Assistant Director, Arts and Culture

**Requisition ID**:43783

**Organization**

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace. Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

**Main Purpose and Function**
The Assistant Director, Arts and Culture (AD) is a senior member of the Arts and Culture leadership team, reporting to the Managing Director, Arts and Culture (MD). The AD plays a key management role across all strategic, operational, financial, and corporate functions of the department. This includes leading complex, department-wide policies, projects, and initiatives that advance the City’s arts and culture priorities, programs, and services.

The AD represents the department in cross-City initiatives, providing strategic input on policies and plans led by other City teams, senior government, and external stakeholders.

The AD oversees strategic planning and operational delivery for at least two Arts and Culture staff teams, which may evolve over time and include areas such as Public Art, Cultural Spaces, Grants, Cultural Redress, Emerging Priorities and Projects, or others as assigned by the MD.

In support of the MD, the AD provides leadership across the department in areas including corporate budgeting, annual workplanning, strategy development, progress reporting, policy implementation, internal process improvement, recruitment, and oversight of financial and HR processes. The role supports efficient, sustainable operations and fosters an equitable, high-performance workplace culture that values diverse lived experiences and aligns with the City’s strategic priorities—such as reconciliation, equity, Culture|Shift, the Vancouver UNDRIP Action Plan, and the City’s Equity Framework.

This position directly supervises at least two Arts and Culture teams, provides coaching across the department, and liaises with media, the public, and elected officials. As a senior leader, the AD collaborates with a diverse group of unionized staff, senior professionals, and executives across the City. The role frequently leads resolution of complex, cross-team issues and works with colleagues across ACCS and departments such as: Strategy and Project Support Office; Planning, Development and Sustainability; Vancouver Park Board; Engineering Services; Real Estate and Facilities Management; Finance; Human Resources; Communications; Indigenous Relations; and the Equity Office.

The AD also regularly liaises with external organizations and agencies, including Council and Department Advisory Committees, all levels of government, non-profits, foundations, community consultants, and other key stakeholders to develop and implement shared arts and culture policies and priorities.

**Specific Duties and Responsibilities**
- Supports the MD in overseeing all strategic and operational aspects of the Arts and Culture Department, including the development and implementation of department-wide strategic plans, annual workplans, project plans, and performance monitoring aligned with Council direction, Culture|Shift, the UNDRIP Action Plan, the Equity Framework, and other corporate priorities.
- Leads the development and implementation of public policy and programs such as Culture|Shift, Making Space for Arts and Culture, the Vancouver Music Strategy, and cultural redress initiatives.
- Oversees corporate reporting requirements, including budgets, service and corporate plan goals, performance measures, reconciliation and equity strategies, process improvement, emergency and business continuity planning, risk management, labour relations, and occupational health and safety.
- Assists the MD in establishing and administering capital and operating budgets, ensuring cost efficiency, value for investment, risk management, and alignment with strategic goals.
- Provides strategic leadership to Arts and Culture Team Leads to optimize operations, evaluate and improve internal processes, analyze data, and support informed decision-making and succession planning.
- Leads and manages at least two unionized Arts and Culture teams, including full HR oversight: work planning, hiring, coaching, performance management,