Debut Atlantic seeks an Executive Director

October 2, 2012 | Debut Atlantic seeks an experienced, ambitious, talented and self-motivated leader to fulfill its mandate of promoting classical music in the Atlantic Region. You’ll take the lead in identifying and mentoring emerging Canadian artists and making them available to Atlantic Canadian presenters and their audiences, and to music educators, to excite and inspire their students.

Reporting to a Board of Directors representing the four provinces and Debut Alumni, you will oversee the work of an administrative officer and have full responsibility for the planning and execution of Debut’s programs. You will develop productive relationships with the many stakeholders of the organization - funders and supporters in both the public and private sectors, and colleagues in like minded organizations.

You will ensure that Debut continues to be relevant and highly respected for the quality of the performers and the support provided to presenters and educators to attract and delight audiences.

You will be expected to use modern computer and social networking tools and to be able to deal professionally with a wide variety of personalities to get the work accomplished. You should be well organized and enjoy being a detail minded multi-tasker.

We’d like to hear from applicants who have established a career in arts administration and who have at least 5-7 years of relevant experience and education.

Please send your resume in confidence to DebutAtlanticEDSearch@gmail.com

Visit debutatlantic.ca for more details about us and a more comprehensive job description.

Salary and benefits are competitive. Deadline for applications is Friday, October 19, 2012.

Executive Director Position Description

Organization Background

Debut Atlantic has been in existence for over 30 years with a specific mandate to help ensure that classical music thrives in Atlantic Canada. It achieves this ambitious goal by providing emerging Canadian classical artists with an opportunity to perform to a wide range of audiences and be mentored in this region as part of their professional career development. With an annual budget of $300,000 (comprising largely of Canada Council and provincial government funding), Debut is a small organization with a specific mandate.

A major initiative is underway that could expand Debut’s ability to reach new audiences, strengthen music education and continue to ensure the future viability of the genre through audience development. Debut’s Education Committee has convened an Advisory Committee of music educators from across the Atlantic Region. The goal is to expand Debut’s education and audience building capacity through a major enhancement of its website’s design and content.

The Executive Director

The Executive Director provides overall leadership and direction to the organization and works closely with the board, presenters, sponsors, government funders and other like minded cultural organizations in the region to promote the organization and its mandate, and to help maintain Debut’s position as one of the most respected and relevant classical music organizations within Atlantic Canada and across the country.

The Executive Director is expected to have an active presence throughout the region in appropriate cultural forums, with presenters and presenter groups, and to maintain strong relations with funders and sponsors. The Executive Director supervises the Administrative Officer and usually a summer student working on a specific project.

Executive Director Position Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

1. Familiarity with and keen appreciation of classical music;

2. Has held a leadership position in at least one organization where he/she had some responsibility for planning and executing programs, including financial management, relationship management with key stakeholders, human resource management and ensuring that the organization delivered a high quality result;

3. Experience working with senior level volunteers, such as a Board of Directors, and with modern Board and organizational governance principles;

4. Experience with “friend and fund” raising – successful grant writing, solicitation of corporate/public sector funding, development of supporters and partnerships;

5. Familiarity with current communication and administrative computer and web based tools and venues.

6. Excellent marketing, organizational, management, and leadership skills in addition to and superior written and presentation skills.

Personal Qualities

1. As this is a small organization, the ED must be both hands on to deal with immediate needs and future thinking, seeking opportunities for appropriate expansion and enhancements;

2. Must be collaborative to work with the various stakeholders of Debut, including staff, board, funders, presenters, colleagues in other related organizations, etc.;

3. Must be a self-starter, capable of working with limited supervision and within agreed upon Board-Executive Director requirements;

4. Effective communicator (both one-on-one; in writing; presentations);

5. As a steward of a valued long standing not for profit organization, and of public and corporate funds, he/she must behave in an ethical, accountable and transparent manner;

6. Lots of energy, ideas, creative, with a positive “can do” attitude; comfortable with travel within the Region.