The Associate Director for Arts Everywhere reports to the Special Assistant to the Chancellor for the Arts and plays a vital leadership role in the development and implementation of UNC Chapel Hill’s campus-wide arts initiative, Arts Everywhere.

S/he will work closely with the SACA to advance a pan-University arts vision and accomplish the strategic framework set forth in the creation of the SACA role. S/he will collaborate with the SACA to anticipate, plan for, and support programming opportunities and needs; assist with the development and revision of strategic timelines and metrics to ensure the success of the initiative; develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across campus to increase awareness, involvement, and investment by faculty, staff, administrators, and students; and will be responsible for overseeing all AE administration.

Education
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required; for candidates demonstrating comparable professional backgrounds, will accept a relevant undergraduate degree and three years or greater of relevant experience in substitution. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Qualifications and Experience
Seven or more years of programming, planning, and/or related experience with an arts organization, preferably in a setting of higher education; a proven track record of developing excellent relationships with artists, donors and others; experience working with and coordinating advisory boards; excellent interpersonal, oral and written communications skills; the ability to work both independently and as a team player; strategic planning and leadership experience; budget management skills; a drive to be successful; a high energy level; a creative approach to problem solving; exceptional organizational skills; a willingness to travel; the ability to work occasional weekends and evenings in connection with performing arts programming and research. Preference for a candidate with higher education experience.

For more information and to submit an application, please visit http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/140523.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Building on its established success and history, the new Artistic Director will ensure that Calgary Film continues to be one of the most important film festivals in Canada, while enhancing its international profile.

THE ORGANIZATION

Our mission is to entertain and engage audiences by curating the most innovative and compelling films, and creating remarkable festival experiences

The first Calgary International Film Festival was held in 2000 for six days and was attended by 8,000 people. Within three years, attendance had more than doubled to over 20,000 for the expanded 10-day festival. Attendance hit a record last year with over 40,000 visitors. Film submissions have also more than tripled over the past four years, to over 2,750 in 2017.

Today, the Calgary International Film Festival is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and over 50 other countries. The festival hosts gala events, screenings, special presentations, and a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact.

The Calgary International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Alberta and sixth largest in Canada. It is also an Oscar-qualifying festival for short films and was named one of “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” in both 2016 & 2017 by MovieMaker Magazine.

In addition to the festival, we present other film events year-round, including Doc Soup Calgary, a six-month screening series of award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary films presented in conjunction with the Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival.

ABOUT THE CITY OF CALGARY

Calgary is a major economic and cultural centre in Canada. Calgary’s population exceeds 1.2 million, has a large contingent of young, well-educated and entrepreneurial people who are community-minded and generous. Calgary attracts human and economic capital from across Canada and around the world. It is a place where people value quality of life, and appreciate an array of wellness, recreational, educational, and social services opportunities.

Calgary’s culture is as varied as its population, finding expression across the city through art food, fashion, dance, film, festivals, cultural celebrations, literary programs, powwows, and more. There are over 120 languages spoken in Calgary. Festivals and events enhance the quality of life in Calgary and are an essential element in creating complete communities. They help develop Calgary into an active, creative, and viable city.

Calgary is also proud to have a collaborative cultural community, working together to produce world-class work across a range of disciplines. The city is home to the Alberta Ballet, Calgary Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Calgary Performing Arts Festival, The High Performance Rodeo (Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts), and Theatre Calgary to name a few, with the iconic Banff Centre as its neighbour.

As the largest film festival in the province, Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) is uniquely positioned as a leading champion for Alberta film. A meaningful share of the program is from Calgary, and we devote at least one gala each year to an Alberta feature.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Artistic Director (AD) is part of the organization’s leadership team and has a key role in planning. The AD deepens and executes the organization’s artistic vision and designs a remarkable experience for all attendees of the festival and year-round events. As a leading voice in the Calgary area screen industry, the AD is a spokesperson who inspires and engages the public and stakeholders with the festival’s artistic vision.

