Description

The Role:

Reports to:           J. Paul Getty Trust, President and CEO

Location:               Los Angeles, CA    

Overview:             The John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the GCI is the Institute’s chief executive 

and strategic leader, steering and inspiring a diverse team of approximately 100 staff, cultivating a high performance, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Serving on Getty’s executive team, the new Director will conceive, shape and execute a compelling vision for conservation in the twenty-first century, affirming GCI—and Getty more broadly—as a global leader in research-led, values-based, sustainable cultural heritage conservation practice.

This responsibility comes at a pivotal moment marked by rapid technological change and intensifying environmental, economic and ideological risks to cultural heritage. The Director will drive impact, innovation, deepen global partnerships.

Key Relationships:            

• External: Partners including peer institutions; domestic and international government and non-government cultural agencies; multilateral organizations; universities and research labs; professional associations; community partners; funders and philanthropies; GCI Support Council Members. 
• Internal: President and CEO; Directors of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Foundation; Executive Vice President, Finance & Operations; Vice President, Communications & Community Engagement; Vice President, Chief Digital Officer; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees; Vice President, Development and Institutional Advancement; and Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Develop, articulate, and execute a multi year strategy for the GCI that advances Getty’s mission and institutional priorities.
• Initiate and implement flagship GCI initiatives and research agendas that measurably improve cultural heritage conservation practice and outcomes globally.
• Enhance a “One Getty” mindset by fostering cross program initiatives with the J. Paul Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Foundation—aligning goals, resources, and communications.

 Program Oversight

• Steer GCI’s research pipeline, field projects, standards development, and training programs; ensure scholarly rigor, transparency, and global relevance.
• Advance open access to data, tools, and publications; promote digital platforms that expand reach and provide knowledge and resources to conservation practitioners. 
• Embed sustainability and climate resilience across methodologies, materials, facilities, and field operations.

External Engagement and Partnerships

• Serve as a visible, persuasive spokesperson for heritage conservation with international organizations, governments, NGOs, peer institutions, and funders.
• Build and steward strategic partnerships with intergovernmental organizations, governments, agencies, museums, universities, communities, and professional associations to co develop programs and scale impact.
• Engage the Los Angeles region—civic and cultural partners, academic institutions, and diverse communities—supporting Getty’s goal to be the city’s definitive arts leader.
• Build trust across cultures and sectors; negotiate alignment; communicate compellingly to technical and non technical audience.

Team Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Lead and inspire a diverse staff, cultivating a human-centered, inclusive, learning culture that values collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Attract, retain, and develop talent; ensure robust succession planning, professional development, and staff engagement.
• Maintain strong project governance and portfolio management to assure impact and deliver work on time, and to scope.

Fiscal and Operational Stewardship

• Ensure fiscal discipline and resource allocation of the GCI’s $21.6M annual operating budget, as generated from Getty’s endowment.
• Develop and steward the GCI Council, which helps to support the work of the GCI, and leverage other external funding opportunities.
• Ensure management of risks and alignment with institutional processes and controls.
• Foster a culture of compliance with relevant safety, legal, and ethical standards in laboratories, studios, field sites, and data practices.

Requirements

The Leader:

Organizational Leadership

• Demonstrated success as a collaborative executive leader in a complex, mission-driven, knowledge-based organization, having managed and empowered staff to support its progress, raise its profile, and elevate its impact.
• Experience in attracting, retaining, and developing staff, with a record of robust professional development, staff well being, and succession planning programs.
• Proven track record of leading large, multi-partner projects; managing complex budgets; advancing standards or best practices; shaping policy; or scaling training/capacity building initiatives.
• Effective and inspiring relationship-builder internally and externally, open-minded with a high level of emotional intelligence, driven by a passion for knowledge-sharing.

Global Cultural Heritage Expertise

• Broad and deep knowledge, skills and experience in cultural heritage conservation internationally, including trends and needs in the field.
• Record of scholarship, practice, or demonstrated leadership across the cultural heritage ecosystem, including intergovernmental, government, non-profit, and private sectors.
• Succes as an outward-facing ambassador, engaging boards, funders, governments, international bodies, and diverse publics.  

 Community Engagement

• Highly developed network of professional relationships with local, national, and international institutions and leaders in the realm of cultural heritage conservation and the ability to grow new partnerships and collaborations.
• Excellent communication skills, enjoys playing a leadership role in public-facing initiatives and convenings.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion and record of actions to advance this commitment.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and experience in, increasing institutional success by interacting empathetically with local and global constituents of varying views and backgrounds; and a record of pursuing measurable outcomes connected to inclusion to advance an organization's goals.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 10+ years senior leadership in a complex, mission driven, knowledge-based cultural heritage and/or conservation organization
• Institution-level responsibility for people, budgets, and complex, multi-year strategic initiatives
• International experience and a demonstrated commitment to global knowledge exchange
• Multilingual proficiency a plus

Education: 

• Advanced degree (e.g., MA, PhD, DPhil) required in relevant discipline: conservation, heritage science, architecture, planning, archaeology, engineering, art history with conservation focus, or equivalent.

Travel:

• International and domestic travel (25%+) to field projects, partner institutions, and convenings

Compensation:

• Getty offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• For this position, the base salary range is $500,000 to $550,000. Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

 Benefits and Perks

Below are just some examples that Getty offers/provides for full-time employees:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
• 403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan – with up to 5% Getty Match
• Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account; plus 10% on earnings above the social security wage base, up to IRS limits 
• Accrued paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal Days
• 12 Paid Holidays, plus two “floating” holidays
• This position will have bi-weekly Off-Fridays
• On-Site Fitness Center at Getty Center
• Community service opportunities

To learn more about  the comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR.