Executive Director

Friends of the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society

Status: Open Location: Edmonton, AB or Calgary, AB

The Organization

The Friends of the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society (“Jubilee Society” or “the Society”) is a not-for-profit organization that supports the Government of Alberta’s operation of its two premier performing arts venues: the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. Working across both facilities, the Jubilee Society provides front-of-house operations, patron services, client support, and marketing services along with community engagement and arts education programming services through Jubilee Arts on behalf of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. The Society also supports rotating visual art exhibitions, auxiliary space rentals, and strategic initiatives that strengthen community participation in the arts.

The Jubilee Society works with the Government of Alberta to ensure these landmark facilities provide extraordinary experiences for patrons, artists, clients, and communities. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors with representation from across Alberta, the Society brings a strong commitment to service excellence, community engagement, and the continued development of arts and culture across the province.

The Jubilee Society’s operational vision is to engage, excite and celebrate community and cultural spirit through Alberta’s Jubilee Auditoria. Its mission is to provide extraordinary experiences worthy of these premier cultural and community facilities through superior front-of-house services, community engagement programming, and stage labour. Guided by the values of safety, community culture, people, and service excellence, the Society fosters the important role the Jubilee Auditoria play in Alberta’s cultural spirit, community life, and economic impact.

For more information about the Friends of the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society, please visit The Jubilee Auditoria website.

The Opportunity

Reports to:	Jubilee Society Board of Directors
Direct Reports:	5: Senior Manager, FOH Operations; Manager, Marketing & Communications; Manager, Events & Programming; Financial Controller; Technical Coordinator
Location:	Edmonton, AB; or Calgary, AB

Mandate

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Jubilee Society. Working in partnership with the Board, the Executive Director guides the development of, and implements, the Society’s strategic direction while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability, operational excellence, and organizational health of the Society.

The Executive Director leads a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service excellence by building relationships founded on trust, integrity, transparency, and respect. The role requires a balance of strategic thinking and practical leadership, ensuring the Jubilee Society continues to deliver exceptional service to government, resident companies, presenters, patrons, and the broader Alberta community.

The Executive Director demonstrates strong business acumen across strategic planning, financial management, labour relations, human resources, marketing, contract negotiation, government relations, and organizational leadership. These skills are complemented by an appreciation for the performing arts and a commitment to supporting Alberta’s cultural community.

The Executive Director is responsible for the financial and organizational health of the Society, overseeing an annual operating budget of approximately $6 million and a workforce that includes:

14 administrative staff
8 Jubilee Arts facilitators
160 Front of House event staff (approx.)
5 direct reports

The Executive Director negotiates and administers collective agreements with IATSE Locals 210 and 212 while providing leadership to both unionized and non-union employees.

Fundamentally, the Jubilee Society is a service-based organization. The Executive Director ensures the Society delivers exceptional value to the Government of Alberta, resident companies, presenters, community partners, and patrons while maintaining a culture of professionalism, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Oversight

Lead the implementation and ongoing evaluation of the Society’s strategic plan, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Champion technology, process, and operational improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and the patron experience, while ensuring policies, governance practices, and procedures remain current and effective.
Ensuring the Society delivers excellent day-to-day operational services in support of the Jubilee Auditoria, including staffing, service standards, policies, procedures, operational controls, and staff development
Support facility renewal and capital improvement initiatives at the direction of the Government of Alberta and in partnership with facility stakeholders.

Board Governance & Executive Support

Develop strategic recommendations for Board consideration and provide timely, accurate, and transparent reporting on organizational performance, risks, opportunities, and emerging issues.
Maintain a productive working relationship with the Board Chair and Directors and support annual strategic planning and organizational performance evaluation.
Ensure compliance with Board policies, governance requirements, and legislative obligations.

Financial Stewardship

Provide leadership and oversight to the Finance Controller, including the development and monitoring of annual operating and capital budgets, financial reporting, annual audits, cash flow, and financial risk.
Ensure compliance with financial agreements and reporting obligations, promote responsible stewardship of public funds and organizational assets, and monitor performance through financial and operational key performance indicators.
Identify opportunities to diversify and strengthen earned revenue through marketing services, auxiliary business activities, sponsorships, and community programming.

Human Resources & Labour Relations

Lead and support the Society’s leadership team, fostering a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive workplace culture with clear performance expectations and accountability.
Build organizational capacity through recruitment, retention, employee engagement, leadership development, succession planning, and professional growth, while supporting employee health, safety, and workplace well-being.
Ensure compliance with applicable employment legislation and human resource best practices, and negotiate, administer, and maintain productive relationships under the collective agreements with IATSE Locals 210 and 212.

