Director & Chief Executive Officer at Winnipeg Art Gallery–Qaumajuq — NeverHard

Position Summary The Director & CEO is a community leader who provides vision and strategic direction to uplift and expand the collection and exhibitions of a leading visual art institution. In the near‑term, they are empowered to transition the organization from a phase of physical expansion to one of growth, community relevance, audience development, and impact. The Director & CEO champions scaling and activating programs through innovative exhibitions, inclusive educational programming, and the preservation of the renowned collection. As the primary ambassador, the Director & CEO cultivates relationships with donors, government agencies, other nonprofits, artists, educators, and the broader public to ensure the institution remains a vibrant, relevant, and sustainable cultural hub. Reporting to the Board of Governors, the Director & CEO leads all aspects of institutional planning, growth, impact, and operations, including curatorial vision, fundraising, governance, community engagement, financial oversight, and organizational development. Roles and Responsibilities Strategic Vision and Executive Leadership Serve as the primary listener, convener, and spokesperson for the institution with media, members, funders, government agencies, and the many local, provincial, national, and international constituencies it engages. Create a bold vision and clear, compelling strategy for sustainable growth that fosters community belonging and an inclusive future. Demonstrate a staunch commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, respectful workplace behavior, and accessibility. Honour, engage, and inspire the diverse communities who live, work, study, and visit. Transition the organisation from building to growth strategy, audience development, impact, and relevance. Support and elevate new voices that celebrate local, regional, and national artists and exhibitions that bring international acclaim. Determine appropriate ways to design, deliver, evaluate, and reinvent programs and services to meet a rapidly developing and demographically diverse community. Foster authentic relationships with Indigenous peoples, settlers, and newcomers by embedding them in all practices. Develop mutually beneficial strategic partnerships and actively engage in building a deeper sense of community with other cultural organisations, tourism agencies, educational institutions, and non‑profit partners. Understand and advance the institution’s unique position in showcasing Inuit art, enriching other curatorial subjects, styles, and movements. Refine and execute annual and multi‑year work plans with the board and staff to reinforce priorities, achieve goals, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Embrace other strategic vision and executive leadership responsibilities as needed. Community Engagement and Revenue Revitalization Grow the size, scale, and diversity of members through direct engagement and meaningful dialogue. Identify new earned revenue opportunities that increase brand awareness, onsite visitation, and mission‑driven events. Oversee an effective communication strategy that includes digital presence, social media, press releases, newsletters, and other tools. Engage in capital campaign planning and oversee significant capital initiatives. Secure public and private funding, including donor cultivation with foundations, corporate sponsors, and government agencies. Serve as a trusted bridge between the institution and Inuit and other Indigenous partners, artists, and advisors. Commit to Truth and Reconciliation, integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into frameworks. Proactively identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors through authentic relationships. Advocate for the arts and culture sector as essential to civic and national identity. Engage with Inuit, First Nations, and Metis communities to deepen understanding of cultures through respect and collaboration. Enable IT initiatives that digitize the collection and provide donor management tools and accessible online programs. Embrace other community engagement responsibilities as needed. Team, Governance, and Organizational Resiliency Build a workplace environment that fosters trust, satisfaction, and elevated performance. Foster a strong, inclusive culture and advance people development through leadership and engagement. Celebrate and lead a diverse team to evolve effective departmental structures and collaboration. Commit to mentoring, coaching, and professional development with equitable resources. Guide collection stewardship, exhibition planning, and audience development in collaboration with leadership. Advise volunteers and professionals who deliver high‑quality mission‑expected outcomes. Nurture authentic relationships with the Board and staff, ensuring alignment. Understand and partner with the board on governance, policy making, and community ambassadorship. Engage in board prospect identification, cultivation, and recruitment activities. Manage and advise activities of board committees and task forces in alignment with objectives. Embrace other team, governance, and organizational resiliency responsibilities as needed. Financial Oversight and Organizational Sustainability Deliver robust monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting with meaningful insights. Integrate clear analytics to empower the leadership team to make evidence‑based decisions. Collaborate regularly with the board and finance committee on critical infrastructure and operational needs. Establish financial and operational policies with appropriate checks and balances. Direct the use of capital and operating funds and identify needs for facilities, equipment, technology, and operations. Commit to challenging colonial narratives and advancing decolonization of structures, systems, and policies. Ensure organizational structure, policies, and controls are regularly reviewed for effectiveness. Participate in industry meetings, share evolving practices, and maintain high standards. Embrace other financial oversight responsibilities as needed. Traits and Characteristics The Director & CEO will build connections within the community as a collaborative, balanced, trusted, and articulate public spokesperson who delivers ambitious engagement and growth results. They will be resourceful, strategic, and focused on creative risk‑taking, finding personal satisfaction in increasing relevance, visibility, and impact of the organization while navigating change management. They will be receptive, innovative, and foster continuous institutional learning. With business savvy and a demonstrated commitment to public service, they will navigate complex cultural and political contexts with skilled advocacy and diplomacy, prioritising integrity, service, and community engagement. They will be adaptable, communicative, and driven to evolve the organization and its people to deliver positive impacts, leading with resilience, inspiring stakeholders and rights holders into action, and advancing the institution’s mission and vision with clarity. Other Key Competencies Professional and Personal Accountability – The integrity to be answerable for personal and professional actions while readily modifying and adapting to change with resiliency, flexibility, and humility. Leadership and Conceptual Thinking – The capacity to inspire, build trust, and lead with confidence while analysing hypothetical situations, collecting data, and observing patterns to understand important connections, highlight critical insights, and develop a path forward. Decision Making – The acuity to analyse all aspects of a situation, proactively engage stakeholders and rights holders, and align institutional goals through consistently sound and timely decisions. Diplomacy and Resiliency – The ability to effectively and tactfully handle difficult or sensitive issues, honour different perspectives, and demonstrate adaptability in recovering from challenging situations. Qualifications A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible senior management experience in the visual arts, higher education, or relevant government agencies is required. Proven senior leadership experience in the arts, culture, non‑profit, business, or public sector is needed. Demonstrable results in strategic and community engagement, innovative revenue generation, successful capital campaigns, exemplary team supervision, participatory facility oversight, and dynamic artist relations are expected. A master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in museum studies, business or arts administration, social science, history, Indigenous studies, or related fields is preferred. Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or legal right to work in Canada are welcome to apply. Multiple language skills are appreciated but not required. Compensation and Benefits Competitive and equitable compensation with an estimated base salary range of $180,000 to $230,000. Manitoba Health coverage, employer‑subsidised health and dental coverage, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and long‑term disability insurance. Defined contribution pension plan, professional memberships, vacation, holidays, and other benefits afforded to all employees. Applications and Inquiries Interested applicants may inquire and/or submit a cover letter, resume, and curriculum vitae that demonstrate how their experience aligns with the position. Application materials are preferred electronically. Contact the dedicated page to submit applications. WAG‑Qaumajuq welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, especially those from equity‑deserving groups. #J-18808-Ljbffr