Artistic & Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Position Summary

The Ottawa Children's Festival de la jeunesse is seeking an inspiring, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader to guide one of Canada's oldest and most respected festivals for young audiences into its next chapter.

The Artistic & Executive Director provides the strategic, artistic, and operational leadership of the Festival, balancing visionary programming with sound organizational management. The successful candidate will cultivate relationships with artists, funders, governments, schools, donors, community partners, and audiences while ensuring the Festival remains financially sustainable and artistically ambitious.

Key Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership

• Develop the artistic vision and programming strategy.

• Curate national and international performance programs.

• Commission and develop new work for young audiences.

• Build relationships with artists, presenters, festivals, and producers in Canada and internationally.

• Ensure programming reflects diversity, accessibility, and artistic excellence.

Executive Management

• Lead all organizational operations.

• Recruit, supervise, and mentor staff and contractors.

• Develop and monitor annual operating and project budgets.

• Ensure effective financial management and reporting.

• Oversee strategic planning and implementation.

Fundraising & Development

• Secure government funding at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

• Develop relationships with sponsors, foundations, and individual donors.

• Support Board fundraising initiatives.

• Identify new earned revenue opportunities.

Community Engagement

• Maintain strong partnerships with schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, and government.

• Represent the Festival publicly.

• Build relationships with Indigenous, francophone, newcomer, and equity-deserving communities.

Governance

• Work closely with the Board of Directors.

• Prepare reports and strategic recommendations.

• Support Board committees.

• Ensure compliance with charitable and legal obligations.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Senior arts management experience.

• Significant artistic programming experience.

• Proven experience managing budgets of approximately $500k to $1 million or more.

• Successful government grant writing and fundraising experience.

• Strong leadership and staff management skills.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

• Strategic planning experience.

• Knowledge of Canadian performing arts and the young audiences sector.

• A commitment to equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion.

• Bilingualism (English/French) considered a significant asset.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be:

• Visionary

• Collaborative

• Entrepreneurial

• Diplomatic

• Financially responsible

• Curious

• Resilient

• Community-minded

Success Measures

The Artistic & Executive Director will:

• Deliver outstanding artistic programming.

• Maintain a financially healthy organization.

• Strengthen government and community partnerships.

• Increase audience engagement.

• Diversify revenue.

• Build a positive organizational culture.

• Position the Festival as a national leader in theatre and performance for young audiences.

• This is a contract position to start with an hourly wage of $50/hour.

All resumes should be emailed to Catherine O’Grady at cbaogrady@gmail.com and to Kim Selody kimselody@me.com . All applications must be received by 5PM Sept 15, 2026.