Job Description

C Magazine is looking for a new Executive Director / Publisher who will be a strategic and visionary leader of the organization, sensitively, pluralistically, and energetically overseeing the publication of C Magazine for the benefit of the Canadian contemporary arts.

Position Summary

The Executive Director / Publisher position is an exciting opportunity to contribute leadership to an
important cultural organization in the field of Canadian and international art publishing. A strong candidate should be equipped with extensive experience in managing charitable arts organizations, print and/or digital publishing, non-profit financial management, and organizational leadership, and have a profound understanding of contemporary art discourse. The incumbent will demonstrate exceptional skills in managing staff, board, community, and partner relationships, and bring to life the goals of the organization in collaboration with our team, growing and strengthening C Magazine's local and international profile, while fostering understanding and appreciation of contemporary art in Canada.

The Executive Director / Publisher leads the day-to-day management and organizational development of C The Visual Arts Foundation and C Magazine, overseeing the mandate and vision, and the publishing program in print and online. The Executive Director / Publisher is accountable for the strategic plan and operations of C, including finances, grant applications, fundraising, and human resource management. The Executive Director / Publisher is also responsible for the distribution and sale of C Magazine, including its marketing communications, promotional events, and circulation. The Executive Director / Publisher works closely with the Editor to manage the production and design of the magazine and to ensure the content serves its readers and the Canadian arts sector-with a commitment to anti-oppression and equity in the visual arts sector. The Executive Director / Publisher reports to, and is responsible to, the authority of the Board of Directors of C The Visual Arts Foundation.

Executive Director / Publisher roles and responsibilities

Ensuring that C fulfills its mandate while meeting the standards, policies, strategic objectives, and priorities of the organization, the Executive Director / Publisher oversees and is accountable for the following key responsibilities:

Leadership and Governance

• Works with the Board of Directors (BOD) to develop the mandate, vision, and strategic plan to guide the organization
• Acts as advisor to the BOD on all aspects of the organization's activities
• Leads and participates in initiatives that establish C's leadership in the arts sector
• Fosters effective teamwork between the BOD and the Executive Director and between the Executive Director and staff
• Establishes good working relationships with community groups, funders, and other organizations and stakeholders that support C's mandate

Strategic and Operational Planning

• Ensures the operation of the organization meets the needs of all stakeholders including community collaborators, partners, BOD, and funders
• Identifies and evaluates risks to the organization's people, finances, goodwill, and image and implements measures to control risks
• Ensures that programs and services offered by the organization contribute to the organization's mission and reflect the priorities of the approved strategic plan

Financial Management

• Prepares the annual budget in consultation with the BOD and Editor
• Monitors cash flow, anticipated expenditures, and reports regularly throughout the year, advising the BOD on financial matters in a timely manner
• Manages and maintains accurate bookkeeping including in-kind transactions
• Oversees the annual audit and files the charity return

Fundraising and Development

• Responsible for the annual fundraising plan, directing and producing support materials for the annual auction, individual donor campaign, sponsorships, and other initiatives as required
• Researches and coordinates operational, marketing, and employment grants, including writing or reviewing, creating budgets, and directing staff involvement
• Cultivates and stewards new partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborations that support C's mandate and goals; negotiates contracts, and ensures benefits are delivered

HR Management

• Hires staff in accordance with policies and procedures, with the HR Committee as required
• Oversees recruitment, training, and evaluation of staff, interns, and volunteers
• Ensures that personnel policies and practices are carried out, in accordance with the HR Employee Handbook
• Maintains a professional atmosphere in accordance with the Ontario Code of Human Rights, and ensures that fair practices are carried out in accordance with the Ontario Labour Laws

Marketing and Advertising

• Develops and coordinates a communications and marketing plan that includes social media and print (with other staff when applicable) for audience development, magazine content, fundraising, events, and programs
• Coordinates promotional events with staff assistance, including the participation of C Magazine at art fairs
• Oversees the Advertising Representative contract, media kit development, and advertising strategies

Office and Magazine Production

• Manages operational contracts including office lease, office equipment, and insurance, and maintains a physical space
• Liaises with the printer concerning publication dates and deliverables
• Oversees the production schedule, editorial budget, and issue-related information, with the Editor
• Maintains the physical and digital archives of C Magazine

Distribution and Circulation

• Manages distributor contracts and placements, develops new ones, and oversees distribution in a timely manner that meets the publication date
• Evaluates distribution data and strategies and develops plans to enhance distribution and visibility
• Maintains a secure subscriber database, ensuring correct data input and extraction

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Requirements: Education and Experience

• Master's degree in arts management, non-profit management, publishing, or another relevant discipline, or a closely related field in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Science; or equivalent education, training, and experience relevant to the role
• Knowledge and understanding of anti-oppression and EDI practices, with demonstrable commitment and care to EDI in past work
• Experience in charitable financial management, full-cycle accounting and audit preparation
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and knowledge of arts funding structures
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, and knowledge of related ethics and standards
• Experience developing careful and productive working relationships with partner organizations, art-world peers, donors, sponsors, and other stakeholders
• Experience overseeing and motivating a team, including recruitment and hiring
• Experience in non-profit arts management is required, including policy development
• Experience in print or online publishing is considered a major asset
• Experience managing CMS, CRM, marketing and social media platforms and accounts
• Experience in database management, including data integrity, mapping, export, and import
• Experience in marketing and communications: planning, coordination, and writing materials
• Knowledge and commitment to contemporary art and its concerns, with well-developed networks within the national (and ideally international) contemporary art community

Abilities

• Proven ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing
• Writing and copyediting for communications, in a professional context related to art and culture
• Knowledge of editorial ethics, journalistic integrity, industry standards, copyrights
• Extremely attentive to detail, with advanced project management, planning, and organizational skills
• Strong systems thinking and proficiency in using and leveraging software and technology to build organizational capacity and efficiency
• Demonstrable ability to work enthusiastically, respectfully, and sensitively as part of creative collaboration
• Self-directed with proven ability to prioritize, assign, and execute multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet numerous ongoing deadlines
• Training in conflict resolution, anti-racism, or anti-oppression is considered an asset
• Computer skills: MS Office, Adobe apps Google apps, Dropbox, Slack, and Cloud-based business applications such as Filemaker (legacy), Strapi CMS, Mailchimp, Stripe, Paypal

Additional Requirements

• Available for occasional evenings and weekend commitments, including meetings and attendance at events; online and in Toronto
• Ability to work effectively in a remote environment
• Responsible, ethical, and accountable
• Positive and professional, with an engaged, hands-on, and constructive approach
• Driven to advance C Magazine's mandate and vision

Additional Info: The role is full-time, based on a five-day work week, with two weeks of vacation in year one (increases to three weeks in year two) of employment. All employees receive holiday bonus days off between Dec 26 and Jan 1. We mainly work remotely (office space is also available) with core team hours. The office of C Magazine is at 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto, and is physically accessible.