Organization

Arts Consulting Group (ACG) is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, facilities & program planning, and capacity building services for the arts and culture industry. Founded in 1997, ACG is a full-service firm working with a wide range of non-profit organizations, universities, government agencies, and for-profit entities that operate in the creative industries. The firm takes a contemporary approach to client challenges and opportunities focused on growing institutions, advancing arts and culture, and enhancing communities. ACG senior team members have leadership experience in every type of artistic and cultural discipline, and they seamlessly adapt to clients’ rapidly changing strategies, business models, and operating environments.

 

ACG’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Success (IDEAS) means that team members work closely with each client to understand the intersectionality of programs, audiences, educational activities, governance, and management with a clear focus on the communities these organizations seek to serve. Each client is unique and therefore these areas require careful discussion and consensus within the organization to ensure clarity at the launch of and throughout any consulting process. ACG also actively engaged in ongoing collective internal growth and team improvement around IDEAS principles with formal training and research focused on broader societal understanding and learning.

 

The firm currently has locations in Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC. ACG employees and consultants are embedded in communities throughout North America to invigorate clients so that they can achieve the delicate balance between cultural impacts and business sustainability.

 

Position Summary

Reporting to ACG’s President as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Senior Vice President, Canada (SVP-Canada) will oversee ACG’s ongoing expansion in Canada and direct client work throughout North America. The successful SVP-Canada will partner with other Senior Vice Presidents, including Leadership Transitions, Revenue Enhancement, Planning & Capacity Building, and Finance & Administration, to focus on business development, delivery of client services, and team building, mentoring, supervision, and utilization. The SVP-Canada will collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to maximize their respective impacts in the field and to achieve tangible outcomes for clients, colleagues, and the growth of the firm.

 

Roles and Responsibilities

Client Cultivation and Business Development

• Build ACG’s brand, visibility, and presence in Canada, the United States, and internationally as appropriate.

 

• Partner with the ELT to proactively develop relationships that increase the firm’s ability to secure consulting projects.

 

• Oversee the preparation of clear, concise, accurate, and comprehensive proposals, including scopes of work, deliverables, and budgets in partnership with the ELT, as well as the Marketing & Communications team.

 

• Participate on panels at arts and culture industry conferences, attend significant cultural events, and otherwise demonstrate commitment and expertise of the firm and its industry.

 

• Engage with cultural organizations, related service associations, universities, and government agencies to ensure RFP receipt and invitations for project proposals.

 

• Develop effective service integration between practice areas and locations in business development and communication.

 

• Advise ACG’s ELT and Practice Leaders on changing trends and industry needs, as well as on Truth & Reconciliation, inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

 

• Ensure ACG’s continued financial strength and long-term growth through mutually agreed upon revenue and budgetary goals for the benefit of the firm, its employees, and clients.

 

• Promote clear operational and brand distinction for ACG by developing and following firm policies, style guidelines, and standard operating procedures.

 

• Report client successes, testimonials, and social media opportunities that can effectively demonstrate ACG’s positive impacts and international presence.

 

• Write articles, blogs, or other materials that focus on the firm’s competencies and the industry’s needs.

 

• Embrace other client cultivation and business development responsibilities as needed.

 

Project Leadership and Support

• Lead, guide, and supervise ACG employees and independent contractors on client projects.

 

• Deliver superior, objective, and personalized services to clients.

 

• Serve as an account executive for all ACG Canada projects with other ELT members who are responsible for the specific services being provided.

 

• Support and participate on project teams across all practice areas.

 

• Focus on the effective and efficient use of time and resources to meet project goals and associated client and firm deliverables on time, on budget, and on scope.

 

• Implement and assist in the refinement of firm methodologies, policies, procedures, and project reporting guidelines.

 

• Demonstrate advanced internet, email, and overall computer proficiency for efficient electronic communication and dynamic presentations.

 

• Embrace other project leadership and support responsibilities as needed.

 

Firm Capacity Building and Team Participation

• Exemplify the mission, vision, and values of ACG.

 

• Monitor and deliver on key performance indicators, update consultant utilization projections, and ensure a balanced and fully engaged workforce in collaboration with the ELT.

 

• Identify, cultivate, engage, and supervise additional Canadian employees and consultants as needed.

 

• Maintain, with ACG’s Executive Search Administrator, an active database of prospective employees for client roles and of independent contractors in the arts and culture sector who have interest in and availability for various projects on an ad hoc basis.

 

• Mentor, guide, orient, and train new and existing employees on best practices in effective arts and culture management consulting, as well as more specifically in learning about each practice area and operational procedure of the firm.