Building on its established success and history, the new AD will ensure that Calgary Film continues to be one of the most important film festivals in Canada, while enhancing its international profile.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Artistic Leadership

• Working with the ED, lead in setting the artistic vision of the Calgary Film with strong, inspirational, and high-profile leadership.
• Ensure that the artistic vision is aligned with the festival’s audience-focused mission while also factoring in objectives such as increasing attendance, staying ahead of industry trends, and maintaining a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
• Collaborate with the ED and senior team in business planning and long-term strategic goals.
• Bring an artistic vision that delivers increased attendance, deepens audience engagement and attracts higher levels of sponsorship and donor support.
• Bring innovative ideas to build upon and expand the audience experience, leaving memorable impressions on festival-goers who will want to return for more.
• Oversee the film programming team, providing curatorial guidance and ensuring the program as a whole is compelling, diverse, and on-strategy.
• Select Gala and Headliner films in consultation with the film programming team.
• Bring an existing network of distinguished national and international filmmakers and industry luminaries.
• Establish and nurture relationships with existing and prospective partners in Calgary, across Canada, and internationally with the goal of creating strategic partnerships.
• Conduct an annual evaluation of the festival’s artistic program that is presented with findings and recommendations to the ED and the Board.
• Balance artistic responsibilities and initiatives within the budget and timelines determined by the ED.
• Maintain the highest level of awareness of global and national film and festival trends.
• Travel nationally and internationally to other film festivals and industry events as required.

Development

• Foster and grow the festival’s presentational capacity by continually reviewing and improving its offerings and schedule.
• Research, identify, and connect to new festival venues and sites (‘cluster development’).
• Work closely with the ED and Development Director to cultivate strong relationships with existing and potential sponsors, donors, and funders.
• As delegated by the ED, serve as the artistic spokesperson of the festival with the media, public, patrons, volunteers and other stakeholders to build engagement, interest, and loyalty.
• Maintain a current, globally informed view of the industry, keeping a critical knowledge of emerging filmmakers and the competitive landscape.

Organizational Management

• Oversee the operational units that directly support outstanding content delivery and audience experience. These include venue & volunteer operations, technical production, and guest relations.
• Hire and manage departmental staff within an organization structure determined by the ED, and in accordance with the festival’s policies and best practices.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• Five years or more of senior film programming experience, with proven ability to create exciting programming that grows and diversifies audiences.
• Senior management experience in a film- or festival-related organization.
• A proven track record in strategic artistic leadership and management.
• Commitment to the highest level of artistic excellence in every area of the festival’s activity and work to the highest professional standards.
• Able to articulate a clear and inspiring artistic vision for the festival that serves its goals.
• Commitment to providing an outstanding experience to attending filmmakers and industry guests.
• Advanced knowledge of film festival trends and practices nationally and internationally.
• An in-depth awareness of film activity: locally, nationally, and internationally.
• A commitment to celebrating our local and regional screen industry and its creative artists as a key part of the broader festival; brings large-scale ambition with a sensitivity to local culture.
• The ability to envision and deliver a vibrant festival site.
• Experience and proven success in directing and producing live events.
• A national and international network of high-level industry relationships and can attract filmmakers who are national and global leaders in their craft.
• The ability to take risks in artistic programming, with proven success in setting artistic initiatives under well-made, feasible plans.
• A strong track record of collaboration, leadership and strong team building, with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing a large and vibrant team of professional staff and volunteers.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with significant media and public-speaking experience.
• Excellent expressive and dynamic writing skills.
• If not already a resident of Calgary, desire and ability to relocate to Calgary for full-time residence.
• Undergraduate degree or experiential equivalent.

CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES

• A creative leader with a passion and belief in the importance of Calgary International Film Festival’s vision and values.
• A high-energy visionary with business savvy, drive, and dedication to outstanding programming and audience engagement.
• A love of film and a passion for fostering an audience’s experience of it.
• A flair for fostering fan-filmmaker interaction.
• A commitment to inclusivity and diversity in programming, including active inclusion of women filmmakers, and fostering the meaningful participation of Indigenous artists.
• A knack for initiating and developing meaningful artistic partnerships.
• Resilience and responsiveness to changing industry trends. Politically astute.
• Ability to deal confidently, sensitively and effectively with local and international filmmakers at all levels.
• Persistent, engaging, yet flexible; able to collaborate, motivate, delegate, and negotiate.
• A team player who works well with staff to create, plan, and put on a festival.
• A firm decision-maker with a healthy sense of initiative, able to work within tight timeframes and occasionally challenging circumstances.
• Capacity to work and thrive within the festival’s annual cycle, with the busiest season running from May to October (leading up to the September festival).
• Impeccable attention to detail.
• Distinctive imagination, with cultural and human inquisitiveness.
• A commitment to contribute to the local community as a resident of Calgary.

COMPENSATION

An experienced-based compensation and benefits package will be provided.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application by emailing your cover letter and résumé no later than Monday, June 11th, 2018 to: calgaryfilm@searchlightcanada.com.

Calgary International Film Festival is an equal-opportunity employer, committed to reflecting our country’s diversity. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.