Call for applications: Visual Arts Network of South Africa managing director

The ideal candidate will work alongside an operations director in this experimental two-person leadership structure. The candidate should have a minimum of ten years’ experience working in the creative and cultural sector in South Africa, Africa and the diaspora. He or she will report to the VANSA board of directors and will be responsible for co-managing a core team of two to four staff at the national office based in Johannesburg, and an annual budget of R4 to R5 million. Working with this team, the candidate would be responsible for conceptualising, managing and resourcing activities and projects across four programmatic areas, alongside an existing portfolio of activities, projects and partnerships in each area:

• Communications, network and membership development.
• Professional support services.
• Research, advocacy and lobbying.
• Decentralisation work supporting arts practice in smaller towns, and peri-urban areas.
• Special projects concerned with developing new practice, new markets and new audiences for contemporary art.

More generally the ideal candidate will be responsible for:

• Shaping and managing the overall strategic direction of the organisation.
• Actively fundraising and developing income generation strategies for the organisation.
• The development and management of new and existing partnerships.
• Driving the financial strategy of the organisation, and ensuring strong systems are in place for the management of financial resources.
• Advocacy and lobbying dimensions of the organisation’s work.
• Providing oversight and strategic direction of marketing, membership/subscription and external.
• Organisational development, including the recruitment and development of staff and the development of the governance structure of the organisation.
• Grow VANSA’s local and international reach through strategic partnerships.

The preferred candidate will need to demonstrate the following based on a combination of experience and qualifications:

Essential

• Experience working in the creative and cultural sector.
• Prior experience fundraising and income generation through a broad range of methods.
• Knowledge and experience of the contemporary art field in South Africa, – Africa and globally (not necessarily confined to visual arts).
• The capacity to formulate and drive an innovative agenda, and to think strategically and creatively.
• Experience in conceptualising projects, securing partners and raising resources.
• Experience in programme and project management, including planning and report-writing.
• Experience in managing and developing people/teams, and in working with a board or similar structure.
• Experience managing relationships with partners and funders.
• Experience in working with social media and the web in marketing and communications.
• Experience in financial management and systems.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills; strong interpersonal and networking skills.
• Willingness to sometimes work irregular hours.
• Willingness to travel extensively locally and internationally.
• A driver’s license.
• A relevant tertiary qualification.

Desirable

• Ability to communicate effectively in at least two South African languages other than English.
• Experience in designing and managing research projects.
• Knowledge of the cultural policy landscape in South Africa, and experience of working with/lobbying government.
• Experience in developing and applying organisational policies.
• Work experience in a business/entrepreneurial environment.
• Prior experience working with VANSA and related programs.

Starting salary range

The annual cost of employment per annum range is R360 000 to R420 000 and will be commensurate with experience and skills-set, renewable and to be reviewed subject to the financial position of the organisation.

Start date

1 March or as soon as possible thereafter.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send a CV and covering letter motivating their suitability for the position, including details for at least two contactable references to [email protected] before 4 February.