PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS NOW PASSED. WE THANK EVERYONE WHO APPLIED. East End Arts is hiring a new fulltime Executive Director! The deadline to apply is Friday April 5, 2024 by 5:00 pm EST.
EAST END ARTS SEEKS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Date Posted: March 15, 2024
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024 by 5PM EST
Start Date: May 21, 2024 (approx.)
Salary: $70,000 – $80,000
Environment: Hybrid (in office, in community, and at home)
ABOUT THE JOB:
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be a thoughtful leader and relationship builder with skilled decision making, sound financial management, and a passion for community-engaged arts. This individual will embrace and promote reconciliation, diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work. They will guide and develop the East End Arts team to make magical things happen, and earn the trust and support of artists, neighbourhoods, and partners.
ABOUT EAST END ARTS:
East End Arts is a non-profit community arts organization providing inclusive arts programming, events, and services to our local communities, as well as professional development opportunities to emerging and established artists and arts organizations.
As a community arts organization, we believe that community arts can be a tool for bridging the space between professional artists and communities; for empowering community members and artists alike to make their communities in east Toronto more vibrant and inspiring places. We value opportunities to create and share together, because we believe that when we share our stories and hear the stories of our neighbours, we develop understanding, build community, and inspire one another.
Through our programs and events, we aim to challenge our community and ourselves to think big, challenge issues, and reimagine public spaces, communities, and neighbourhoods in new and innovative ways. From large-scale murals co-created with artists and local youth; to art workshops for youth and seniors; to professional development for Toronto-based creatives; we are proud of the diversity of programs and services that we offer.
East End Arts is one of the city’s six Local Arts Service Organizations (LASO’s), created to serve key regions outside the downtown core. Our service area stretches from the Don Valley Parkway east to Victoria Park Ave, and from Lake Ontario north to Sunrise Ave. We work with artists and community partners across multiple neighbourhoods, including along the Danforth, Leslieville, Crescent Town, Little India, the Beaches, and Riverdale. The future of east Toronto is full of opportunity, including the city’s greatest civic projects, the Port Lands and the Ontario Line subway, and a rapidly growing population that recognizes the unique creative power of the arts.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Vision:
- Brings inspirational leadership in collaboration with Board of Directors & staff team.
- Advocates for the value of the arts and its vital contribution to Toronto’s east end community.
- Develops strong partnerships with governmental, civic, and community organizations.
Strategic Planning & Policy:
- Takes the lead in strategic planning & policy development in response to the needs of the east end community.
Board Management:
- Establishes and maintains reporting and approval protocols.
- Keeps the board fully informed of the vision, planning, budgeting/finances, activities, and administration of East End arts through regular meetings and communication.
- Works with the Board leadership to recruit and educate board members.
Advocacy & Government Relations:
- Establishes strong relationships with political and public service leadership at all levels of government.
- Develops strong working relationships with local City Councillors, Business Improvement Areas (BIA’s), local developers, and community advocates.
- Advocates for the importance and impact of the arts in the long-term growth of Toronto’s east end, including opportunities to integrate planning-for-culture into local development and infrastructure projects, etc.
Staff Leadership & HR:
- Offers inspiring, collaborative, and caring leadership to three (3) full-time staff and a roster of seasonal/part-time staff.
- Leads by example to ensure healthy, positive, and supportive work environment grounded in principles of equity and inclusion.
- Takes responsibility for hiring, contracting, and sustaining staff and suppliers.
Fundraising and Revenue Generation:
- Sets fundraising strategies and goals and leads fundraising efforts through community relationship building.
- Leads the development of compelling grants, reports, and cases for support.
- Uses an entrepreneurial mindset to identify, build, seek, and secure new business opportunities that sustain the organization’s ongoing impact.
Financial Management:
- Takes responsibility for budgeting and controls and financial risk management.
- Oversees the work of a part-time bookkeeper and liaises with auditors in preparation of financial statements.
Program Management:
- With support from staff colleagues, ensures that all arts programming is run effectively, offering inspiring opportunities and support to the local community
- Ensures all programming granting obligations are met
Program, Community and Creative Management:
- Develops and leverages fruitful, caring, and productive relationships with creative partners including artists, arts organizations/collectives, Business Improvement Areas (BIA’s), developers, etc.
- With support from staff colleagues, ensures that all arts programming is run effectively, offering inspiring opportunities and support to the local community.
- Ensures all programming granting obligations are met.
- With support from staff colleagues, ensures that volunteer programs encourage participation and provide opportunities for community participants.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Five or more years of transparent and high integrity non-profit leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of Toronto’s arts programming and funding environment.
- Experience with smaller scale organization charged with large programming mandates.
- Proven track record of support for equity and inclusion initiatives, including building earned trust with equity-deserving communities, artists, and creative partners.
- Strong ability to forge meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations of influence, including public, private, and community sectors.
- Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors or other senior volunteers.
- High level of strategic thinking and planning.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate effectively with a small team.
- A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results.
- Active fundraising experience. Excellent donor relations skills.
- Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Strong public speaking ability.
- Strong work ethic, high degree of energy, and an overall passion and care for artists and artistic communities.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The Executive Director will work full time alongside a small team of three (3) permanent staff working in a hybrid work environment including in person on location at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse. As a community arts organization, the position requires flexible work hours including occasional evenings and weekends, especially in the summer. This position does require access to a computer and internet at home. For candidates without home access to a computer, one will be provided.
COMPENSATION:
The salary range for the ED position is $70,000-$80,000 in addition to a medical/dental benefits package, 15 days of paid vacation, and a holiday closure period in December.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter and resume in a single pdf attachment with attention to Susan Wright at info@eastendarts.ca, with the subject line EEA ED Application, by April 5, 2024, by 5:00PM EST.
East End Arts is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in its employment.
In accordance with the accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) accommodation will be provided during the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.