Executive Producer

Festival of Voices is Australia’s festival of choirs and Tasmania’s leading winter arts event. Held every year in Hobart, the Festival brings together artists, teachers, participants, audiences and community in a five-day Festival featuring over 40 events. The artistic program delivers large and small-scale public concerts, iconic community events and an extensive teaching program across workshops and master classes. Some 10,000 people took part in the Festival in 2009 as participants and audience members.

The Festival seeks to build Tasmania’s reputation as a cultural destination for interstate and overseas visitors by providing vocal and personal experiences of creative and musical excellence. Having secured Tasmanian Government funding through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism Tasmania until September 2012, the Festival also enjoys the support of local business and a key partnership with the University of Tasmania. The Festival is an associated entity governed by a strong and committed eight-member Board with significant experience in business and the arts.

Now in its sixth year, the Festival of Voices is entering the next phase of its development and is looking for an experienced Executive Producer to work closely and collaboratively with an Artistic Director to realize the national and international opportunities the Festival affords.

Applicants must demonstrate capability and experience across six key criteria: Organisational leadership in the arts, business and financial management; stakeholder development and liaison; sponsorship negotiation and fulfillment; audience development; and marketing.

The Executive Producer will report directly to the Board. It will be compulsory that the Executive Producer works in close collaboration with the Artistic Director on all strategic developments, programming, budgeting and production. The Executive Producer will be located in Hobart but may be required to travel on occasion.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead the Festival Team working closely with the Artistic Director to grow a unique world- class Festival of national and international significance to the singing community

Take management responsibility for all aspects of the budgeting, production and implementation of the annual Festival of Voices.

Manage and coordinate the staff responsible for individual aspects of the Festival and oversight of consultant and volunteer services.

Work with the Board to recruit a strong team with the appropriate skill balance to grow and develop the Festival. (Additional appointments across programming, marketing, public relations and finance will be at the discretion of the Board following the appointment of an Executive Producer.)

Work closely with the Board to develop a five-year strategy for the continuing growth and development of the Festival. Be responsible for reporting progress against the strategy and issues arising to the Board in a regular a timely manner.

Have impeccable written and presentation skills and have ultimate responsibility for all Festival submissions, applications, communications, proposals and reporting.

Take ultimate responsibility for managing partner relationships, including those with government agencies, corporate and business entities, and UTAS.

Be responsible for securing additional on-going funding to support the Festival’s growth.

Work with existing partners to develop extensive qualitative and quantitative research to help capitalise on existing and potential audience bases.

Be competent with a range of computer applications including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), project management software (Gantt charts etc) and MYOB

Reporting:

This position reports directly to Board of Directors and works alongside the Artistic Director

Skills and experience required:

You have your sights set on being a major Festival Director in the next five years. To build your career with Festival of Voices you’ll need:

Experience in developing strategic plans, ensuring implementation and reporting against measures.

Experience in the production of festivals or major arts events.

Management experience, including recruitment and coordination of a successful team.

Demonstrated skills in project management, budget management and administration.

Demonstrable skills in setting up systems and processes.

Experience in managing partner relationships, in particular with government agencies.

Strong understanding of marketing principles with marketing and/or communications experience.

Experience in reporting to a Board and preparation of public reports

Experience in management and growth of a leading brand

What the Festival of Voices offers you

 An open invitation to make your mark in the arts sector building upon the current growth trajectory of Festival of Voices with the sky your limit

Secured funding until 2012

A dynamic, committed Board of individuals with extensive business and arts experience who want to find the right person to drive the Festival to greater height

A bourgeoning artistic program that will draw international and national attention and participation

Remuneration

Total remuneration range $75 - $85K commensurate with experience. Salary package to be structured with successful applicant.

Selection criteria for applicants

Please provide short case studies illustrating success in the six key criteria of organisational leadership in the arts, business and financial management, stakeholder development and liaison, sponsorship negotiation and fulfillment, audience development and marketing. Please make specific reference to experience in creating and growing new business relationships, developing and implementing strategy, liaising with stakeholders, and reporting to a Board. Please feel free to provide relevant support materials including Programs, strategic plans authored by you, marketing support and written proposals etc from previous business and arts roles.

All submissions will be assessed in strictest confidence.

Occupational Health and Safety and Employment Equity:

Festival of Voices is committed to high standards of performance in relation to Occupational Health and Safety and the provision of Equal Employment Opportunity. All employees are expected to participate in maintaining safe working conditions and practices, as well as promoting and upholding the principle of fair and equitable access to employment/promotion, personal development and training and the elimination of workplace harassment and discrimination.

Work Conditions

 Normal office hours of work will be 9am – 5pm with a daily lunch break of one (1) hour. There will be work outside of business hours of which no additional payment is granted though agreement time in lieu is granted. Hours of work will include weekend and on-call response during the Festival of Voices as part of the total package.

Application process

All submissions will be treated in utmost confidence. Please send your application which should include your CV including contact details for 3 referees