Search for the Inaugural Executive Director
Charles & Ray Eames Foundation (“the Foundation”) seeks a dynamic leader who is energized by the opportunity to serve as its inaugural Executive Director. Working in close collaboration with a Board of Directors and family council, the Executive Director will build, lead, generate resources for, and grow a globally recognized private nonprofit foundation that preserves and promotes one of the world's most important and diverse design legacies and champions the Eames’ spirit of innovation, openness, creativity, collaboration, and fearlessness in all aspects of its programming and operation.
The Foundation, currently under development, will be dedicated to conserving, communicating, and extending all aspects of Charles and Ray Eames' groundbreaking work—through its own archives, collections, architecture, research, exhibitions, publications, and educational programs, as well as through supportive partnerships with cultural institutions, academia, and design initiatives worldwide.
The Foundation will represent Charles and Ray Eames’ artistic legacy with an expanded scope and ambition. The Foundation will integrate the mission and programs of the Charles and Ray Eames House Preservation Foundation, Inc., created as a 501(c)(3) by the Eames family in 2004 to preserve and protect the landmark Case Study House #8 “Eames House.” The Foundation will also assume parts of the cultural mission currently fulfilled by Eames Office, LLC, the studio founded by Charles and Ray Eames in 1941 and now a family business owned and run by their five grandchildren. This is a rare opportunity to steward and advance a renowned, enduring design legacy.
Key Responsibilities
- Secure board agreement around short-term priorities, including the purpose and mission of the Foundation.
- Design, build, and maintain an organizational and governance infrastructure as befits a world-class private nonprofit foundation.
- In partnership with the Board and family council, craft, communicate, and operationalize the Eames Foundation’s strategic vision.
- Steward financial resources and cultivate diverse revenue streams to ensure the sustainability of the Foundation and realize its strategic priorities.
- Safeguard and extend the Eames’ legacy through discerning management of collections, physical resources, and intellectual property. Prioritize preservation, communication, and the act of discovery that renders the Eames legacy evergreen, regardless of era.
- Articulate and promote the continued relevance of Charles and Ray Eames’ creative legacy to new and existing audiences, locally and globally.
- Cultivate and strengthen critical relationships and partnerships to ensure the Foundation’s long-term resiliency and impact.
The Executive Director position is a full-time, exempt, permanent position based in Los Angeles. There is limited opportunity for work-from-home; some domestic and international travel will be required.
The expected salary range for this position is $200,000-$250,000. A competitive compensation package, including comprehensive benefits, will be offered commensurate with experience.
Charles & Ray Eames Foundation has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search. Please direct all inquiries, nominations, and applications electronically and in confidence to:
The Foundation encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
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