risk management, and human resources.

Strong candidates will demonstrate a passion for the arts and for the mission of MCA Denver. As an engaged leader, the COO will be committed to organizational excellence and possess a deep appreciation for the changing museum field, community engagement, and high-quality visitor experience. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the COO serves as an advisor, problem solver, and strategic coordinator for organizational initiatives and goals in a manner that promotes collaboration among MCA Denver’s dedicated and talented staff.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a staff member at will of the Museum of Contemporary Art. This is a full-time position with benefits. Our headquarters, and this position, are based in downtown Denver.

About You

You possess a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field. An MBA is preferred, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
You are a strategic and influential leader with proven experience in senior management roles within cultural institutions or related fields. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with a track record of engaging stakeholders at all levels.
You are a tactical leader with strong financial acumen and demonstrated expertise in budgeting, financial analysis, and compliance. Experience with budgeting and accounting management, planning, operational and/or arts management is required.
You have exceptional leadership skills, including the ability to motivate teams and foster a collaborative work environment. You possess a minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in finance, business, and organizational management and 5 years leading and professionally mentoring others. A minimum of 3 years of experience with HR oversight is preferred.
You demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion principles.
You have a passion for the mission. Successful candidates for this role will demonstrate a passion for and curiosity about the visual arts and a commitment to advancing culture as crucial to the health and vibrancy of civic life.

A Day in the Life

Strategic Leadership and Implementation

Collaborate with the Executive Director to translate strategic vision into actionable plans, aligning with organizational objectives and financial sustainability.
Develop comprehensive short and long-term work plans, overseeing their execution across departments and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
Strengthen museum-wide department management through effective and transparent communication.

Operations and Administration

Develop and support initiatives to grow earned revenue through opportunities in ticketing, retail, food & beverage, and facility rentals both at the museum and MCA’s performance theater spaces.
Coordinate with the Deputy Director for Programming and Education to co-lead efforts to expand operations at the Holiday Theater, enabling a robust vision of activation and revenue opportunities.
Coordinate with the Visitor Services & Retail Manager to ensure a high-quality visitor experience through staff training, educational tours, and a visitor-centric approach.
Coordinate with the Food, Beverage & Event Manager to lead retail, food and beverage operations, and rental events, optimizing revenue opportunities through coordinated efforts across departments.
Coordinate with the Facility and Building Operations Coordinator to maintain high standards of facility management and operations including security, environmental conditions, and long-term asset repair and replacement planning.
Coordinate with the HR Generalist to oversee all Human Resource activities including coordinating staff benefits, payroll, recruitment, and onboarding and offboarding processes, and ongoing staff development efforts.
Identify, recruit, hire, train, mentor, and evaluate Administrative/Operations department staff members.

Financial Stewardship, Compliance, and Risk

In partnership with the Accounting Controller, oversee the annual budgeting process, integrating strategic priorities and operational plans to ensure positive fiscal results.
Oversee financial audits in collaboration with the Controller and external auditors, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Monitor institutional performance and risk, communicating broadly and across varying audiences to ensure the financial health of the institution through financial reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Ensure timely adherence to administrative and financial compliance requirements.
Oversee and execute activities related to insurance and contract negotiation.
Develop and maintain responsive business systems and the IT tools required to support them.
Lead the annual budget process, long-term outlook, and mid-year forecasting along with audit and financial compliance.
Support grant applications and publications that support fundraising activities.
Support the reporting requirements necessary to inform the Board of Trustees on all financial matters.
Safeguard against the release of confidential and proprietary information of MCA.

Executive Team Engagement

Present financial matters to the Museum’s Board of Trustees, serving as the primary liaison to the finance, investment, and audit committees.
Contribute to and steward the strategic planning and organizational development of the Museum as a member of the senior leadership team including tracking impacts and goals, identifying and addressing issues as they arise.

Collaborative Partnerships

Foster collaboration across departments to maximize revenue, advance DEAI commitments, and align organizational activities to enhance visitor engagement and retention.
Coordinate with third-party auditors to complete on-time financial reporting and IRS filings, and the financial audit process.
Engage and manage Human Resources, IT, and Legal consultants.

What You Bring to Us

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field. An MBA is preferred, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Excellent analytical and organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks.
Adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-tasking, and changing environment, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, as well as general math proficiency.
Excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks.

Schedule Availability: Mostly days, with some weekend and evening availability to support meetings and events.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings.
Ability to work with, and process information from, a variety of individuals and media (e.g., computers, projected images, printed materials), and sit and/or stand up to 8 hours per day.
Mobility necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of meeting and museum settings. Mobility necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending, and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.
Ability to reach for, move, and/or lift up to 25 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

Other Duties/Responsibilities: Other assistance, as designated by the Executive Director, to support the overall goals of the department and organization. Management retains the right to add or change duties and/or responsibilities at any time.

About Us

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Denver) is a nonprofit organization providing an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges, creating understanding and dialogue about the art of our time. MCA Denver is paving a new path for a 21st-century museum that is Both/And: We are both advancing the field of contemporary art and providing a platform for creative expression, in the broadest sense of the term. We present both world-class exhibitions and quirky events, serious lectures, and epic parties. We are both sophisticated and unpretentious. We welcome all audiences, celebrate all voices, and share all stories to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for our community.

Our Core Values

We are:

Adventurous – We are risk-takers. We are creative, open, curious, and sometimes weird.
Excellent – We strive to be the best in our field, we have high expectations, we believe in being resilient, creative problem-solvers, and professionals.
Human Centric – We are collaborative. We strive for emotional intelligence, and we value relationships.
Inclusive – We are welcoming to all audiences, voices, and stories. We believe in being authentic and inclusive. We actively seek and engage with diverse perspectives.

MCA Denver is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons. MCA Denver affirms its commitment to provide a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the museum community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views. All employment decisions at MCA Denver are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual applicant qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. MCA Denver will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Our History

MCA Denver was founded in 1996 by philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. In 2007, we opened our new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in the Riverfront neighborhood of LoDo Denver. Our building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a gift shop, an innovative art lending library, and a rooftop bar and café. In 2021, MCA Denver opened a satellite location at the Holiday Theater in Denver’s Northside. This 380-seat auditorium is the site of some of the museum’s programming and events.

Visit us at https://mcadenver.org to learn more.

Application Process

This is an exempt, salary position. The salary range is $140,000 to $160,000 to commensurate with experience and includes our standard benefits package, including a medical plan, dental plan, basic term life insurance, short-term disability, 403b retirement, holiday pay, and generous paid time off.
Please submit your interest via our applicant portal here.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to those received by July 23, 2024.

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