Chief Executive Officer, The Bentway Conservancy

Transcription

1 Chief Executive Officer, The Bentway Conservancy Position Type: Full-time salaried position Start Date: As soon as possible Location: Initially at Artscape Head Office (171 East Liberty Street, Suite 224, Toronto ON M6K 3P6) prior to establishing The Bentway Conservancy offices Application Deadline: ASAP Reporting the Chair of the Board of Directors of The Bentway Conservancy, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization according to the strategic direction, approved by the Board of Directors. As the first full-time hire for this new not-forprofit organization, the CEO will also play a key role in developing and advising the board on plans and policies required to ensure the success of an aggressive start-up timetable and the smooth transition to operations on July 1, The CEO will oversee a start-up operating budget in the region of $2 million expected to rise to about $4 million by 2023/24. The successful candidate will play a lead role in securing major gifts and sponsorships, oversee the creation of a dynamic year-round program of events, and will build and lead a full and part-time staff team. Working with a senior management team, the CEO ensures that the activities of the organization are properly resourced, effectively managed and fully embrace the unique aspiration and vision of The Bentway Conservancy. The successful realization of this and future phases of development of The Bentway (formerly Project: Under Gardiner) will require creative, entrepreneurial leadership. The successful candidate will be a passionate city-builder with a strong commitment to leveraging the power of arts and culture, community recreation and leisure to build and serve Toronto s diverse communities. The CEO will maintain and build on The Conservancy s relationship with the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and Fort York Historic Site, who are key partners in the successful realization of this project. In order to realize the organization s aspirations and vision, the CEO must be capable of building and leveraging partnerships with diverse stakeholders; developing a sustainable business model and will have the ability to liaise easily with a broad range of people. With an understanding of the dynamics of reporting to a board, this individual combines an entrepreneurial perspective with the ability to manage a dynamic operation for long-term sustainability and success. The Bentway Conservancy The Bentway Conservancy is a new not-for-profit organization that maintains, operates and programs The Bentway (formerly Project: under Gardiner). The Conservancy provides administrative and operational leadership, ensuring that the space engages the surrounding community and city as a whole, offers innovative events and programming, is safe and accessible and is financially sustainable. The Conservancy administers all operations and maintenance, oversees permits and fees, develops programming and events, executes communications and marketing, maintains fundraising goals and revenue targets and spearheads relationships with stakeholders and partners. The Bentway Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Toronto, Fort York National Historic Site, the seven adjacent neighbouring communities and other stakeholders and partners across the city of Toronto and beyond. Artscape s Role

2 Artscape has been hired by The Bentway Conservancy for an 18-month period to advise the Board and staff on the transfer to operations of the project and to provide project management and incubation services to support the successful start-up of this new not-for-profit organization. RESPONSIBILITIES: Report to the Board of Directors and execute the board s decisions on all aspects of operations; develop and present an annual operation plan for board approval and work closely with the board and other internal and external stakeholders to develop, implement and monitor a strategic plan Lead The Bentway Conservancy staff team and directly manage the Directors of Fund Development; Finance, Administration and Marketing; Programming and Operations Work closely The City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and The Fort York National Historic Site as the key partners in the delivery of The Bentway Conservancy vision; ensure the smooth implementation and monitoring of agreements with FYHS regarding shared programming, operations and maintenance and the lease, license and other agreements with the City of Toronto Finance and Administration With senior staff, oversee the development of an annual balanced budget for board approval that includes revenue generating strategies, fundraising plans and cost management measures to achieve business objectives Work with senior staff to ensure effective human resources management across the portfolio and oversee the health and safety, well-being and productivity of the staff team Fund Development and Sponsorship Play a lead role in securing major gifts and sponsorships Work with senior staff to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy, supported by effective policies and procedures that will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors and funders to achieve revenue goals Operations Work with senior staff to ensure the highest quality maintenance of The Bentway public realm and infrastructure including soft and hard landscape, technical infrastructure and equipment, and skate / water / play and other recreational components Work with senior staff to ensure that policies, procedures and plans to ensure public and staff life and health, safety and security are prioritized at all times Programming and Curatorial Vision Lead the realization of the curatorial vision for The Bentway Conservancy and work with senior staff to establish a sustainable and diverse arts, cultural and recreational program of events and activities across all four seasons Ensure that program plans reflect and respect the rich indigenous history of the area; its position as the founding landscape of the city of Toronto and its status as a national historic site Ensure the program plans reflect the openness and diversity of the city of Toronto today and as it evolves in the future

