DU Dance (NI) invites applicants to join us at significant moment in the company’s journey, as we look ahead to a new chapter of leadership.
DU Dance (NI) is Northern Ireland’s only dedicated dance development company and has been in operation for over 24 years. It has a legacy of working with communities across Northern Ireland, the island of Ireland, UK and internationally. Our activities are recognised for their best practice and creative excellence. The primary focus of DU Dance (NI)’s work is young people, but programmes may involve people of all ages. We introduce them to dance and the creative arts and advocate for dance as a tool for facilitating personal and social development. A critical part of our process is bringing individuals and communities together to seek creative solutions to artistic challenges. This demands and develops sophisticated social interaction and encourages personal growth. With performance as an integral part of the work, we provide access to innovative contemporary dance workshops and projects across communities which may often have limited or no dance provision, challenging traditional views of the relevance and value of dance.
The Artistic Director will be responsible for setting the artistic vision and strategic direction for the company and ensuring the successful delivery of DU Dance (NI)’s work. Ultimately reporting to the board, this is a leadership role requiring artistic excellence, advocacy, a strong personal drive, inspiring and inclusive team leadership and the ability to work and communicate well with our artists, communities, participants and stakeholders. This is a significant moment in the company’s journey, as we look ahead to a new chapter of leadership following the stepping down of our founding Artistic Director, Mags Byrne.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership & Strategy
● Devise and implement DU Dance (NI)’s organisational strategy in partnership with the staff and Board.
● Develop and deliver DU Dance (NI)’s artistic programme alongside the company staff team.
● Set and instil a clear vision and drive performance across the DU Dance (NI) team to achieve strategic goals and the organisation’s ambitions.
● Act as an advocate for DU Dance (NI) and dance development at all levels – across communities, government, corporate, arts, and media – in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and across the UK.
Stakeholder Engagement
● Build strong partnerships across our communities, government, public and private funders, corporate and arts sectors and other key networks relevant to DU Dance (NI)’s strategy
● Represent the organisation at external forums, building strategic networks, profile and intelligence to inform our work and identify opportunities for collaboration and raising income
● Passionately advocate for the organisation’s purpose, cross-sectoral partnership and act as a champion for the value of dance, dance development and creativity in driving wellbeing and community cohesion in Northern Ireland.
Income Generation & Financial Management
● Lead income generation efforts from and private and public funding sources
● Identify and cultivate new income streams and funding opportunities.
● Oversee and ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, and management.
Organisational Culture & People Management
● Lead and inspire a mission-led and inclusive team culture based on DU Dance (NI)’s values.
● Support staff development and performance through effective talent management
● Promote diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing across the organisation in alignment with the staff handbook.
● Undertake other duties reasonably expected by the board
Governance
● Work with the Chair and Board to ensure that DU Dance (NI) operates in line with its charitable purpose and complies with all its statutory, regulatory and charitable responsibilities.
● Ensure that the organisation complies with the conditions of its grants and manages relationships with all key funders and stakeholders, meeting all delivery, reporting and budgetary requirements
● Act as the primary liaison between the Staff and Board.
● Act as Safeguarding Lead for the organisation
Communications & Profile
● Act as the lead spokesperson for DU Dance (NI) and strengthen the organisation’s profile and influence in Northern Ireland and beyond.
● Working with the marketing officer to ensure DU Dance (NI) develops high-profile and modern PR, branding, and an external communications strategy that reflects our values and ambitions
HOW TO APPLY
Please email your CV and a written personal statement outlining why you want to be the Artistic Director of DU Dance (NI), outlining the qualities and experiences you would bring, and how they meet the criteria included in the job description to board@dudanceni.com
Full details of the job role and application process can be found in the Artistic Director Application Pack.
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