Position: Program Director/Executive Director (please see Position Overview)
Position Location: Toronto, Ontario
Start Date: Immediately
About Diasporic Genius: “Creating our Future from the Wisdom of the World”
“The Diasporic Genius visionary program is the best idea I have heard for creative civic transformation.”
- Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office
The great thing about Diasporic Genius’ vision of development is that instead of beginning with a technocratic plan it beings with a narrative and a story.” – Ken Greenberg, Urban Planning Consultant
Diasporic Genius is a new, multi-faceted organization created to develop and implement a unique approach to creative civic change and urban development. Working from the premise that we are at a turning point in Toronto’s history, DG is developing projects in three streams; Performance (multidisciplinary spectacles), Education (D-GAP apprenticeship program) and Community (21st Century Village Square development project).
From the germ of an idea, DG has grown in a little more than a year to be a young organization built on strong relationships and integrated partnerships, with Pilot Projects in each area of our focus. That makes this job exciting, challenging and highly rewarding for the right candidate. (For more information, please download our Executive Summary and visit our website.
Diasporic Genius’ is located in the iconic Urbanspace building at 401 Richmond Street West, and shares space with the Centre for City Ecology and a number of other city-building projects.
Position Overview:
This position offers a leadership role in the overall administration of Diasporic Genius, and may be met by candidates with different profiles: we recognize that we will succeed in our organizational goals with the hire of either a Program Director or Executive Director. The two positions are really points along a continuum of experience and readiness to lead. The Program Director (PD) is a smart, ambitious, younger leader with excellent training and real-world experience, who will work closely with and under the direction of CEO/Artistic Director. The Executive Director (ED) is a mid-career leader with extensive experience in a major organization who has mastered all aspects of organizational leadership and is ready for the excitement and challenge of growing a visionary start-up. The main difference between the Program and Executive Director job description will be a matter of degree in autonomy and responsibility.
Business Development:
- Provide leadership and act as principal contact for the organization
- Fundraising in all sectors
- Marketing and communications materials development
- Board development; strategic plan development
- Proactively identify and establish partnerships
Office Management:
- Recruit and manage staff including interns and volunteers
- Budgeting and financials
- Ordering office supplies and liaising with property management when necessary
- Organize meetings and maintain calendar
- Drafting and editing organizational grants to government funding bodies
- Updating website and social media
Developing Community Pilot Project:
- Develop and maintain relationships with key allies and partners in the Thorncliffe Pilot Project
- Organize and oversee community events and festival under the CEO’s supervision
- Develop organization’s role in local Toronto community events
Developing D-GAP Apprenticeship Program:
- Develop current relationships with schools, colleges interested in our training program
- Selecting apprenticeship candidates and tracking their progress
Essential Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree is Business Administration, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience
- Program Director: minimum 3-5 years in a leadership position
- Executive Director: minimum 10 years in a leadership position with extensive managerial and business development experience
- Ability to recruit and manage a team of volunteers and interns
- Extensive knowledge and familiarity of the not-for-profit sector
- Demonstrated project management skills
- Experience creating and managing budgets
- Ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders
- Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
- Excellent attention to detail and deadline orientation
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- An entrepreneurial spirit
- A true passion for the mission and purpose of the organization
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Desired Qualifications:
- Ability as a strategic thinker a major asset
- Experience with start-ups
- A knowledge, experience and network in the areas of Community Arts or Urban Development
- Experience with a wide range of tasks, including:
- web-based, social media and printed communications and communication strategies
- Photoshop and general design
- bookkeeping and accounting principles
- familiarity with Mac platforms and social media platforms
- strategic planning, budgeting and creating financial statements
- individual, corporate and public fundraising
To Apply, Please Submit a Cover Letter and Resume to:
opportunities@diasporicgenius.com
Deadline: May 4, 2012
*candidates are encouraged to apply early as interviews will be scheduled when applications received
In the subject line, please state the position to which you are applying.
Diasporic Genius thanks all applicants for their interest in the position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
