Open call: Pro Helvetia head in Johannesburg

What’s on offer

• A dynamic working environment in the field international arts and culture connected to the foundation’s activities in the promotion of Swiss arts and culture.
• Room for personal initiative and responsibility.
• A competitive salary based on age and years of professional experience.
• 25 days of holidays and the opportunity to combine office and remote work.
• Child allowances, contribution to the medical aid costs including dependants and to retirement annuity.
• Neutral point of contact/advisory service for employees.

Tasks

The successful candidate will:

• Strategically develop the liaison office as a unit facilitating relationship and collaboration between the Swiss arts scene and the arts scene in Southern, Central, East and West Africa region.
• Manage Pro Helvetia’s activities in the region, elaborate and monitor the office’s annual programme, process applications in all art disciplines (except film) in collaboration with the specialists at the head office in Switzerland, as well as to ensure the accurate reporting on the office’s activities.
• Maintain and expand the office’s existing networks within the arts sector in the region and in Switzerland, and maintain relations with other foreign arts councils, Swiss representations (Swiss embassies and consulates) and regional arts and cultural bodies.
• Promote, stimulate and support artistic/cultural projects in cooperation with cultural actors and partners from the region, involving art professionals from Switzerland and the region. The candidate will be responsible for the financial administration of such projects.
• Oversee the communication strategy of the office in cooperation with the head office in Switzerland. Furthermore, he or she will contribute his or her knowledge of the region and critical insights to the further development of Pro Helvetia’s global activities, in dialogue with their peers within the organisation in Switzerland and around the world.
• Manage a partially decentralised team of six people, working both in the office in Johannesburg and remotely from other countries of the region.

Profile

Persons with non-formal education and career-changers may also apply for the position. For this multifunctional position, Pro Helvetia is looking for a committed personality who meets the following requirements:

• A four-year university degree or equivalent qualification.
• Competence in conceptual thinking and willingness to take on responsibility; excellent communication and networking skills
• At least 10 years of professional experience in cultural project management and administrative work.
• Proven experience in leading an organisation or a complex programme, including expertise in personnel and financial management
• Thorough networks in and knowledge of the contemporary cultural scenes in Southern, Central, East and West Africa and in-depth expertise within at least one artistic discipline covered by Pro Helvetia’s activities.
• Familiarity with the international (incl. European) arts environment and strong cross-cultural sensibilities.
• Excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of French or German or Italian is not a requirement, but an advantage.
• Experience with the production of cultural events.
• Very good interpersonal skills, intercultural competence and ability to work hands-on.
• Flexibility to work irregular hours (evenings and weekends) and travel for business.
• Applications from non-Johannesburg based candidates are welcome if there is a willingness to relocate to Johannesburg.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send a full application in English to application@prohelvetia.ch with ‘Head Johannesburg’ in the subject line of the email before 1 April. For data protection reasons, candidates should not include any personal data of third parties in the email text (applicants should add references as an attachment/on their CV).

A full application comprises (preferably in three files):

• CV including at least two contactable references.
• One page motivation letter.
• Certificates of education and training (diplomas, etc.) and evidence of any practical experience (work confirmations and references).
• Applicants may add a video (approx. 90 seconds) in which they outline their interest and work experience.

Note: Incomplete applications will be disregarded. A confirmation letter that the application is received will be sent.

Email Pro Helvetia head of human resources Marion Lautner at mlautner@prohelvetia.ch for more information about this call or visit the official website. 

View the original call here.