Chief Executive & Creative Director

The Chief Executive & Creative Director holds the most senior post at Dance City, unites the creative and strategic functions of the organisation, and is accountable to the board of trustees for the good management and impact of the charity. The Chief Executive & Creative Director leads and works collaboratively with the board, senior management team (SMT) and stakeholders and partners to ensure that Dance City creates opportunities for people to create, produce and experience dance at its very best. The Chief Executive & Creative Director drives the business, identifying commercial opportunities, securing financial resilience, and ensuring that Dance City’s programme is at the vanguard of sustainable dance development in the region. The Chief Executive & Creative Director is based in the northeast and plays an active role in the social life and cultural communities of the region.

Role Profile and Person Specification

• Lead on Dance City’s vision, values and organisational objectives and ensure the relevance and sustainability of its creative programme.
• Ensure there is alignment between Dance City’s creative ambitions and its business needs and that all activity is delivered to the highest possible standards to plan and within budget.
• Grow the organisation’s earned income and shape and set targets for initiatives embracing commercial ventures, corporate partnerships, public funding, trusts and foundations and individual philanthropy.
• Be accountable to the board and to funding bodies, and for the responsible stewardship of Dance City.
• Ensure a strong profile and reputation for the organisation and for dance practice locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Initiate, develop and sustain partnerships with existing and potential funders and key stakeholders.
• Lead and enable the senior team; motivate, inspire, and support the development of the wider staff team.

Role profile

• Leadership and governance
• Develop and monitor the strategic plan with the SMT and Board.
• Work closely with the Chair and Trustees to ensure the good governance of the charity and that organisational performance is structured and monitored using well articulated, achievable KPIs.
• Support Trustees in being an effective Board, ensuring it comprises the appropriate range of skills and has access to training and development opportunities.
• Deploy Trustees’ skills and networks to identify and activate opportunities for commercial development and business growth.
• Be an inclusive leader, collaborate with and empower the SMT, and motivate, support and develop the wider staff team.
• Advocacy, profile and civic engagement
• Promote the profile and reputation of Dance City locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Initiate and enable constructive debate about dance and its development by artists, policy-makers and the public, and to promote Dance City’s role in dance leadership.
• Articulate the transformative potential of dance in enabling social cohesion, the centrality of its place in the wider creative industries sector, and its potential, through civic partnerships and collaboration, to make a major contribution to the economy and well being of the city and region.
• Ensure Dance City is part of local, regional, national and international arts discussions and networks, is represented at key events and viewed as crucial to decision-making processes in the dance and wider cultural and social sectors.
• Be the face of Dance City in professional and community networks and at events in the northeast; communicate and advocate for its plans and ambitions to the widest range of people including politicians, the media, funders, artists, audiences and the public.
• Creative
• Shape, co-create and communicate the creative vision for Dance City.
• Oversee the development and delivery of a creative programme which appeals to a wide range of audiences, demonstrates excellence, and sets out to grow appetite and demand for diverse dance experiences.
• Build and manage sustainable commercial and funding partnerships which will enhance the profile of the programme and enable the commissioning, programming and presentation of dance within and beyond Dance City.
• Oversee the evaluation of the programme, to ensure quality, to engage in reflection and implement learning with colleagues.
• Maintain an overview of the local and national dance ecology in order to inform advocacy and planning.
• Brand, commercial performance and income
• Oversee the design and delivery of effective marketing and communications strategies that are developed and effectively delivered, to retain existing and grow new audiences for dance in the northeast and to promote the Dance City brand.
• Be proactive in the development and delivery of effective fundraising and income generation strategies for Dance City, to ensure that contributed income grows and is diversified, and to develop commercial opportunities enabled by the building and programme.
• Play an active role in identifying and approaching prospective donors, sponsors and funding partners.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing and potential supporters and to lead on key public funding and donor relationships.
• Finance and operations
• Be accountable for the financial operation of the organisation, ensuring budgets are set and monitored, appropriate financial policies and procedures are in place, compliance with appropriate legal and fiscal frameworks is followed, and that there is timely reporting to the relevant funders and authorities.
• Oversee and ensure the smooth and efficient management of Dance City’s facilities and infrastructure.
• Ensure Dance City remains a visible champion of environmental responsibility.
• Ensure the organisation is fully compliant with all legal requirements, including health and safety, and that all staff are trained appropriately.
• People and culture
• Set the tone for and model the organisational culture, be an inclusive and consultative leader, championing employee wellbeing and engagement.
• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place for recruitment, induction, appraisals and the professional development of staff.
• Ensure the organisation upholds its principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, valuing the wellbeing of all colleagues.

Person specification

• Essential
• Has held a senior role in a cultural venue or within an organisation with a substantial arts programme or partnerships; is well networked in and beyond the cultural and creative industries.
• Understanding of the current landscape and eco-system in the cultural sector and awareness of local/national political initiatives that will impact on - and create opportunities for - Dance City and its partner organisations.
• Understanding of the legal, fiscal, social and political context within which the arts operate, and the contribution they make to health, education, social cohesion and civic pride.
• Understanding of the needs of dance as an art form and a commitment to best practice and to promoting inclusion and equality of opportunity.
• An inclusive leader with experience of overseeing organisational transformation and managing change.
• A track record in relationship building, working in partnership with a range of funders, agencies and organisations, and of successful fundraising and income generation from a range of sources.
• A strong advocate and compelling storyteller, able to network, represent the organisation, communicate its vision and inspire confidence among existing and potential peers and stakeholders.
• Strong financial literacy and skills, knowledge of charity governance and relevant financial policies and procedures; experience of senior financial accountability.
• Experience of working effectively with a Board of Directors, understanding of best practice in governance and organisational development.
• A commitment to living in the region, able to travel nationally and internationally, and to work some evenings and weekends where there is reasonable expectation to attend events.
• Desirable
• Experience of running a building with a diverse and impactful arts programme.
• An extensive network in the cultural sector.
• Experience of significant national/international cultural partnership projects.
• Experience of managing significant public investment programmes such as ACE NPO, Creative Scotland RFO or equivalent.

At Dance City we believe that voices and perspectives from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences make our understanding of the world and the arts more relevant. We believe that difference is our strength. Therefore we actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and those that are under-represented in our city and region and in dance leadership.