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.
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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
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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