JOBS AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Community is at the heart of the Dalhousie Arts Centre and its Rebecca Cohn Auditorium has seen it all—from the perfect pirouettes of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen to the thunderous tenor of Luciano Pavarotti; from the anecdotes of Stuart McLean to the activism of Angela Davis; from the first shows of Leonard Cohen’s acclaimed comeback tour to Gord Downie’s Secret Path in Concert. It is the home of Symphony Nova Scotia, and the stage has welcomed thousands of students who have proudly walked across it to receive their degrees. Dalhousie University is seeking an Executive Director who will continue to build on the past 50 years of excellence in managing this rental space.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Ancillary Services, the Executive Director of the Dalhousie Arts Centre is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operation of the Rebecca Cohn and other rental areas within the Arts Centre. The Executive Director will provide fiscally responsible leadership and ensure the Arts Centre meets its annual goals. The Executive Director is responsible for general operations and administration including budget development and management, strategic planning, community engagement and revenue generation activities, and leadership of a team of dedicated staff.

Key responsibilities include:

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

The ideal candidate is a senior leader with experience managing rental venues such as a performing arts centre. They have a master’s degree in business management or equivalent experience in facility management and administration. The ideal candidate has experience leading a team of professionals alongside strong mentorship and supervision skills. With experience promoting an inclusive and welcoming environment, the ideal candidate has a track record of relationship building and community engagement. They have excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as strong relationship-building. The ideal candidate will have experience maintaining the financial stability of a venue and developing and managing an operating budget. The incumbent will have experience generating new revenue through sourcing funding opportunities and grant writing. Importantly, the ideal candidate has a passion for and is a champion of, the arts.

A background working in an academic environment, experience leading a large performing arts centre or theatre, and knowledge of commercial ticketing platforms and live event software, I.e., AudienceView would be considered assets.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies (https://www.dal.ca/dept/leaders.html), in particular:
- Resource & Process Management
- Accountability for Performance & Results
- Change & Innovation
- Respect & Inclusion
- Thinking and Acting Strategically
- Relationship Building

A complete application will include a cover letter speaking to the qualifications listed above and a detailed curriculum vitae. For more information and to review the candidate brief, please contact exec.search@dal.ca

Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.

We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or Human Resources.

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.