Manager, Creative Experience

Classified Categories: Archived

Manager, Creative Experience

The purpose of Calgary’s science centre Spark is unwavering. Spark exists to make lives — and the world — better through an affinity for science. Through visits to Spark, and encounters with Spark in the community and online around the world, people are lifted up by the positive power of curiosity, experimentation and creativity. Spark is a registered charity.

The outcome is profound. Spark helps people of all ages fuel up for the future because at Spark, science, technology and invention are embedded in cultural experiences. This creates new points of access to the disciplines at the core of innovation. Sparks teams transform lives and inspire the future.

Position Overview

The creative experiences manager, live programming, will report directly to the director of creative experiences and is responsible for building and executing Spark products and exhibition live experiences with original science flair. The manager leads a team of live science communication performers to develop and deliver live programming in a variety of settings and formats in Spark and offsite in the community.

The manager has a passion for developing live and theatrical experiences combined with strong leadership in planning and logistics to fulfill the purpose of sharing the wonders of science through world class programming experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Oversee all aspects of development and implementation of live product experiences as the vision keeper and lead for successfully delivery of product experiences at Spark.
  • Lead a team of performers in the creation and enhancement of live science programmed experiences.
  • Oversee the programming, presentation and maintenance of Flint the robotic dog.
  • Develop long-term work plans for live programming at Spark, to support business goals and ensure Spark is a leader in live science communications.
  • Continued pursuit of product excellence though ongoing monitoring, maintenance and enhancements.
  • Actively contributing to organizational long-term planning influencing how live experience objectives are translated into operationally deliverable guest experiences.
  • Support the development of product experiences and exhibit concepts through ideation and collaborative planning sessions and build detailed execution and operational plans.
  • Lead their team to contract and schedule all necessary vendors, supplies, contractors and resources to ensure overall vision of final product experience is achieved.
  • Develop and oversee all assigned program budgets.
  • Ensure personal and team activities are aligned with business and strategic goals of Spark as a whole.
  • Model high performance, flexibility and kindness in a rapidly changing growth environment.
  • Other duties as required and assigned.

Qualifications and Knowledge:

  • A minimum of five-plus years of experience in programming live events, entertainment, and presentations.
  • A minimum of three-plus years of leadership experience overseeing large scale experiential or entertainment operations teams.
  • A solid understanding of guest facing experiences and interaction.
  • Fluency in Office 360 suite and able to use most platforms.
  • Fluency in layout software Sketchup, Social Tables or comparable programs.
  • Strong ethics and ability to manage confidential data if required.
  • A proven track record of adding value to an organization’s culture and initiatives.
  •  A positive attitude!
  • Desire to work on a high performing team with a continuous upgrading culture to achieve high impact results.
  • Fluidity and a desire to work hard and grow are essential.
  • A high degree of creativity with the ability to leave your ego at the door.
  • Willingness to learn and adapt to change.

Culture at Spark

Spark’s goal is to become one of the top 10 most-worth-visiting science centres in the world. Through skilled and confident programming, Spark will attract visitors from around the city, province and globe, and immerse them in emotive experiences as they explore ever-evolving, quirky and thought-provoking galleries. The skilled programming at this level of success will only be possible with an organization-wide commitment to effective performance. High performance at Spark is both defined and experienced by diverse cultures and proactively advances equity among all human beings as part of the definition of effectiveness.

Spark’s high-performance culture is driven by a shared purpose. Team members are united by values and proud of the reputation we are building together. What does high performance look like at Spark?

Commitment to Purpose

Everyone at Spark is a purpose-driven leader. You are passionate about entertaining people of all ages in creative encounters with science, technology and engineering, and the output of your work reflects our values: collaboration, curiosity, courage, commitment, and creativity. Why? Because it makes the world a kinder, safer and better place.

Culture of Philanthropy

Spark is a registered educational charity that relies on the support of sponsors and donors to ensure it can do this work to make the world a better place.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Your individual growth is driven by a desire to be a part of the team that makes Spark one of the best science centres in the world. Every day is a professional development day at Spark. You are expected to seek out learning opportunities and pursue professional growth. At times the growth may be uncomfortable, and you embrace it as part of the journey.

Agents of Change

We are a culture of experimentalists. It is expected and encouraged for staff to make suggestions that can improve a program, presentation, process or service. It is also expected and encouraged for suggestions to be accepted and tried with a thank you for helping each other get even stronger.

Coaching Mindset

Sparklers are committed to helping each other become even stronger in our roles. Upgrading each other’s work is enjoyable and rewarding because teams are built on trust. Supervisor feedback feels like coaching, not criticism or punishment. Remember, you can say anything if you are kind, clear and non-judgmental. This is how high performance teams are built.

Winning and Losing as a Team

We work together to drive action and results that are aligned with Spark’s mission in the outside world. We encourage healthy debate and science-based decision making. Our relationships allow us to make big asks of each other and get big things done together with a sense of urgency and excellence. If someone appears to fail, you ask, What did I do or not do to contribute to that, as it is my failure too.

Achieving Results

Spark is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of communicating science and we carry that dedication to excellence in every aspect of Spark’s work. We encourage each other to set stretch goals and work together across all departments to exceed them.

To Apply

Interested candidates can submit their cover letter and resume, in confidence, to careers@sparkscience.ca with Manager, Creative Experience in the subject line.

Closing Date: August 12, 2022
Salary Range: $60,000-$75,000 depending on experience

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Spark is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.

Share this page
Share