Executive Director / Joint CEO

Executive Director / Joint CEO

We are seeking an experienced senior leader to join as Executive Director /Joint CEO at an innovative arts centre in the heart of Deptford.

Position: Executive Director /Joint CEO

Location: Deptford, Flexible working negotiable; minimum of 50% office-based working

Salary: £70k per annum, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 12pm, Tuesday 28th January

First Interview: Tuesday 18th February

Second Interview: Thursday 27th February

About the role:

With our long-serving CEO and leadership team stepping down in 2024/25, the executive function has been updated into a co-CEO model of a Creative Director and Joint CEO and an Executive Director and Joint CEO (new role) to provide joint development and leadership for the organisation and affiliated projects. Together they will be responsible for articulating and achieving the creative vision and business objectives, to maintain and grow a versatile and vibrant performing arts centre and cultural community hub. They will contribute to fundraising and developmental work to achieve sustainability for the organisation. They will also oversee programmes of activity which represent the ethos and maximise artistic innovation, social and creative engagement.

Your main duties will include:

• Provide strategic leadership for the organisation and strategic advice to the Board, ensuring the development of Strategic and Business Plans, budgets and KPIs (jointly with Creative Director).
• Responsible and accountable for the overall management of the organisation through effective implementation of agreed vision, objectives, plans and targets.
• Ensure financial leadership, including annual budget setting, effective management of resources and monitoring of accounts.
• Joint lead on strategic fundraising, contributing to key fundraising applications and funder relationship management.
• With the Creative Director (and Board) maintain a wide and longer-term perspective of the external environment and developments relevant to our work; be proactive in identifying future opportunities and challenges.
• Ensure high standards of governance (with the Board), including charitable objectives and compliance with relevant statutory and regulatory responsibilities.

About you:

We are now looking for a confident leader to work alongside a team of experienced senior managers, you will need to bring with you the following skills and experience:

• Significant experience as a senior manager and leader in a major arts organisation or equivalent transferable skills; with a strong sense of how the organisation can enrich and transform the arts ecology, while meeting key stakeholders’ needs.
• Demonstrable record or potential for commercial awareness, financial acumen and business management skills to run a complex charity as a social enterprise with a vision of considered growth, innovation and risk.
• A desire to work in a creative organisation and a commitment to, and knowledge of, culturally diverse arts environments; confidence addressing equity and inclusion and realising and promoting the values of diversity in every aspect of the work.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders in the voluntary, public and private sectors; a confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Ability and enjoyment of working within and leading an organisational culture equipped to generate cultural, management and institutional change internally and within the sector.
• Experience of management in a venue licensed for public entertainment, including demonstrable understanding of health and safety and facilities with the ability to oversee and lead on statutory compliance and best practice.
• Well-honed practical skills relating to running a similar sized organisation: highly skilled in and understanding of administration, HR, legal aspects, financial planning, monitoring and budget management.

Benefits include:

• 25 holiday days per annum, plus bank holidays
• Complimentary tickets to performances
• Company discount
• Training and development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support
• Hybrid and flexible working policy
• Access to interest-free season ticket loan and cycle scheme partnership

About the Organisation

The arts centre committed to representing the extraordinary creativity and diversity of Deptford, Lewisham and South East London. Each year over 60,000 people attend our events, ranging from music to theatre, spoken word and family performances; and take part in our award-winning participatory projects for young people and adults over 60. We were Lead Delivery Partner for We Are Lewisham, the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022, with over 400,000 audience members attending over 600 events throughout the year.

The organisation aims to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and want their team to represent the same diversity of audiences and artists they welcome into venues every day. They are keen to hear from a diverse range of candidates from all backgrounds. They particularly want to encourage people who have lived experience of Black and ethnically diverse communities. The organisation will offer an interview to anyone who identifies as a D/deaf or disabled person who meets the essential criteria.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Charity Director, CEO, Chief Executive, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Director, Theatre Director, Arts Director, Venue Director, General Manager, Venue Supervisor, Creative Arts Director, Operations Manager, Head of Development, Festival Director, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.