Deputy Director of Finance, Administration & Strategy - (Job Code 0951 Exempt) - San Francisco Arts Commission

Application Opening: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Application Closing: Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but no earlier than Wednesday, September 9, 2026. 
Annual Salary: $139,334 - $177,892 (Range A)
Appointment Type: This position is aPermanent Exempt Appointment. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. 

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. Learn more about our work at: Arts Commission | SF.gov

SFAC Racial Equity Statement
The San Francisco Arts Commission is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.

The Deputy Director of Finance, Administration, & Strategy serves as the executive responsible for the San Francisco Arts Commission’s administrative operations, financial stewardship, organizational performance, and strategic execution. This position ensures the agency has the systems, people, technology, and operational discipline necessary to deliver exceptional public service. The Deputy Director of Finance, Administration & Strategy reports to the Executive Director of Arts & Culture.

The Deputy Director oversees Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Administrative Services, Risk Management, Policy Administration, and Agency Performance. The position leads enterprise planning, organizational strategy, performance management, and data analytics to ensure the department's work aligns with City priorities and delivers measurable public value.

The Deputy Director supervises the Finance & Accounting manager, Contract Analyst, and Operations staff, and works closely with the Department of Human Resources, Controller's Office, Department of Technology, Mayor's Office, and other City partners. This position serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and acts on behalf of the Executive Director when delegated.

Essential Duties
The duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this position and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

Financial Leadership

• Direct the development and management of the agency's operating and capital budgets across multiple funding sources.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of public resources through strong fiscal controls, forecasting, long-range financial planning, and transparent reporting.
• Develop and/or update departmental financial policies to align with citywide standards, and in collaboration with program teams, establish internal processes for implementation.
• Review and approve significant expenditures, contracts, grants, purchase orders, and capital transactions.
• Prepare and present financial reports and recommendations to the Controller's Office, Mayor's Budget Office, Arts Commission, Capital Planning Committee, and executive leadership.

Strategy & Organizational Performance

• Lead agency-wide strategic planning, implementation, and performance management.
• Develop agency goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and accountability measures to support continuous improvement.
• Establish systems for measuring operational effectiveness, customer service, grantmaking outcomes, cultural impact, and organizational performance.
• Build the agency's data and analytics capacity to support evidence-based decision making.
• Produce executive performance reports and strategic analyses that inform policy and operational decisions.
• Identify organizational risks and opportunities and recommend improvements based on data, customer feedback, and performance outcomes.
• Lead strategic initiatives that modernize systems, improve service delivery, and strengthen public trust.

Administration & Operations

• Direct Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, facilities, procurement, records management, administrative operations, and internal policy.
• Partner with the Department of Human Resources on recruitment, workforce planning, employee engagement, labor relations, performance management, and succession planning.
• Oversee workplace safety, facilities management, cybersecurity coordination, and continuity of operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and City policies.

Data & Technology

• Establish agency-wide data governance and reporting standards.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of executive dashboards and performance reporting systems.
• Expand the use of technology and business intelligence tools to improve agency operations, grantmaking, permitting, financial management, and customer experience.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, accessibility, and appropriate use in decision making.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director on financial, operational, and organizational matters.
• Present financial, operational, and policy recommendations to the Arts Commission and executive leadership.
• Coordinate agency-wide initiatives with other City departments and external partners.
• Serve as Acting Executive Director when designated.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, AND

Experience: Four (4) years of senior-level professional management experience, all of which must include supervisory experience of professional staff.

Education Substitution: Up to two (2) years of additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required bachelor's degree.

Note:One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Desirable Qualifications
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Demonstrated managerial experience in business administration, government administration, finance, operations, or a closely related field.
• Experience in an arts, cultural, or public sector organization.
• Experience leading strategic planning, organizational transformation, or enterprise performance initiatives.
• Experience developing performance dashboards, data analytics, or organizational metrics.
• Experience managing complex public budgets and multiple funding sources.
• Experience presenting to governing boards, commissions, or elected officials.

Supplemental Questionnaire: Ccandidates will be required to also complete a Supplemental Questionnaire as part of the employment application. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the minimum qualifications for this position. These responses will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications. Within a few days of the City’s receipt of a candidate’s completed application, the Supplemental Questionnaire will be emailed to the candidate and it must be completed by the deadline stated therein. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

Selection Process: The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to the minimum qualifications. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all of the steps in the selection process. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited for an interview.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Where to Apply
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. If you have any questions, you may contact Kelly Alves at kelly.k.alves@sfgov.org. 

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.