STATEMENT OF INTENTION

We encourage applications from Black, racialized and Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers to Canada, and People with Disabilities. If you are a member of a group that has been historically excluded from opportunities, we encourage you to self-identify in your cover letter or resume and to share your pronouns. We are committed to accommodating those with disabilities at any stage of the hiring process.

ABOUT JAYU 

JAYU is a Toronto-based charity that is a leader in telling human rights stories through the arts.

What started out as a community-driven $3,000 crowdfunder in 2012 has grown into a thriving organization with year-round programming creating life-changing impact, a full-time team, and a robust $1 million dollar operating budget. 

JAYU strongly believes that the arts provide the strongest platform to share human rights stories. The arts can be used to educate, to build empathy, to heal, to forge community and to inspire the kinds of conversations necessary to reimagine a more just and equitable world.

Guided by their dedicated team of staff, artists, educators and Board of Directors, JAYU’s yearround programming includes an annual multiday festival celebrating the intersection of arts and human rights, iAM arts and social justice training program, The Hum Podcast and our monthly Last Tuesdays arts presentations. JAYU deeply prioritizes the mental health, worklife balance, and wellness of staff. 

THIS MOMENT, THIS POSITION

JAYU seeks a new Executive Director to join their team and enhance its position as an important, dynamic and evolving cornerstone of the arts and human rights. 

The Executive Director will collaboratively fulfill the mission through strategic leadership of the organization. Reporting to the volunteer Board of Directors and working with JAYU staff, the Executive Director is JAYU’s artistic visionary, responsible for all year-round programming, the annual Festival, Exhibition and Podcast Program. 

The Executive Director develops, communicates, and implements the artistic vision and focus for JAYU, and is responsible for establishing and overseeing the organization’s aesthetic values and activities.

The Executive Director acts as an ambassador for JAYU’s brand and reputation and speaks on behalf of the organization to the media, public, funders, and other key stakeholders.

THE PACKAGE

Salary: Starting at $80,000 - $90,000 | 4-Day Work Week | Unlimited Vacation | Benefits 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Fulfill JAYU’s mission through visionary and strategic leadership. 
• Provides leadership that is inspiring, respectful and inclusive of all team members and stakeholders; that attracts, supports and develops top talent; and that encourages a culture of excellence, openness, teamwork, accountability and transparency. 
• Fosters and models a trusting and accountable workplace culture, including upholding JAYU’s mission, vision and values 
• As a key leader and voice for the arts in Toronto and Canada, serve as an advocate, ambassador, and spokesperson for the organization, proactively representing JAYU locally, nationally, and internationally. 
• Acts as a role model and demonstrates integrity and ethical leadership every day. 
• Contribute to the expansion of JAYU’s influence and reputation locally, nationally, and internationally. 
• Ensure JAYU’s branding, content, and merchandise are aligned with artistic and programming strategies. 
• Coach, develop, support, and communicate regularly with direct reports.

Organizational Excellence

• Work collaboratively with the JAYU team to cultivate broader and more diverse audiences. 
• Establishes a positive, accountable and collegial working relationship with the Board of Directors, characterized by candour and open communication, to develop short and longterm strategies for the organization that fulfill JAYU’s vision. 
• Foster within the programming and content creation teams a culture of innovation, openness, transparency, respect, and trust, along with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, equity and fairness. 
• Operate within the organization and represent it externally with emotional intelligence, diplomacy, integrity, and the highest ethical standards.

Operations 

• Develop and oversee JAYU’s Festival, Exhibition, Podcast Programming, and year-round programming, working closely and collaboratively with the Managing Director and Director of Operations to ensure JAYU is artistically as well as financially successful. 
• Ensure that JAYU’s office / studio is reflective of JAYU’s brand, and meets the needs of its staff, youth, community, and year-round programming. 
• Expand audience awareness and engagement with JAYU’s curatorial, artistic, and educational programming.
• Work collaboratively with the Leadership Team and general staff to continually grow and adapt JAYU’s programming including iAM workshops and all forward-facing events like festivals and exhibitions to continue reflecting our stakeholder’s evolving relationship with the arts as it relates to human rights. 
• Ensures that appropriate authority is delegated to senior staff and makes certain that all staff members are given the opportunity for personal development. 
• Within Board policy, sets and approves remuneration, health benefits, and terms/conditions of employment for staff. 
• Ensures that short and long-term succession plans are in place for the Executive Director and other senior positions. 

Finance & Resource Development 

• Understand and commit to the importance of revenue generation to support artistic goals by overseeing sponsorship and pitches, and works year-round to build, maintain and steward relationships with new and existing donors, funders, and supporters. 
• Works closely with development staff to identify key funding opportunities and advance JAYU’s fundraising efforts. 
• Works closely with the Development Manager and oversees and creates strategy around grants management, grants prospecting, and government relations. 
• Prepares and oversees all documentation for the Board, including management reports, policy recommendations for consideration, key business performance indicators, agendas and any other relevant information. 
• Advises, assists and attends, as appropriate, Board meetings, committee meetings, etc. as requested. 
• Work with the Leadership Team to contribute to organizational planning that enables growth in revenues and profile as well as financial health and sustainability. 
• Seeks regular, and is open to feedback from the Board of Directors and other stakeholders and takes any necessary corrective actions to ensure that JAYU achieves its defined impact.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The Executive Director is a proven, authentic and respected leader. They strongly understand the intersectionalities of the arts and human rights and advocate for both. 

The ideal candidate possesses a strong business sense and is known for their empathy, humility, and ability to collaborate with a team and engage partners in the community. Their innovative and responsive leadership style speaks to their track record of success. 

While being a visionary and big picture thinker, the Executive Director is goal-oriented and able to bring creative and innovative solutions forward to address emerging issues. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in ambiguity in a co-created and un-matrixed environment. They are committed to continuous improvement and are willing to travel, as required. This person knows how to work optimally in support of, and in partnership with others, and would thrive in a dynamic and growing organization that requires pivoting and quick thinking. They are a skilled communicator who is at ease speaking with a range of audiences, and a natural networker and strong youth advocate.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years progressive senior leadership or equivalent work experience ideally in a non-profit / arts setting, accompanied by a reputation of empowering and leading as part of a team. 
• Executive management experience, encompassing financial, marketing, human resources and operational oversight, including managing a team of 5 or more. 
• Experience with attracting new funding, and partnership opportunities with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to conceive, articulate and execute a strategic plan in partnership with a Board of Directors. 
• Proven experience in bringing about positive change in a local or national organization and network. 
• A proven track record of artistic visioning, execution and delivery.
• Managing Boards of Directors and it's Committees, building a positive and productive working relationship. 
• Experience growing an organization’s program offerings to bring sustainable programs to new locations / geographic regions. 
• Experience serving as an organization’s ambassador and spokesperson. 
• Greatly appreciates the role that the arts play in building equity.