Executive Director
Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA) promotes and celebrates Western Canadian Music — and this fall, BreakOut West in Calgary will mark 20 years as Western Canada’s largest music industry event!
BreakOut West strives to be at the forefront of the music industry and represent the best new music from western Canada.
WCMA values excellence, boldness, integrity, inclusivity, and passion.
WCMA/BreakOut West is a forward-thinking organization, staying on top of industry trends and community conversations, to best support our members, artists and the music industry. WCMA is a member-based organization that includes the Music Industry Associations (MIAs) of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. In addition to promoting and celebrating western Canadian music, WCMA creates business and career development opportunities for western Canadian artists and music companies.
The Position
WCMA is seeking a visionary leader who will work with the board of directors to produce events and activities that develop, support, celebrate and amplify the music community in Western Canada.
The executive director manages all aspects of the WMCA to ensure event production, financial management, organizational operations, fund development, logistical delivery, and marketing and communications as well as integration with other aspects of the organization.
The executive director is the face of BreakOut West – a boutique music discovery festival and conference – and needs to be current on trends, opportunities, and challenges faced by the independent music sector in Western Canada and internationally. The ED will be dedicated to providing a space for artists and industry to connect, ensuring that the organization is engaged in relevant social issues, creating a more inclusive and equitable music sector, and providing opportunities for all aspects of the sector to flourish.
As the ED, you are driven to imagine and deliver new lines of business, partnerships and revenue opportunities, and you will renew and execute a strategic plan while ensuring the financial sustainability for the organization. You will lead a small and dedicated team dispersed across Western Canada.
Responsibilities
Organizational & Financial Management:
- Participate with the Board of Directors in developing a vision and policies for the effective direction and future development of the organization.
- Maintain relationships with the member music industry associations (MIAs), as well as the music community regionally, nationally and internationally, to identify needs, opportunities and develop solutions, ensuring the WMCA is working on behalf of the membership.
- Secure funding and partnership opportunities for the WCMA including: renewing existing funding and developing new opportunities.
- Complete funding proposals and full reporting to funders and sponsors on deliverables and financial reporting.
- Ensure accurate financial, statistical, personnel and program records for all components of the organization.
Program & Service Delivery:
- Oversee the planning and implementation of BreakOut West, the Western Canadian Music Awards; in addition to other BOW outreach, showcase and business development events.
- Work with staff and contractors to ensure the event production critical path is implemented on schedule.
- Ensure that all activities adhere to the highest standards of quality, professionalism, and relevance to the independent music sector.
- Practice anti-racism, anti-oppression, and reconciliation through programs and activities that are equitable and inclusive.
- Liaise with member associations, national music industry associations, and other industry events and export offices on export showcase and business development events.
Personnel Management:
- Provide leadership, orientation, training, consultation, assistance and support to staff in order to maintain a strong, supportive and effective team.
- Determine and manage staffing requirements for organizational management and activity delivery.
- General administration.
- Ensure WCMA is managed in accordance with all legal requirements and with the constitution and bylaws.
- Ensure completion and filing of all necessary returns.
- Maintain a high level of quality services, through ongoing performance evaluation and assessment of WCMA and its properties.
- Act as staff liaison with the boards of directors. Keep the board and its committees fully informed of the conditions and operations of the Alliance through attendance at regular board meetings and financial reports.
- Identify, assess and inform the board of internal and external issues, as well as new innovations and trends, which affect the WCMA and the Western Canadian music industry.
- Plan board meetings, annual general meeting and other board-related events.
What you Bring:
- A strong vision and passion for the future of WCMA’s mission, mandate, and values.
- Articulate, curious, and knowledgeable.
- Possesses high-level critical judgement and is politically astute.
- A high-energy, strategic self-starter; creative, out-of-the-box thinker who is a fearless relationship-builder.
- Ability to bring together people and relationships within various music communities in innovative and creative ways.
- Open-minded, non-partisan and able to weigh issues with objectivity. Ability to be an active non-judgmental listener to diverse points of view.
- Accountable with a strong sense of professionalism and integrity.
- Skilled at working with diverse individuals and teams in a culturally safe and sensitive manner.
Candidate Qualifications:
- Minimum five years’ management experience in a leadership role.
- Extensive knowledge of the music industry, regionally, nationally and internationally, its key leaders, organizations, businesses and the issues facing industry.
- Energetic individual with a passion for the independent music sector and a creative approach to program planning and event management.
- Proven ability in motivating staff, developing key partnerships, and leading a strong pan-western organization towards its strategic goals and objectives.
- Understanding of business principles applied to a non-profit organization, with a demonstrated ability to lead operations and manage resources effectively.
- Experienced in creating and delivering a strategic plan.
- Ability to represent WCMA in international and domestic environments.
- Proven ability to fundraise and develop significant sponsorships and partnerships in creating revenue generation.
- Proven ability to build and sustain successful relationships with government funders.
- Demonstrated experience working with boards of directors.
- Effective budgeting and cost management skills. Financially literate and resourceful.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong human resources and policy development skills will be an asset, as well as experience with marketing initiatives and social media campaigns.
- National and international travel may be required.
Compensation: A competitive compensation package will be provided. Salary range between $70,000 to $85,000.
Eligibility
Our office is currently located in Winnipeg. As a pan-western Canadian organization, we will consider submissions for an executive director based in any of the member provinces or territories. Candidates from outside Winnipeg must be willing to provide their own remote workspace.
How to Apply
Please submit your application by end of day August 5, 2022 by emailing your cover letter and resume to wcma@searchlightpartnersgroup.
WCMA is an equal-opportunity employer and committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive work environment that reflects the diversity of the audiences we serve.
We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and equity seeking groups, including from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities. Should you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact wcma@searchlightpartnersgroup.
We thank applicants for their interest, however; only those advancing in the process will be contacted.
