Director of Residency, Rauschenberg Residency

Location: Captiva, FL*
*The position is based at the Foundation’s Captiva, Florida campus. While we are prioritizing candidates based locally, we are open to considering qualified candidates who can meet the position’s on-site presence requirements.

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt; Open to 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract.
This is a full-time, exempt position. However, we are also open to considering candidates for a one-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension based on the Foundation’s needs.

Reports To: Executive Director
Role Type: Leadership (Manager)

ABOUT THE ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG FOUNDATION
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation (RRF) carries forward the vision of its founder, artist Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008), to inspire social and cultural transformation through the arts. RRF supports and connects artists, scholars, and changemakers whose work echoes Rauschenberg’s bold approach to interdisciplinary creativity. The foundation focuses on three pillars: expanding public access to Rauschenberg’s work, nurturing emerging artists via its residency program, and driving philanthropy that engages art and social impact areas such as education and environmental justice.

The Rauschenberg Residency on Captiva Island serves multidisciplinary artists from around the world. Here, they engage in collaborative projects, community building, and individual exploration that align with the foundation's belief that art can change the world.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Residency Director will champion the mission of the Rauschenberg Residency (RR) and foster a supportive, inclusive environment for artists on Captiva Island’s 20-acre campus. The Director will oversee all aspects of program management, artist relations, and community engagement while collaborating with RRF leadership to achieve RR’s mission of sustaining Rauschenberg’s legacy. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, oversight of all day-to-day operations, program development, evaluation, and direct supervision of residency staff. This is a prominent, forward-facing role within the foundation, requiring a visionary, empathetic leader who thrives in a community-focused, interdisciplinary environment.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Lead the strategic planning, development and implementation of residency programs in alignment with RRF’s mission and vision.
• Champion a positive residency culture that values inclusion, equity, and respect for diverse artistic practices, establishing protocols for artist invitations, evaluations, and feedback.
• Develop new programming initiatives, policies and programs that expand RRF’s mission, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and artistic innovation.
• Refine the artist selection process with the Executive Director, presenting recommendations to the Board of Directors, managing residency schedules, and integrating external jurors into the process.
• Oversee all residency administration and artist support needs through effectively managing artist communications, contracts, transportation logistics, and orientation processes while delegating tasks as needed to maintain operational efficiency.
• Own all facets of media and administrative operations of residency program through providing updates to residency-related web content, newsletters, and social media, delegating responsibilities or collaborating with other departments as necessary to achieve program goals

Community Building & Engagement

• Build partnerships and outreach initiatives that strengthen the residency’s ties to local, national, and international art communities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community stakeholders in Captiva and the greater Florida region, ensuring RR is an active contributor to the local cultural ecosystem.
• Support an inclusive community engagement strategy that enhances residency experiences and enriches the broader Captiva community.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Collaborate with the COO to develop the annual operating budget, managing expenditures in line with financial goals.
• Oversee capital improvement projects, coordinating with the Facilities Manager to ensure buildings and grounds support both artists' needs and environmental sustainability goals.
• Track and analyze financial performance, reviewing budgets and financial reports to ensure the program remains sustainable and aligned with RRF’s long-term objectives.

Facilities & Safety Management

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