3 Communications and Stakeholder Relations With senior staff, ensure the implementation of the brand strategy and the development and implementation of a marketing and communications strategy for the organization Act as the key spokesperson for The Bentway Conservancy, positioning it as an innovative leader internationally in the programming and operation of unique found urban spaces Play a leadership role in Toronto s community of city-builders, attracting philanthropic giving at all levels Build strong relationships with key members of arts, cultural, heritage, recreation, food and public space communities in Toronto; with local communities in the seven local neighborhoods; with government stakeholders; and with private and philanthropic interests Ensure that through its programming, and in its day to day operations, the organization is respectful of and welcoming to all The Bentway s many diverse users Ensure that through its programming, and in its day to day operations, the organization is respectful of, welcoming to and proactively seeks the engagement and input of, Toronto s indigenous peoples including the Huron-Wendat, Haundenosaunee the Anishaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit River QUALIFICATIONS Education An undergraduate degree and a minimum of 10 years professional experience in a senior leadership role. A post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be an advantage. Experience Senior leadership experience gained in a multi-stakeholder environment, where success in building sustainable partnerships with diverse stakeholders is in evidence Experience within, or in support of, a social enterprise or community building organization and/or success driving growth in a start-up environment. A leadership role in a city-building and/or arts and cultural organization is considered an advantage Experience in complex financial, management and planning contexts and overseeing a wide range of operations and programs using effective processes to evaluate and advance initiatives including financial modelling, budgeting and project management techniques Experience developing and evaluating strategic, operational and business plans Evidence of strong organizational and project management skills and evidence of the ability to deliver on time in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment Experience working with a board in setting policy and strategy, and of providing analysis, advice and recommendations in an objective manner Evidence of success in motivating, inspiring and mentoring staff teams to achieve extraordinary results Personal Skills

4 Leadership: An energetic and inspiring leader who possesses the knowledge and experience to quickly make positive traction with a range of stakeholders, internal and external to the organization. A highly credible representative of the organization locally, provincially and nationally Strategic: A big-picture, long-term thinker; able to lead an organization to help set and achieve its vision, goals and objectives Relationships: Able to develop rapport and credibility with a range of audiences, including the arts, cultural, recreational, environmental, food and public space communities and partners; local government; private, philanthropic and community/neighbourhood interests; staff and board. Ability to be at ease and get along with a wide range of people Creativity: Entrepreneurial, curious and creative. Driver of new ideas and new ways of doing things. Willing to take risks and consider new approaches. PERSONAL QUALITIES: Creative and innovative thinker who will conceive and implement new ideas A passion for inclusive, sustainable city-building A passion for arts and culture A confident and convincing communicator, at ease in a wide variety of social settings Highly organized, great attention to detail, with an intellectual grasp and capacity for critical thinking A fast learner focused on results. A sense of urgency, self-motivated and a disciplined doer A multi-tasker able to juggle multiple priorities An entrepreneurial and creative thinker The Bentway Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all its work. We work proactively to be fair and equitable in practice and to build diversity into our teams, creative communities, programs and services. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: ASAP TO APPLY Please respond with a cover letter outlining the qualifications and experience you would bring to the position, your salary expectations and a resume. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applications will be received in confidence by mail or only. Attention: Human Resources, CEO, The Bentway Conservancy C/O Artscape Suite 224, 171 East Liberty Street Toronto, ON M6K 3P6 careers@thebentway.ca (please note your name and the job title in the subject line) All submissions will receive a message confirming receipt. No phone calls please. We thank all applicants, however only those being considered for an interview will be contacted directly.

