Executive Director, Visual Arts Centre of Clarington
Application Deadline: 09 May 2017
Start Date: 04 July 2017
Salary: $50,000 - $60,000
Term: Full time Continuing
Organization Description:
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (www.vac.ca) is a public, non-collecting gallery exhibiting local, regional, and national contemporary visual art and offering arts education in the Durham Region. Its mission is to nurture the cultural development of the community by encouraging the creative impulse through arts education, exhibition and promotion.
Position Description:
The Executive Director is the senior administrative officer of the VAC, responsible for setting the overall curatorial direction, providing leadership to the full-time, part-time, contract and volunteer staff, working directly with and reporting to the Board of Directors, and overseeing day-to-day financial and administrative management of the organization. The person in this role fulfills a wide range of specific duties, including:
- Managing the overall operations, budgets, financial and HR records, and capital assets
- Ensuring proper systems, procedures and policies are in place for effective and efficient operation of the gallery and delivery of services
- Managing all human resource-related processes and systems, including recruitment, orientation, performance evaluation, legal and policy compliance, etc.
- Ensuring that the VAC presents a balanced program of exhibitions, interpretive programs, educational programs, and ancillary activities that reflect the VAC’s mandate and community at the VAC facility and related external sites
- Overseeing the production of exhibition catalogues
- Writing grant applications for operational and project funding
- Overseeing and routinely monitoring the effectiveness of all communications, outreach, promotional, and fundraising campaigns and initiatives
- Overall, ensuring that the programs and services offered by the organization contribute to the organization's mission and reflect the priorities of the Board.
The Executive Director is expected to work a standard work week, but will also be expected to work some evenings, weekends, and overtime hours to accommodate activities such as Board meetings and representing the organization at exhibition openings, fundraisers, and other public events.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position will have:
- Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of experience in not-for-profit management / leadership, preferably in visual arts-related organization(s)
- Education: A university degree in a related field (Arts Management, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Fine Art, Art History, Not-for-Profit Management, Management, etc.)
- Knowledge: A sophisticated understanding of current issues, trends, challenges, and unique requirements of not-for-profit, charitable, and community-focused organizations, and
- Operational Ability: Senior-level experience translating that understanding into practical, effective operational plans
- Financial Skills:
o Creating and analyzing operational and project budgets and multi-year financial reports;
o General accounting / bookkeeping, including payroll and preparation for annual audits
- HR and Communication Skills:
o Working cooperatively and effectively with multiple stakeholders (staff, board, funders, artists, members, community groups, government, media, etc.) to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that are beneficial to the organization
o Leading others toward the achievement of necessary results
o Hiring, supervising, managing, evaluating, coaching, and releasing staff
- Project Management Skills:
o Assessing organizational needs, resources, and risks
o Setting priorities and deadlines
o Monitoring progress toward goals
o Evaluating processes and results
- Fundraising / Development Skills:
o Creating successful operational and project funding applications and reports
o Researching additional funding sources, developing and implementing fundraising plans and initiatives
- Computer Skills – intermediate or advanced-level proficiency in the use of:
o Standard Office software (such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook)
o Communications / document sharing software (such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Forms)
o Bookkeeping and financial reporting and analysis software (such as Quickbooks)
o Arts-specific financial and statistical software (CADAC – Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada)
How to Apply:
Applications must include:
- a cover letter (no longer than two pages) addressing the necessary qualifications for this position, and
- a current resume (no longer than three pages),
submitted as one or two attachment(s) to an email message that has “VAC Executive Director Position” in the subject line, before the end of day 09 May 2017, to:
Sherri Helwig
President and Principal Consultant
S.L. Helwig & Associates
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for all aspects of the selection process.
Contact:
Any questions about this process or position can be directed to:
Sherri Helwig
S.L. Helwig & Associates