Government & Stakeholder Relations

Foster productive working relationships with the Government of Alberta, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Alberta Infrastructure representatives, EDON Management, and other facility partners.
Build collaborative relationships with resident companies, presenters, clients, and community organizations, ensuring the Society continues to deliver exceptional service to Jubilee Auditoria partners and stakeholders.
Represent the Society professionally at stakeholder meetings, industry events, and community engagements, and support initiatives that strengthen the Jubilee Auditoria’s contribution to Alberta’s arts and cultural community.

Marketing & Communications

In consultation with the Government of Alberta guide the development and implementation of organizational marketing strategies that strengthen awareness of the Jubilee Auditoria’s programs, services, and community impact.
Oversee marketing services for resident companies, presenters, and facility clients, including initiatives that contribute to earned revenue and organizational sustainability.
Foster strategic partnerships that enhance the Jubilee Auditoria’s visibility and reputation, while ensuring communications reflect its mission, values, and commitment to service excellence in accordance with the Ministry of Arts Culture and Status or Women’s Mandate.

Jubilee Arts & Community Engagement

Guide the continued growth and evolution of Jubilee Arts as the Jubilee Auditoria’s flagship community engagement initiative, supporting innovative arts education programming that expands access to the performing arts throughout Alberta.
Foster partnerships with schools, community organizations, artists, and cultural institutions, and support rotating visual arts exhibitions and other initiatives that strengthen community participation.
Ensure community engagement initiatives align with the Society’s and Ministry’s strategic priorities and available resources.

Patron & Client Experience

Foster a culture of outstanding customer service, ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all patron and client touchpoints.
Work collaboratively with resident companies, presenters, Government of Alberta staff, and facility partners to understand and exceed expectations and promote strong coordination.
Ensure the safety and well-being of patrons, clients, volunteers, and staff.

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

In collaboration with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Status of Women, develop and advance the Society’s existing strategic plan.
Maintain a collaborative and productive partnership with the Government of Alberta.
Support effective governance and a strong relationship with the Board of Directors.
Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Society by preparing, leading, and executing the Annual Budget and achieving all financial targets.
Foster a healthy, engaged, and high-performing organizational culture.
Deliver exceptional service to patrons, resident companies, presenters, and community partners.
Strengthen the Society’s reputation as a trusted operator of Alberta’s Jubilee Auditoria.
Support the continued growth of Jubilee Arts and other community engagement initiatives.
Identify opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, service quality, and organizational sustainability.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education and Training:

Undergraduate degree in Business, Arts Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
A graduate degree or equivalent executive leadership experience is considered an asset.
Professional development in governance, executive leadership, finance, labour relations, or nonprofit management is considered an asset.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of progressive senior leadership experience.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-interest-stakeholder organizations.
A proven ability to translate strategic priorities into measurable organizational outcomes.
Experience leading organizational change while fostering a positive and engaged workplace culture.
Demonstrated experience overseeing significant operating budgets and financial planning.
Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and audit processes.
Experience providing strategic oversight of food and beverage operations, with a strong understanding of its role as a significant revenue and profit centre for the Society.
Experience identifying opportunities for operational improvement and revenue growth.
Strong understanding of governance principles and best practices, with experience reporting to and working effectively with Boards of Directors in the not-for-profit and/or private sector.
Experience leading diverse teams within unionized and non-unionized environments.
Demonstrated success negotiating and administering collective agreements.
Strong understanding of employment legislation, labour relations, performance management, and organizational development.
Excellent relationship-building skills with a wide range of interest-holders.
Experience overseeing marketing, communications, and brand development.
Experience in, or strong understanding of, the operational requirements of major performing arts facilities.
An appreciation for community engagement and the value of arts and culture in strengthening communities.

What do you need to bring to this position:

Strategic and visionary leadership, with strong business acumen, financial stewardship, and sound judgment.
Demonstrated governance expertise and the ability to build a strong, transparent, and productive relationship with the Board.
Proven people leadership, with the ability to build strong teams, foster a collaborative and accountable culture, and lead effectively in a unionized environment.
Strong political awareness and diplomacy, with demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with government, partners, clients, and community interest-holders.
Excellent communication, listening, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex issues and bring differing perspectives together.
Integrity, emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability, with the courage to make difficult decisions and hold self and others accountable.
An appreciation for the performing arts, public service, and the role the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria play in Alberta’s communities.

Commitment to Inclusion and Belonging

The Jubilee Society is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Mullen and the Jubilee Society throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send an application package, including your resume and cover letter, to connect@mullenleadership.com. In the subject line of your email, please include the organization’s name and the position title.

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