Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) opened its search for its next permanent Executive Director. The Executive Director will lead the organization in the planning of its yearly festival, which takes place in Columbus, OH every fall, and spearhead programming and fundraising for the annual event. The new director will start in the position in fall 2021 after the conclusion of this year’s hybrid online/in-person festival.
Interim Executive Director Jerzy Drozd has led CXC since early 2020 after the death of the festival’s first director Tom Spurgeon. Drozd will not pursue the permanent position, but will help with the transition to the new executive director and will remain involved in the show as a volunteer. “Jerzy excelled at guiding the show through a difficult time,” said CXC co-founder and Artistic Director Jeff Smith. “His technological expertise made the pivot to an online show possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re thrilled that he’ll continue to be involved with the show in the future. We can’t thank him enough for all he did at CXC and we look forward to reading the comics he’ll be making as he moves onto his own creative pursuits.”
The Executive Director of CXC is a year-round contract position based in Columbus, with work concentrated in the three months before the show and the month after the show takes place. Working with partner organizations such as the Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum and Library, Columbus College of Art and Design, the Wexner Center of the Arts, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Columbus Metropolitan Library, the next Executive Director of CXC will become a critical part of a growing and thriving comics community.
Interested candidates should provide a cover letter, CV or resume, and references by August 14th. Interviews will take place in September, with a candidate chosen by the 2021 CXC Festival on September 29th – October 2nd. Ideally, the next Festival Director will start by November 1st. A full description of job responsibilities and desired skills can be found below, along with additional information on how to apply for the position.
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) is an annual citywide expo and celebration of cartoon art in Columbus, Ohio. With the Festival typically occurring in the fall, CXC seeks to engage the community year-round to educate the public about comics, cartooning, and graphic novels. We are searching for an Executive Director who will reside in our Central Ohio community to lead our organization in planning for the event, fundraising, and related activities.
During CXC week, the Executive Director participates in programming as appropriate and takes a leadership role in the hospitality for special guests.
Compensation for this independent contractor position is budgeted at $36,000 per year, with the Executive Director submitting a monthly invoice for services rendered during the preceding month. Time commitment is year-round, concentrated in the three months leading up to the festival, and one month thereafter, plus the winter grant writing season. Weekly hours vary.
Responsibilities:
- Planning, coordination and execution of CXC-related programming for the annual event, in both live and virtual formats.
- Work with the CXC Council, the Board of Directors, various committees, and volunteers to accomplish CXC’s programming goals in an interactive, timely fashion.
- Serve as CXC’s visible representative to the Columbus community, as well as to professional and industry constituencies.
- Act as a resource concerning comics, graphic novels and cartooning.
- Work with artists and vendors to coordinate marketing materials.
- Develop with the CXC Board and Council a guest and vendor list, coordinate invitations to those parties, and manage special guests and vendors.
- Budgeting, grant writing, and fundraising.
- Building relationships with local, national, and international media.
- Develop year-round programming and outreach related to CXC.
Further details available upon request.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or greater higher education, or demonstrated equivalent combination of education and experience
- Two years’ experience in public programming for a non-profit, arts organization, or other related field
- Demonstrated knowledge of the cartoon, comics, and graphic novel profession and publishing environment
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to execute decisions made by the CXC Executive Committee and Board and to complete complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy
- Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and videoconferencing
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Demonstrated experience managing a budget
- Demonstrated fundraising experience, including the grant writing process
- Resides in or willing to relocate to Central Ohio
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
Desired:
- Experience in leadership with a comics festival or convention
- Experience with working collaboratively with multiple constituents on an event or project, including an ability to independently guide a diverse staff, nonprofit board, and volunteers with varying responsibilities, as well as creator guests
- Familiarity with social media and digital platforms or equivalent, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Open Broadcast Studio (OBS), WordPress, and other comparable services
- Familiarity with the local, regional and/or national foundation and/or wider philanthropic community
How to Apply:
Please provide a cover letter, resume or CV, and contact information for 3 personal or professional references by August 14, 2021. Submit via email to: CXCDirector@gmail.com, or via regular mail to:
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus
P.O. Box 141404
Columbus, Ohio 43214
CXC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
