Director, Culture & Entertainment

Company Overview

The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 270,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.

The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:

Why work at the City of Kitchener

Job Description

Director, Culture and Entertainment

Competition Number

2023-406

Job Code

1469

Posting Date

August 23, 2023

Closing Date

September 13, 2023 (at 6pm)

Job Status

Permanent Full-Time

The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 270,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.

The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:

Why work at the City of Kitchener

Position Overview:

Don’t stop believin’ that you could be the dynamic and visionary leader the City of Kitchener is looking for to fill the role of Director of Culture and Entertainment. If all the world is a stage, we are looking to make Kitchener centre stage by leveraging our City-owned arts, culture and entertainment assets – performing arts centres, entertainment and cultural venues, cultural investments and programs, and major special events – to develop and implement strategies to build a premier arts and entertainment culture in Kitchener. Reporting to the Executive Director, Economic Development, this senior leadership position will guide the overall strategic direction of three business units within the Economic Development team at the City – Special Events, Arts and Creative Industries, and the Centralized Service Provider for City-owned performing arts and entertainment venues – to drive economic vitality and enhance quality of life in Kitchener. The Director will oversee the development and implementation of strategic plans to support arts and artists, attract more arts and major entertainment events, provide strategic support to venue operators, and create an effective point of entry for local organizations and touring programs.

Responsibilities:

·       Promotes and positions Kitchener’s culture and events locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally through the development of a vision, strategic plan, brand strategy and audience development strategy.

·       Provides strong leadership in galvanizing all city-owned arts and entertainment venues and special events to become vibrant arts and entertainment destinations including, but not limited to, The Centre In The Square, the Registry Theatre, the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts and The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud).

·       Supports existing, and develops new, relationships with internal and external stakeholders who have a shared interest in developing a thriving arts and entertainment culture in Kitchener (e.g., event organizers, venue operators, performing arts groups, etc.).

·       Works in partnership with venue operators to support the success of each venue, including the development of venue operating models and mandates.

·       Directs and evaluates the priorities, work programs, people and resource allocation within the Culture and Entertainment team (Special Events, Arts and Creative Industries, Centralized Service Provider).

·       Oversees the City’s Special Events team who manages numerous City-owned, City-supported and third-party festivals and events occurring on City lands, parks and streets.

·       Oversees the City’s Arts and Creative Industries team who manages arts and cultural projects/programs (e.g., the Creative Hub), supports growth within the local film, music and interactive media industries, manages the City’s public art procurement process, collection and industrial artifacts, and develops and oversees the implementation of the City’s arts and culture strategies.

·       Develops and oversees the new Centralized Service Provider team for City-owned performing arts and entertainment venues.  Working in partnership with venue operators, initial service offerings include overarching marketing, promotions and audience development, ticketing support, and capital asset planning and management.

·       Pursues operating economies and efficiencies, including clear communication between the City and venue operators, consistent service delivery, increased access, improved accountability, and enhanced customer experience.

·       Develops business and financial plans related to the implementation of new and enhanced services, including the ongoing implementation of a Centralized Service Provider model for City-owned venues.

·       In partnership with venue operators, supports, directs and/or assists with the negotiation and administration of third-party agreements including, but not limited to, funding, operating, lease, food and beverage services, ticketing services, talent purchase agreements, etc.

·       Oversees and/or collaborates on the development of a variety of studies, reports, plans and programs including, but not limited to, the City’s arts and culture strategy, building feasibility studies, analytical reports, etc.

·       Provides advice and recommendations to Council and corporate leadership regarding strategies, studies, plans, programs, negotiations, and legal agreements.

·       Leverages funding opportunities to support arts, culture and creative industry practitioners and organizations. 

·       Works with promoters and event organizers on rental and co-promotion opportunities for strategic/large events and acts as the lead on shared event bid opportunities.

·       Works with the Executive Director, Economic Development, to prepare, administer, and monitor divisional operating and capital budgets.

·       Represents the City’s interests on various boards and committees as required.

·       Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

·       4-year bachelor’s degree in business management, business administration, venue management, or another directly related field.

·       7-10 years of progressively responsible venue management and/or cultural sector experience, including prior supervisory and managerial experience.

·       Knowledge and experience with culture/entertainment venue management principles and practices.

·       Knowledge and experience with the Canadian creative industries including fine arts, digital content development, performing arts facilities, music, interactive, and film industries, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and audience development.

·       Must have knowledge of trends and best practices, cultural planning and marketing strategies related to the arts, culture and creative industries.

·       Demonstrates broad practical knowledge in event ticketing, marketing, and venue operations (including analytics, capital asset management, etc.).

·       Knowledge of municipal governance.

·       Knowledge of principles and practices of organization, administration, and personnel management.

·       Knowledge of budgetary procedures, cost accounting methods and practices to monitor expenditures and maintain costs.

·       Leadership and human relations skills to direct, develop, motivate and support the personal growth of staff.

·       Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with venue operators, performing arts groups, government officials, City staff, as well as other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

·       Skill in the use of a personal computer with the ability to use software programs such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.

·       Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to conceptualize and quantify solutions to complex challenges.

·       Skill to communicate politically sensitive information effectively, both verbally and in writing; analyze issues and problems from multiple perspectives.

·       Ability to formulate effective goals, objectives, strategies, policies, and programs.

·       Ability to represent the City effectively in meetings; prepare and deliver effective and persuasive presentations.

·       Ability to research, analyze, and present facts and circumstances of complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

·       Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

·       Ability to anticipate/foresee the future needs and interests of the community and proactively develop and implement creative, innovative and forward-thinking strategies.

·       Must have the ability to support and project the organization's core values of trust and respect, collaboration, and change and growth, as well as our leadership traits, which are reflected in employees who:

o   Lead by example and expect the same of others;

o   Recognize accomplishments;

o   Collaborate with others to realized shared outcomes;

o   Enable others to be their best;

o   Look beyond today.

·       Ability to work and alter hours as needed.

·       Experience managing public facilities is preferred.

·       Must be reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Note: All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In the event there is no successful applicant with the stated level of education and experience, other applicants will be considered if a combination of their education and experience meets the following pre-determined equivalency:

·       3-Year Degree/Diploma with minimum 10 years related and relevant experience or an undergraduate degree with a Master’s degree with minimum 4 years of related and relevant experience.

The City of Kitchener is committed to an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and to ensuring our workforce reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity deserving groups.

We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please contact Human Resources at recruitment@kitchener.ca, or 519-741-2200 ext. 7261 to make your needs known, so that we can support your full and equal participation throughout the hiring process.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.

Please note that as per Human Resources Policy HUM-HIR-110, "Employment of Relatives of Staff Members and Elected Officials":

"The immediate relatives of staff of the Human Resources Division, all Directors, General Managers, or the Chief Administrative Officer and Elected Officials shall not be employed by the City in any capacity.

The immediate relatives of all other Management personnel shall not be employed where such employment would be:

1. within the same Department in the case of permanent full-time, temporary full-time and part-time classifications.

2. within the same Division in the case of students."

Department

Development Services

Division

Economic Development

Union Affiliation

Non-Union/Management

Number of Positions

1

Hours of Work

35 hours per week

Location

Initial Location

City Hall

City

Kitchener

Compensation

Salary Range

$110,888 - $138,610 annually

Grade/Band

12 (under review)