Job Description – Programme Manager Dance Ireland is seeking a dynamic, experienced and highly motivated Programme Manager to develop and manage the organisation’s artistic programme, with special responsibility for membership. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the key strands of this role are: Dance Ireland Artistic Programme • Be responsible for planning and implementation of the training and development programmes – which includes morning class, guest teaching residencies, masterclasses, workshops, seminars, New Movements, Dance Talks and events; • Manage peer panel selection process (Awards, Bursaries and Platforms). Membership • Represent and respond to the needs of members; • Encourage active member participation; • Organisation of professional development and information seminars; • Research into areas concerning the membership. Lobbying, Advocacy and Representation • Draw up, activate and contribute to lobbying and advocacy campaigns regarding issues and concerns of the membership and the dance sector; • Represent the organisation at national and international dance events, seminars and conferences, and networks. Other duties • Assist in the preparation of grant applications; • Be responsible for the programme budget; • Be responsible for artistic contract staff in line with organisational policies and procedures; represent and respond to the needs of artistic contract staff; • Prepare for/attend Board meetings, as required; • Be willing and able to travel (national and international) as required. Skills/competencies required • Thorough knowledge of the dance sector in Ireland; • Familiarity with national and international dance trends; • Ability to prioritise workloads; • Flexibility; • Ability to manage and deliver projects; • Ability to manage budgets; • Strong organisational skills; • An ability to work on your own initiative; • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 1 Experience • Minimum 3 years’ experience in a similar role. Salary • €36,000. Terms of employment • 3-year fixed-term (renewable) contract with a 6-month probation period. Closing date • Friday 29 May at 12noon. Interviews • Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview on Monday 29 June with a second interview scheduled for Tuesday 30 June (if required). Start Date • Early August or as soon thereafter. Application process Please forward a copy of your current CV and an accompanying letter of motivation, outlining your reasons for applying, by email only to the Chief Executive: Paul Johnson, at [email protected] (with Programme Manager in the subject line) by 12noon on Friday 29 May 2015. Recruitment process • It is our policy to shortlist; • Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Monday 29 June at DanceHouse, with a second interview (if required) set for Tuesday 30 June; • As part of the interview process, shortlisted candidates are required to prepare a 10mins presentation; • The interview board will comprise Dance Ireland executive, board representation and external expertise. T: 00353 1 855 8800 E: [email protected] W: www.danceireland.ie 2 Dance Ireland Programme Manager Supplementary Information This document provides an introduction to the post of Programme Manager and Dance Ireland, and should be read in conjunction with the job description. To assist you in applying for this position, we encourage all prospective candidates to consult our website for more detailed information: www.danceireland.ie and also our 2014 Annual Report and Dance Ireland Governance Framework documents. If you wish to contact us for an informal discussion in confidence; please contact Paul Johnson, Chief Executive who will be happy to discuss further: 00353 1 884 8100. The post of Programme Manager The successful applicant will be knowledgeable and passionate about dance practices in Ireland and internationally; have a successful track record in arts project management; be an excellent communicator with good verbal and written skills and strong advocate on behalf of our membership and the wider dance sector. The post holder will have a strategic and developmental role within our small team; responsible for delivering a year-round artistic programme. Introduction Dance Ireland is the trading name of the Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland Ltd. Established in 1989; the organisation has evolved into a strategic resource and service organisation, supporting all forms of dance practice, with a multi-faceted programme operating at local, national and international levels. On behalf of our members and the sector, we: • • • • Provide support and practical resources for dancers and choreographers; Work towards developing a sustainable dance sector in Ireland Lead, represent and advocate on behalf of the dance sector; Enhance public awareness of and involvement in dance at all levels. Dance Ireland is a membership-led organisation. Operating on an all-Ireland basis; the organisation rebranded in 2006 with the opening of DanceHouse and was granted charitable status in 2012. Dance Ireland Executive The Dance Ireland Executive, led by a Chief Executive, is a highly skilled group of individuals with enthusiasm and a passion for dance. The team includes individuals from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise. As part of a small team, all staff members are actively involved in planning activity and driving the ambitions of our fast growing organisation forward. 3 We employ a wide variety of freelance (national and international) dance specialists and arts practitioners, on a contract for services basis, to assist us in delivering our programme. We also employ on a contract basis all other personnel, including security, cleaning, maintenance and IT technical support. Chief Executive General Manager Programme Manager Administrator & Bookkeeper Venue Assistants Paul Johnson Siân Cunningham Vacant Aoife Bauer David Collins and Sara Geoghegan Board of Directors The board of directors is a non-executive board. Directors encompass a variety of skills in dance, project management, legal affairs and financial management, and are recruited from the membership and co-opted. The board of directors has devised the Dance Ireland Governance Framework and is committed to maintaining the highest operating standards. The board comprises eight members: Anne Maher (Chair) Richard Johnson (Deputy Chair) Michelle Cahill (Secretary) Aoife Courtney Joseph O’Hanlon John Malone Maria Nilsson Waller Richard Wakely. DanceHouse Opened in December 2006, DanceHouse is the result of a joint venture involving Dublin City Council, The Arts Council, McCabe Builders, with ACCESS funding provided by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht, and the Islands. DanceHouse