Chief Executive Officer

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural organization in the United Kingdom seeks a Chief Executive Officer to guide them through a vital transition period. The ideal candidate will provide strategic and artistic leadership while engaging directly with communities and partners. This role requires a transparent and community-minded individual with experience in arts organizations, ready to foster relationships that keep the organization thriving. The Chief Executive Officer will encounter unique challenges while working on a live festival and year-round events.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in arts organizations.
• Strong strategic and financial management skills.
• Ability to engage and represent diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization through a transition and renewal period.
• Provide strategic and artistic leadership.
• Engage with communities and partners effectively.

Job description

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) is the UK s leading celebration of Arab arts and cultures. We are a small team that delivers huge impact - rooted in Liverpool s communities yet connected to artists and audiences across the world. Our work is grounded in representation, collaboration, and exchange, bringing Arab creativity and perspectives to the heart of the UK s cultural landscape.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will lead this unique organisation through a pivotal period of transition and renewal. Working closely with the Board, staff team, freelance workers, artists, communities and partners, you will provide strategic, financial, artistic and cultural leadership - ensuring that LAAF continues to thrive in an increasingly complex political, social, and financial climate. This is a deeply rewarding role that calls for someone who is rigorous, transparent, and community-minded; someone who understands both the practical challenges of running an arts organisation and a live festival, year-round events and engagement projects, and the responsibility of representing communities whose stories matter.

The ideal candidate will be ready to immerse themselves in the relationships and networks that keep LAAF alive, and to lead with creativity, care, and conviction.