 

• Create synergy within a distributed workforce with a one firm, one team model through regular virtual discussions, meetings, and periodical in-person summits.

 

• Share expertise with other ACG employees and consultants to build the firm’s intellectual capacity.

 

• Participate in ongoing educational programs, training, meetings, and other activities to maintain the highest level of knowledge within the industry.

 

• Engage in an adaptive strategy process and recommend performance measures that focus on achieving the mutually established vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the firm.

 

• Embrace other firm capacity building and team participation responsibilities as needed.

 

Traits and Characteristics

The successful SVP-Canada will be an entrepreneurial and resilient self-starter with a commitment and connection to the arts and culture field and the capacity to achieve demonstrable accomplishments in the creative industries. As a global thinker with pragmatic methodologies that deliver superior results, the SVP-Canada will simultaneously learn from the past, live in the present, and look to the future. This individual will enjoy seeking out new project opportunities and will exhibit initiative while prioritizing tasks and achieving desired outcomes. It is not enough to be a strong conceptual thinker and creative generator of ideas. The SVP-Canada must be able to move from dialogue to decision making and develop hands-on strategies that inspire clients to implement their goals. This individual will embody the highest ethical standards in the mentorship of ACG’s clients, consultants, and all those who support the field. The SVP-Canada will not be driven by ego but will be motivated by the values that revolve around creating a more vibrant and sustainable arts and culture sector.

 

The SVP-Canada will understand that the synergy created by an international firm serving the entire arts and culture industry far outweighs what can be achieved as a single consultant or loose affiliation of consultants in a single cultural discipline, functional area of expertise, or geographic region. The SVP-Canada will value knowledge and intellectual growth while having a clear focus on the efficient usage of time and financial, technological, and human resources in achieving both client and firm goals.

 

An objective listener, the SVP-Canada will have superior interpersonal, verbal, and written presentation skills combined with a keen ability to develop people and organizations. The SVP-Canada will be a flexible team player who enjoys working in collaboration with international colleagues. As a visionary expert in the field, the SVP-Canada will embrace a learning and teaching approach, build impactful intellectual and social capacity, and value the diplomacy and tact required to move people and projects forward. With a deep understanding and motivation for effectively and efficiently achieving results, the SVP-Canada will have an unwavering commitment to growing institutions, advancing arts and culture, and enhancing communities.

 

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) and a minimum of 10 years in senior management and/or consulting roles in the arts and culture field are required. Additional certifications, educational accomplishments, and bilingual fluency (English/French) are appreciated. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and superior organizational capabilities are necessary. Multiple accomplishments in complex environments and multifaceted computer literacy, including Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), are essential. Regular travel throughout North America may be needed depending on government policies and post-pandemic industry standards.

 

Compensation and Benefits

ACG offers full-time employment with competitive base salary and discretionary bonus opportunities. Benefits include various employee health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, as well as matching Registered Retirement Savings Plan. The SVP-Canada will have a choice of base location in any major metropolitan area in Canada. A dynamic company, fluid work environment, fascinating client experiences, periodic travel, and a highly synergistic team are emblematic of ACG.

 

Other benefits include:

 

• International recognition and strategic positioning as the leader in high-quality and personalized management consulting services for the arts and culture sector;

 

• Ability to leverage professional expertise with that of ACG colleagues and the firm’s extensive client list;

 

• Camaraderie as part of a team of senior colleagues who share values and are respected throughout the industry;

 

• Efficiency in sharing information with other ACG leaders and support in the areas of proposal development, legal issues/contracts, client prospecting, consulting, business strategy, and infrastructure;

 

• Access to a rapidly growing pool of arts and culture management consultants with expertise in all functional areas and artistic disciplines;

 

• Flexibility in developing teams of employees and project consultants to serve on dynamic projects;

 

• Membership benefits in arts and culture service associations to which the firm belongs;

 

• Links to international strategic partners in donor research, human resources, market analysis, and other invaluable tools; and

 

• Ability to share in the financial, professional, intellectual, and emotional rewards of a growing "artrepreneurial" firm whose impact leaves a lasting legacy on an entire field.

 

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume (electronic submissions preferred) with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments in the arts and culture sector or related creative industries, please click here or visit artsconsulting.com/employment. For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, including anticipated salary range, please contact:

 

Dr. Bruce D. Thibodeau

President

Arts Consulting Group

2 Toronto Street, Suite 217

Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B5

Tel        (888) 234.4236 Ext. 201

Email    SVP-Canada@ArtsConsulting.com

Arts Consulting Group welcomes all qualified applicants and highly values inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, which are embedded in the uniqueness of the vibrant creative industries and the culture of the firm.