The Executive Director (ED) will be the operational and strategic leader of the AACC, responsible for driving the organization's vision, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring community impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will lead the organization through a period of exciting development, cultivating partnerships, engaging the community, and strengthening the AACC’s infrastructure and programming.
Executive Director – Airdrie Arts and Culture Council
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Position Type: Part – Time, Contractor Position (17 Hours/Week), with the potential to grow into a full-time position
Salary Range: Compensation based on skills and experience
Reports To: Board of Directors
Application Deadline: May 16th
Organizational Overview:
The Airdrie Arts and Culture Council (AACC) is an independent society dedicated to nurturing and promoting arts, culture, and creative experiences in Airdrie. Through advocacy, community engagement, education, and support for local creatives, we are building a thriving and inclusive cultural landscape.
Mission of the Role:
Lead and innovate in cultivating a vibrant arts and culture scene in Airdrie, fostering community engagement, and ensuring sustainable growth and impact.
Key Strategic Results:
- Strategic Growth of Arts & Culture:
Expand and enhance Airdrie’s cultural landscape by increasing public engagement, supporting artists, and broadening the reach of cultural initiatives. - Strengthened Community Relationships & Partnerships:
Develop meaningful collaborations with businesses, educational institutions, artists, and government to amplify collective impact. This includes strengthening the AACC’s membership program to grow engagement, support, and advocacy within the community. - Financial Stability & Resource Optimization:
Ensure the long-term financial health of the AACC through effective budgeting, innovative fundraising, and successful grant acquisition.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership
- Develop and implement short- and long-term strategic plans aligned with the AACC’s mission and community needs.
- Champion the organization’s values and vision both internally and externally.
- Lead DEI strategies and organizational growth to adapt to evolving cultural needs.
- Stakeholder & Community Engagement
- Serve as the public voice of the AACC, fostering strong relationships with artists, community members, businesses, educators, and public officials.
- Represent the AACC at events, speaking engagements, and within the broader nonprofit and arts sectors.
- Fund Development & Grant Writing
- Lead all fundraising efforts, including donor cultivation, sponsorships, grant applications, and campaigns.
- Develop scalable giving programs to increase individual, corporate, and public support.
- Manage and report on budgets, cash flow, financial statements, and compliance with all municipal and provincial regulations.
- Ensure efficient resource use and transparent financial management.
- Governance and Compliance
- Develop, implement, and maintain organizational policies and procedures to ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations, bylaws, and best practices.
- Work with the Board to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with legal and ethical standards.
- Program Development & Event Oversight
- Oversee design and delivery of accessible, diverse, and engaging cultural programs.
- Evaluate program effectiveness and adapt based on community feedback and evolving needs.
- Membership Program Growth:
- Oversee the development and implementation of strategies to grow the AACC’s membership base.
- Create value-driven member benefits, outreach initiatives, and communications that foster long-term member relationships and support.
- Communications, Branding & Marketing
- Develop marketing strategies to enhance visibility and community participation.
- Oversee social media, PR, newsletters, and brand consistency across platforms.
- Recruit, supervise, and support staff, volunteers, and contractors.
- Cultivate a positive and inclusive work culture, aligned with the AACC’s values.
- Strategic planning and implementation
- Grant writing and fundraising (government and private)
- Financial and budgetary management (non-profit sector)
- Knowledge of nonprofit governance, policy development, and regulatory compliance
- Marketing, communications, and PR
- Event and program development
- Stakeholder engagement and partnership-building
- Staff leadership and team management
- Public speaking and advocacy
- DEI and cultural competency
- Digital literacy (Google Suite, Canva, website CMS like WordPress, CRM tools)
Key Attributes:
- Visionary and forward-thinking
- Adaptable and innovative
- Passionate about arts and culture
- Highly collaborative and community-driven
- Resilient and solutions-oriented
- Ethical, accountable, and inclusive
- Skilled communicator (written and verbal)
First 90 Days – Onboarding Focus
- Conduct a full organizational and financial review
- Establish relationships with staff, board, artists, partners, and funders
- Begin developing a revised or refreshed strategic plan with measurable outcomes
- Review and assess current organizational policies and compliance practices and identify areas for improvement
Vital Metrics for Success:
Tracked weekly/monthly in collaboration with the Board:
- New partnerships initiated
- Growth in active AACC memberships
- Grant applications submitted and sponsorship leads pursued
- Budget adherence and fundraising milestones
- Event planning milestones
Ideal Candidate:
You are a dynamic, hands-on leader who brings a rich blend of experience, perspectives, and skills developed through a career marked by increasing responsibility and complexity. With a proven ability to coach and mentor teams, you confidently articulate organizational vision in a way that inspires action and drives results. Your approach to leadership is proactive and solution-oriented—you're skilled at identifying challenges early and navigating them with clarity and purpose.
You lead with integrity and authenticity, embodying the values of transparency, collaboration, and belief in the power of community. With a minimum of 3 years in progressively senior leadership roles, you have successfully guided multiple teams in service delivery while fostering meaningful partnerships that create shared value. Ideally, your experience includes working within the Airdrie community, giving you insight into its unique landscape and enabling you to align your leadership with the mission and impact of the Airdrie Arts and Culture Council.
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