5 ABOUT THE BENTWAY AND THE BENTWAY CONSERVANCY The Bentway is a unique and innovative public space that will transform the neglected area underneath Toronto s Gardiner Expressway into a thriving new cultural and civic attraction. Responsive to the site s unique history and evolution, and the diverse urban and cultural character of Toronto, The Bentway will reconnect visitors with this unique place and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Stretching from Strachan Avenue to Spadina Avenue in the heart of Toronto s downtown, this new urban corridor will be composed of a series of trails, performance spaces, and recreational and activity centres, which will activate the community, link seven adjacent neighbourhoods with over 70,000 residents and various points of interest, deliver outstanding events, and create a dynamic and vital space for all citizens. Year round activities and attractions will include gardens, a skating rink, recreational amenities, public markets, public art, special exhibitions, festivals, theatre and musical performances, and more. The project is made possible through the collaboration of a range of city-builders and experts, including the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, the Judy and Wilmot Matthews Foundation, Ken Greenberg, PUBLIC WORK, Fort York National Historic Site and Artscape. The design and construction of The Bentway is under the management of Waterfront Toronto. The lands being developed are largely in the ownership of The City of Toronto and much of the first phase of development also falls within the boundaries of the federally designated Fort York National Historic Site which is managed through the City of Toronto s Museums and Heritage Services section of Economic Development and Culture with considerable community involvement through The Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common. The area surrounding The Bentway is rich with history. It was an important junction for trade, hunting and a gathering place for many First Nations peoples such as the Huron-Wendat, Haundenosaunee, the Anishaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit River. It followed the original shoreline of Lake Ontario and is considered the founding landscape of the city of Toronto as the Site of Fort York. The Bentway Conservancy is a new independent not-for-profit organization that maintains, operates and programs The Bentway. The annual operating budget for the Conservancy will be reviewed by The City of Toronto but approved by a Board of Directors to which the CEO reports, which will include two local City Councillors. The Bentway Conservancy will have a close working relationship with the Fort York National Historic Site. The terms and nature of this relationship will be established through an agreement between the parties. The Bentway Conservancy is part of a growing urban network of independent non-profits devoted to maintaining and animating public space for the benefit of all citizens. The Central Park Conservancy and Friends of the High Line in New York City and the Trust for the National Mall in Washington DC are just a few successful examples of this type of model. To review the current website click here.

6 To review the City of Toronto Staff July 12 th Report on the development and management of The Bentway click here ABOUT ARTSCAPE Artscape is a not-for-profit urban development organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities. Since its beginning in 1986, Artscape has become recognized as an international leader in creative placemaking, a practice that leverages the power of art, culture and creativity to catalyze change, growth and transformation in communities. Artscape achieves its mission through developing and managing 10 unique cultural facilities including community cultural hubs, multi-purpose creative spaces and artist live/work projects and by delivering programs and services that create the conditions for artists to thrive. Every day, Artscape spaces come alive with the ideas and passion of the 116 organizations and 2,300+ people who work and/or live within our portfolio of buildings. Thirty-two public venues pulse with the energy of the 247,000+ people who take part in exhibitions and performances annually and the thousands more who participate in our programs, tenant-driven activities and city-wide events. Every year, we deliver a plethora of benefits including millions in economic savings to the community. These benefits include: $3.6 million in savings passed on to Artscape artists and organizations on annual commercial and residential occupancy costs Rental rates for artists and not-for-profit organizations 58% lower than gross average rates for commercial spaces in downtown and midtown Over $1 million in annual subsidies to community groups and not-for-profit organizations to access Artscape event venue spaces Our success is driven by our ability to work effectively across disciplines to align values, leadership, investment and public policy. We work constantly to expand our portfolio, share our expertise and advance the field, offering training, mentoring and coaching, and learning opportunities through our Creative Placemaking Lab and tools and resources on ArtscapeDIY.ca. Get all the details on Artscape s creative placemaking initiatives in Momentum, our annual publication available on our website artscape.ca

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