Freelance Excutive Director

Dickson Mbi Company is looking for a proactive and dedicated Executive Director to lead the strategic direction of the organisation and drive the growth needed to support the company’s ambitions. This is a senior, strategic role encompassing hands-on delivery in a small but mighty organisation. 2 days per week expected, worked flexibly.

About the company: Founded in 2018 by choreographer Dickson Mbi and producer Farooq Chaudhry OBE, the Dickson Mbi Company creates authentic works that connect people across all cultures. Deeply rooted in the UK Popping and Hip-Hop scenes, the company brings these art forms with contemporary and traditional dance languages to create works for leading stages around the world.

Vision: To be recognized as a global creative force, producing authentic work for all cultures.

The Three Pillars:

• Dance: A unique choreographic voice that brings street and classical styles for world-class stages.
• Music: Original soundscapes that draw from Afrocentric roots, classical instruments, and East London influences.
• Fiyahouse: A dedicated programme to mentor and support the next generation of artists.

Core Identity: The company is built on a hybrid identity, using diverse cultural backgrounds to tell universal stories. It operates as a complete creative ecosystem where dance, music, and artist development work together to inspire a global audience. Staying true to its origins and retaining a distinctive choreographic voice, the company unites grassroots dance cultures with wider audiences to tell epic, universal stories - from ancient narratives to modern lived experiences. Central to this is its Fiya House collective, an important pillar of the underground scene and a vital vehicle for nurturing the next generation of artists.

Fee and Working Details:

• Fee: £300 - £350 per day on a freelance basis
• Hours: 2 days per week expected, worked flexibly
• Place of work: Hybrid working (remote with some meetings/events rehearsals in London)
• Collaboration with: Artistic Director, Advisory Board, Accountant, Project Producer(s)

Purpose of the role: The Executive Director will work alongside the Artistic Director to strategically lead the company into a new phase of life focused on creative growth and underpinned by operational and financial stability. As a founder-led company making a leap into a sustainable future, this role would suit someone looking to journey alongside the Artistic Director and a dedicated advisory board of volunteers. This is a unique opportunity to have a measurable impact on the next stage of Dickson Mbi Company’s journey and a number of exciting projects in the pipeline.

Success after a year:

• You have led a process to advise on and strengthen the company’s organisational structure, governance and management processes and those structures are now in place.
• You have led a business planning process looking ahead to the next four-year period.
• You have translated that business plan into a compelling case for long-term support to funders including Arts Council England.
• You have supported a pipeline of artistic projects and begun the stewardship of relationships with funders, supporters and strategic partners.

Upcoming plans: Over the next four years, Dickson Mbi Company will tour Tellus, a bedtime-story-turned-epic-tale inspired by the mythical deity Mami Wata and the Oliver Award-winning Enowate, a mesmerising solo performance inspired by Dickson’s life-changing journey to his ancestral home in Cameroon. In addition, the company will make and tour two further works that mark bold new directions in its creative practice in collaboration with globally renowned talent and presenting partners. Underpinning all of this work is Fiya House, the company’s world-renowned collective of dance artists based in London founded by Dickson Mbi and collaborator Brooke Milliner. To inspire the next generation of dancers, Fiya House delivers three large-scale events per year, mentoring and invites international pioneers to teach workshops and judge events throughout the year.

Brief Strategic Leadership: ~0.25–0.5 day/week Lead the strategic development of the company, working closely with the Artistic Director to maximise the organisation’s creative and commercial potential. Diversify income streams and identify new opportunities for growth, including partnerships, touring, commissions and other earned income. Navigate organisational and financial risk while supporting the long-term sustainability of the company. Support the artistic ambition to increase the scale of work, enabling the transition from smaller productions to larger ensemble pieces and more ambitious projects.

Organisational Development & Governance: ~0.1 day/week (averaged) Advise on and strengthen the company’s organisational structure, governance and management processes as it grows. Recruit, support and steward board members, ensuring a strong and effective board. Set agendas, prepare papers and oversee administration for board meetings. Ensure appropriate policies, governance structures and reporting are in place.

Finance & Financial Planning: ~0.25 day/week Take a long-term strategic view of the company’s financial position. Set, manage and monitor annual budgets and cashflow forecasts. Oversee day-to-day financial management, including bookkeeping, VAT reporting and returns, and Theatre Tax Relief submissions, working with freelance accountants where required. Ensure financial compliance and good financial management across the organisation. Lead the organisation’s fundraising strategy. Develop and maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities including trusts and foundations, individual donors and other prospects. Write and submit funding applications and proposals. Steward relationships with funders, supporters and strategic partners. Develop partnerships that provide financial, in-kind or strategic support. As Executive Producer, support the company’s artistic programme in collaboration with the Artistic Director and Project Producer(s). Raise project investment and secure co-production and presenting partners where appropriate. Oversee performance deals, contracting and liaison with cast, creative teams and crew.