Contract Position:            Festival Director, Ottawa Folk Festival

Period:                              One-year, renewable term

Job Start Date:                 January 4, 2010

Application Deadline:       Friday, 27 November 2009 at 6 p.m. (EST)

The Festival Director (FD) is responsible for developing and conveying the artistic vision and for ensuring the artistic programming reflects the organization’s mandate and strategic objectives. The FD plays the lead role in programming the Festival, concerts and special events.

As the senior staff member within the organization, the FD reports to the Board of Directors, is responsible for implementation of policies set by the Board and for the financial, program, and administrative management of the Festival.  The FD will act as the key media and community spokesperson. The FD is responsible for developing the organization’s annual budget, including for artistic programming and related fees and ensuring that all programming decisions are considered in light of their financial as well as artistic impacts.  The FD will be directly supported in this leadership role by a Director of Planning and Operations and other administrative staff.

The Ottawa Folk Festival (OFF) is a non-profit, charitable, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to connect people throughout the community with exceptional artists – and with their own creativity – in environments that are inclusive, interactive, informative and inspiring.  The OFF presents an annual summer festival, now in its 17^th year, as well as concerts and other events throughout the year.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Lead the organization’s strategic planning processes, through analysis of and recommendations about trends and opportunities within the folk and local communities
• Oversee planning of the annual festival, concert series and other OFF events, and monitor achievement of key planning milestones, in collaboration with the Director of Planning and Operations (DPO)
• Work with other staff and Board to conduct an evaluation process within two months of the annual festival, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are consulted
• Play a leadership role in directing and supporting staff, volunteers and Board members to ensure that organizational and artistic goals are achieved
• Provide regular written reports to the Board which meets once a month
• In a spirit of collaboration and mutual support, supervise and oversee the work-plan of OFF full-time staff (e.g. DPO, Community Engagement/Volunteer Manager, Office Manager) and key volunteers (e.g., Board Committee Chairs)

Artistic Vision and Programming

• Establish and communicate artistic programming vision (i.e., lead and guide the artistic committee to develop plans for themes, key performers and scope of Festival and special event programming).
• Develop the artistic program for the Festival, year-round concert series and other artistic events through the year
• Provide artistic advice and support for special projects and fundraising initiatives
• Execute all performance contracts in timely fashion, with communications and administrative support from the DPO, and ensure that contractual information is securely stored and accessible to colleagues as needed
• Provide timely programming input to promotional materials including press releases, website postings, festival programs etc.

Financial Management and Resource Development

• In collaboration with the Finance Committee and senior colleagues, develop and monitor annual  budgets for OFF, artistic programming and related fees
• Ensure financial impacts of all organizational and programming decisions are identified, evaluated and approved by the Board, via recommendation from the Finance Committee
• Work within the organizational and artistic budget approved by the Board, providing regular  financial reports to the Finance Committee and Board
• Work with auditors to ensure annual audited financial statements are completed in a timely manner
• Ensure that the preparation and submission of grant applications and reports are completed within appropriate time frames, taking the lead on grant development and contributing to writing of organizational and artistic sections

External Communications and Community Partnership Development

• Sustain ongoing and develop new artistic partnerships and collaborations to support the organization’s strategic priorities
• Represent the organization on external committees and through networks as appropriate
• Act as a key spokesperson for the organization and promote the festival, concerts and other events to the community at large
• Solicit and apply stakeholder input to organizational and programming decisions 
• Work closely with site design and production managers, artist liaison, and other key staff and volunteers 

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a respected member of and an active participant in the Canadian folk music community, with a demonstrated passion for and depth of knowledge of folk/roots and world music 
• Have experience programming musical events
• Have experience managing the budget and operations of a non-profit arts organization or comparable experience and working with a volunteer Board of Directors
• Demonstrate understanding of the financial impacts of all artistic decisions
• Have strong negotiation skills
• Have excellent leadership, communications and people management skills
• Have the proven ability to establish and nurture relationships within the artistic community locally, regionally, nationally and internationally 
• Be a team facilitator and team player – skilled at supervising, supporting and empowering colleagues and volunteers to achieve team objectives in a positive environment
• Have a high level of energy and drive and the ability to juggle the day-to-day demands with longer-range projects and strategic planning

Remuneration:

• Commensurate with experience (range: $45-60,000 per annum)

References:

• Please provide contact information (Name, Telephone Number(s), E-mail address) for three references

E-mail applications by Friday, 27 November 2009, 6:00 PM (EST) to:

Penny Bertrand, Hiring Committee Chair:  
Email: pennybertrand@hotmail.com

The OFF will contact those selected for further consideration to arrange an interview. Please be advised that interviews will take place starting the week of 07 December 2009.  The Hiring Committee is placing a priority on qualified candidates who are available, at least part-time, for the 04 January 2010 start date.