Director

Closing date 16 August 2024

Stills wishes to appoint a new Director, committed to elevating Stills’ national and international reputation through strategic management, creative programming and innovative income generation. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of one of Scotland’s longest-running contemporary arts organisation.

The Director will be expected to work across the following areas:

Strategic Management & Leadership

  • Ensure a process of strategic planning in conjunction with the Board
  • Engage with policy in the cultural sector, in and beyond Scotland
  • Lead the definition of Stills’ operational plan and the executive delivery

Programming

  • Lead the design and delivery of a programme about photography as a creative practice. This includes exhibitions, lectures, courses, a creative school, and more.
  • Ensure artistic and financial credibility
  • Engage deeply with diverse and growing audiences

Advocacy & Marketing

  • Represent Stills to stakeholders and media; be a figurehead and spokesperson.
  • Contribute to the arts and cultural sector dialogue within and beyond Scotland.

Financial Management

  • In conjunction with the Finance Manager and Chair of Finance & Personnel Committee, inform the setting and management of Stills’ annual budget/s for approval by Stills’ Board.
  • In a challenging funding environment we expect the Director to explore, develop and implement new ways of delivering key objectives.

Income Generation

  • Lead the work to develop income generation and fundraising.
  • Forge and maintain key relationships so as to optimise income generation.

Human Resources

  • Work to advance best-practice processes and delivery.
  • Further develop a nurturing, supportive and fair work environment, meeting and advancing our overall goals.
  • To develop and conform with environmental matters and policies and ensure policies on Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion are rigorously applied.

General Management
Work with Staff and Board as appropriate to ensure:

  • effective systems are in place to deliver the mission, aims and objectives
  • Stills complies with statutory and company obligations
  • a team approach to planning and delivery is maintained
  • a productive and appropriate working environment is maintained,
  • reports and meetings with Board, staff and stakeholder meetings are planned and delivered to schedule
  • appropriate evaluation and review processes are in place.

Person Specification
The ideal candidate(s) will likely demonstrate:

  • 5yrs+ experience in a senior role in the arts
  • knowledge of the arts sector in Scotland
  • proven ability in managing and developing staff
  • proven ability in annual planning and managing a budget
  • ability and willingness to manage change and seek innovative solutions
  • openness to working flexibly with occasional unsocial hours (weekends and evenings are sometimes required)
  • entrepreneurial flair to fundraising and income generation
  • experience in presentations and public speaking
  • familiarity with PR and marketing, their strategic development and execution

This is a full-time position, working in a hybrid flexible environment with a mixture of home working and working from our premises in Edinburgh, with a minimum of three days on site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristics.

Stills is aware that flexible working models are crucial to accomodating disabled people in the labour market. We encourage applications from those who define themselves as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (including deaf and neurodivergent people).

Applications
To apply for the role of Director, please send a CV and a supporting statement (no more than 500 words) to Cheryl Connell at: [email protected]

Please also use this email if you would like to ask any specific questions about the role.

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