Manager, Arts & Creative Industries, City of Kitchener

Closing Date: December 29, 2023 (at 6:00pm)
Job Status: Permanent Full-Time
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (FT); occasional evenings and weekends
Location: City Hall, Kitchener
Salary Range: $94,663 – $118,330 annually

Position Overview:

The City of Kitchener is looking for an aspirational leader who is passionate about making a difference in our community. We are seeking a candidate who can rally local stakeholders around a common path forward to advance new initiatives that help build a vibrant arts and culture community in Kitchener.

Kitchener has a vibrant and growing arts community and a burgeoning creative industry sector. Kitchener is home to a diverse group of partners and stakeholders who are all committed to helping our community’s cultural vibrancy grow. These include major arts and cultural institutions, well-established and up-and-coming arts practitioners and organizations, strong university and college programs, and a diverse festival scene. The community’s creative industry features a mix of nationally recognized companies, emerging startups, not-for-profit organizations, established individual practitioners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Reporting to the Director of Culture and Entertainment, you will guide the work of the Arts & Creative Industry team and work collaboratively with the broader Economic Development team to advance Make It Kitchener 2.0, the City’s economic development strategy. You will support the development and implementation of arts and culture strategies/plans. In doing so, you will build strong relationships and collaborate with community stakeholders, cultural leaders and creative practitioners.

Responsibilities:

Leadership

Directly supervise the work of full-time staff members in a collaborative work environment.
Work collaboratively with community stakeholders, leaders, organizations and partners to build consensus and advance common agendas and collaborative initiatives.
Support community engagement and audience development across the various forms of arts and culture.
Provide oversight and leadership of 44 Gaukel – the City’s Creative Hub.
Secure support from external organizations/funding bodies.
Facilitate the elevation of Kitchener’s profile in arts, culture and creative industries.
Proactively advance new programs and policies that respond to emerging community needs and opportunities.

Arts & Cultural Development

In consultation with the community, develop a new arts & culture strategy/plan, guide its implementation and evolve and adapt the strategy/plan over time to respond to community needs and opportunities.
Provide oversight to the City’s Public Art Collection, Industrial Artifacts and Artist-In-Residence program.
Support collaboration and integration of public art stakeholders into special events.
Support community-led arts-focused festivals, such as CAFKA, Impact, etc.
Provide expertise to community-groups on fundraising and grant processes.

Business Development

Develop strategies and implementation plans for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the Creative Hub, including facility funding strategies.
Work with local industry leaders on an ongoing basis to facilitate growth of the local film, music and interactive media industries, including the attraction of film productions.
Work with all arts, culture, and creative industry stakeholders, including educational institutions, to identify new opportunities to support the growth of arts, culture, and creative industries in Kitchener.
Support the City’s Key Cultural Institutions and Organizations.

Administration & Financial

Steward the City’s galleries, including the Rotunda Gallery and Berlin Tower Art Space.
Manage the City’s public art procurement process.
Oversee and support of the City’s Arts & Culture Advisory Committee and Public Art Working Group.
Prepare, monitor, and manage the annual operating and capital budgets.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

4-year degree or diploma in a related field
Minimum 4 years of related experience in progressive roles related to arts, culture and/or creative industries
Experience in audience development.
Experience in policy development as well as shaping and influencing policies that impact the arts and creative industries sector.
Adept at advocating for the interests of artists and creative professionals and effectively communicating the value of the arts to various audiences.
Strong committee management skills, demonstrating the ability to lead and facilitate collaborative efforts amongst diverse stakeholders.
Ability to establish and maintain valuable networking and partnerships within the arts community, fostering collaboration that initiates opportunities and resources for artists.
Ability to use research skills to identify industry trends, funding opportunities, and emerging technologies that impact the arts and creative industries sector.
Proficiency in program implementation, translating strategic goals into actionable plans and executing initiatives that support the growth and development of arts and culture.
Knowledge of Canadian creative industries such as fine arts, digital content development, theatre production, performing arts facilities, music, interactive media, and film industries, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Knowledge of trends and best practices, cultural planning and marketing strategies related to the arts and creative industries.
Knowledge of related Federal and Provincial legislation, government programs and funding related to the arts and creative industries.
Proven ability to lead and support a diverse team.
Working knowledge of project management processes, principles, and concepts.
Proven ability to problem solve in order to facilitate problem resolution by bringing the correct resources and parties together to achieve solutions.
Highly developed communication and human relations skills in order to represent Council to community groups, Provincial and Federal representatives, professional associations, senior management, business leaders and the media; provide Council with advice regarding relevant policy issues.
Proven skill in the use of a personal computer with the ability to use software programs such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Project and PowerPoint.
Experience in managing public art collections is an asset.
Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.
Willing to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Ability to support and project the organization’s core value of trust and respect, collaboration, and change and growth, as well as our leadership traits, which are reflected in employees who:
1. Lead by example and expect the same of others;
2. Recognize accomplishments;
3. Collaborate with others to realized shared outcomes;
4. Enable others to be their best;
5. Look beyond today.