We acknowledge that the City of Kingston is situated on traditional Anishinabek (Ah- nish-in-ah-bay), Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-o-show-nee) and Huron-Wendat (huron-wen·dat) territory and is the home of many Indigenous peoples. We are grateful to reside and work on this land.
Kingston is a smart, livable city in the heart of eastern Ontario. Its stable and diversified economy includes global corporations, innovative start-ups and all levels of government. Kingstonians enjoy a high quality of life with access to world-class education and research institutions, advanced healthcare facilities, affordable living and vibrant entertainment and tourism activities.
We take our core values of Trust, Respect, Integrity and Pride seriously and apply these standards to everything we do. We foster a working environment that reflects our community’s diversity and respects people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs. The City of Kingston views diversity as its strength and encourages people from all backgrounds, including but not limited to women, racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, Persons with Disabilities and persons who identify as members *2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to apply.
Position Summary
The Director, Arts & Culture Services is responsible for the leadership and promotion of the City of Kingston’s involvement in a broad range of arts-related and cultural affairs within the Kingston community, including cultural research, cultural planning, cultural development and cultural policy, along with the management of City-owned cultural facilities - including the Grand Theatre and J.K. Tett Centre, offering support to the event planning at the City’s Large Venue Entertainment Centre (Slush Puppie Place) and providing strategic leadership to the City of Kingston’s Special Events team.
This position is responsible for overseeing strategic planning, operational activities, program development and contractual obligations as well as managing human and financial resources to ensure the goals and objectives of the Department, corporation and the community are met.
This position also serves the needs of the local arts and culture sectors and understands the importance of providing services that benefit the wider community, which includes attending Committee and Council meetings as well as building and nurturing relationships with artists, arts groups and arts organizations and other relevant stakeholders, industry peers, partners and the public.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensures effective decision-making and leads short-term and long-term planning in the areas of arts, culture, community cultural development and special events that support departmental goals, corporate strategies and community plans and partnerships
Develops and monitors annual operating plans and objectives for the department and evaluates risks and opportunities for success
Shapes corporate policies and ensures the strategic priorities of the Department align with the priorities, vision and values of the corporation
Drives execution and sets challenging goals for the position and the Department
Defines and communicates strategic priorities to ensure understanding and translates priorities into operational reality
Manages and controls the budget for the department that includes deploying and optimizing human, fiscal and material resources to achieve operational plans aligned to corporate priorities
Ensures approvals and spending are sustainable and comply with budget and operating objectives.
Establishes appropriate fee structures and identifies, pursues and monitors revenue opportunities that are non-tax based to meet budget objectives
Leads a team of creative and experienced arts and culture professionals to position Kingston as a cultural hub that supports artists and arts-related activities; engages community; expands opportunities; and supports economic development and cultural tourism
Optimizes the skills, experience and knowledge of staff to advance Departmental priorities and programming that engage the community
Provides timely and constructive feedback in support of continuous improvement and identifies and develops successors with diverse capabilities
Supports labour relations and participates in collective bargaining
Promotes an organizational perspective that includes understanding departmental interdependencies and the need to integrate activities across functions/areas related to project planning, program implementation and evaluation
Builds strategic partnerships within the Department, across the corporation and with external stakeholders to improve results and help achieve corporate priorities and objectives
Works through complex key issues and drives new ideas, intelligent risk taking and innovative approaches
Transforms systems and services to adapt to the evolving needs of all stakeholders, advancements in technology and council priorities
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications, Competencies
University degree/graduate diploma in Creative Arts, Cultural Studies, Arts Management or equivalent in education and experience
7 years recent and relevant experience in progressively responsible positions focused in the field of arts, culture and community development
Recent and relevant senior management experience in arts, performing arts or cultural organizations
Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and implementation of plans and policies
Experience leading a team of professionals, preferably in a unionized environment
Skills, Abilities, Work Demands
Recognized organizational leadership, project management and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to act as change agent, championing corporate initiatives
Ability to build trust and credibility and to work in a politically sensitive environment while demonstrating tact and diplomacy
Highly developed analytical and business planning skills with a proven track record for long term visioning, planning, and budgeting
Respectful of cultural diversity and supportive of broad-based equity and inclusion
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence others
Ability to coach, motivate and develop employees
Required to obtain and maintain a satisfactory criminal record check
$131,034.54 /Year - $163,746.31 /Year
Please inform us of any accommodations we need to make to ensure a barrier-free recruitment experience. Accommodations are available in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC)and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) at any stage in the recruitment process. We’re happy to provide more information if you email us at HRCity@cityofkingston.ca.
Please apply to Career Opportunities at: www.cityofkingston.ca/Careers
Your resumé must demonstrate how you meet position requirements. Please upload to your profile any educational Degrees, Diplomas and/or Certificates that are relevant and required for the position. We thank all who apply, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Information collected will be handled in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