a purpose-built dance rehearsal venue, owned by Dublin City Council and licensed to Dance Ireland. Located in the heart of the north-east inner city, DanceHouse was designed by HKR Architects and is part of a complex comprising The Lab, apartments and retail units. Featuring six purpose-built studios, Artists’ Resource Room, green room/artists’ kitchen, reception and exhibition spaces, DanceHouse is a working base for professional dance practice and a hub for the wider dance community. We operate DanceHouse using a combination model, whereby Dance Ireland manages the resource and makes available studios, for a variety of uses, including classes, rehearsals, workshops and presentations, for hire. We also programme a range of our own activity in DanceHouse, including morning classes, guest teaching weeks, national and international residencies, masterclasses, showcases, New Movements, Dance Talks and related programme work. Dance Ireland was awarded the first operating licence and successfully completed the fit-out for DanceHouse in December 2006. We successfully tendered for a second operating license in 2011. In 2016, Dance Ireland will tender for its third operating licence. 4 Membership At the heart of Dance Ireland are our members, currently c200 members comprising individuals, companies and institutions, and is informed by our on-going working relationship with them. The membership year runs from June to May, with our AGM normally held in April. We have six membership categories: Associate, Education Institute, Friend, Organisation, Performer/Choreographer and Student. Artistic Programme Overview Our programme has evolved in response to our members’ needs and in response to a changing dance landscape in Ireland and internationally. Our remit, which comes from our funding relationships and mandate, which comes from our membership, allows us to provide a responsive framework to support, sustain and stimulate dance artists in their ongoing development as professionals. Dance Ireland operates a multi-faceted programme at local, national and international levels. Our work can be divided into the following strands: • On-going Professional Training; • Continuing Professional Development; • Advocacy/Representation; • Local Initiatives. For a complete overview, please consult: www.danceireland.ie. We provide a range of opportunities for dance artists to advance their own skills and artistic goals, as well as contributing to the overall vitality of the Irish dance sector. We support dance artists with time, space, financial support and practical resources. We provide access to a range of promotional, advocacy and other services which Dance Ireland carries out on behalf of its members and the wider dance community. We provide a specialist and coherent programme offering opportunities for all dance artists to learn, deepen enquiry, share practice and exchange ideas as part of an interdependent all Ireland community. Dance Ireland has the longest running daily training programme in Ireland. On-going professional training – classes, masterclasses, residencies and multi-disciplinary workshops are at the core of the programme, led by nationally and internationally renowned guest artists. By providing over 40 weeks of continuing professional development training in DanceHouse, we place a particular focus on body-based movement exploration as a source for performance, improvisation and composition. Associate Artist First introduced in 2011, we have worked with 6 unique dance makers to date, on their self-directed creative process. Managed by the General Manager, the Associate Artist programme is offered annually through an Open Call and has become a significant means of support for practitioners wishing to concentrate of developing their choreographic practice. Dance Ireland Residency Programme Operated on a year-round basis, we award Dance Ireland Residencies, in response to an application process, managed internally by the General Manager. Dance Ireland members are eligible to apply and studio space (up to a max of 4 weeks) is awarded free on a first come, first served basis. 5 We also manage a Winging It! scheme and partner on a 50/50 basis with those with funding looking for rehearsal space in DanceHouse. Peer Panel Selection Process We are committed to a fair, transparent and consistent selection process, in order to remain open and inclusive. We are committed to using an Open Call and Expression of Interest process. We adhere to a panel selection process for all awards and opportunities offered, including bursaries, opportunities and platforms. Partners / Affiliations / Funders Partnerships are a key means for us to further leverage our resources and assist in strategic development of the sector, which we acknowledge is central to our continued growth and a sustainable dance sector. Current partnerships, include: • Re-Presenting Ireland, a showcase initiative by Culture Ireland, Dance Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival; • Step Up: Dance Project, led by Dance Limerick and involving the Arts Council, Dance Ireland and University of Limerick; • Dance Ireland Commission Award, in partnership with Dance Limerick, Firkin Crane and Project Arts Centre. Our commitment to networks is also important to how we position ourselves both nationally and internationally. Dance Ireland is a member of Theatre Forum, NCFA, Dance Resource Base (NI) and Dance UK. Internationally Dance Ireland is an active partner with EDN (European Dance House Network) and we are committed to maintaining and growing our international profile. We have participated in E-Motional Bodies & Cities, modul-dance, LÉIM (lead partner) and Communicating Dance transnational projects. Funding Dance Ireland receives annual funding from the Arts Council and from Dublin City Council, membership fees and income generated by our activities and studio rentals. Our international programme is supported by Culture Ireland, Léargas and Creative Europe. Dance Ireland receives capital support from the Department of Arts. Equal Opportunities Employer Dance Ireland is an equal opportunities employer. Individuals are selected on the basis of their abilities and merits to perform the tasks required. Our policy is to be fair and consistent in all aspects of our business. We recognise, respect and value differences and diversity. We embrace equality as part of our normal way of doing things because we believe that it is the right thing to do for our staff, our members and our success. It is against Dance Ireland’s policy to discriminate on the grounds of sex, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability race, or membership of the travelling community. 6
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