Associate Artistic Director

Job Title:Associate Artistic Director

Reports to:Artistic Director

Direct reports: Artistic Team, others as projects are developed

Works closely with:Artistic Director and Team, Executive Director, Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Human Resources

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Associate Artistic Director role is pivotal in implementing the Artistic Directors vision and achieving strategic goals, through an equitable, diverse, and inclusive approach. Honoring artistic standards of rigor, with the goal of developing the work and nurturing the highest level of artistry, the Associate Artistic Director will strive to offer a broader expression of what SF Ballet can be for more people.

The Associate Artistic Director will:

• Uphold and action the company mission whilst demonstrating the artistic vision
• Be an active leader at, and on behalf of, SF Ballet to promote increased collaboration between elite classical and elite contemporary dance artforms
• Design, develop and deliver structures and programs to deepen SF Ballets sector leadership role

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the Artistic Director:

• Advise and support the Artistic Director in areas of artistic visioning, programming, and planning
• Assist the Artistic Director in the management of the Artistic Team
• Provide cover for the Artistic Director in their absence, and deputize for the Artistic Director at Leadership Team/Board Meetings as required
• Attend Development and fundraising events with/in the absence of the Artistic Director
• Achieve occasional wider sector consultancy and deliver external public speaking opportunities where appropriate

Artist and talent development opportunities:

• With the Artistic Director design, develop, implement, and regularly evaluate key strategic talent and artistic development opportunities
• Lead and line manage the Artistic Team and Project staff, and freelance resources within specific projects
• Work collaboratively, positively and efficiently across the organization to ensure artistic projects are amplified, communicated, and funded e.g. Marketing & Communications, Education and Training, Community Engagement, Producing. and Development/Fundraising
• Support and expand the artistic development of each dancer, monitoring their creative progress and ensuring their wellbeing

Artistic Team:

• Support the Artistic Director with the management and professional development of the Artistic Team ensuring professional excellence is maintained
• Coach and mentor, the ballet teachers as agreed with the Artistic Director enhancing their professional development and ensuring their wellbeing
• Provide Artistic Team group or bespoke management training
• Lead on the continuous tightening and embedding of standards, systems and policies for efficient and consistent dancer management, supporting Human Resources (eg building an Appraisal system, and the development and implementation of an Agreement of Conduct to support working practices)
• In collaboration with Human Resources, create a Job Description for each member of the Artistic team
• Liaise with Artistic Team members to ensure all external guest choreographers, repetiteurs, teachers, guest artists, are well inducted and supported, and provide a coordinated and collaborative environment for productive working
• Support the recruitment of Artistic Team staff vacancies

Support Artistic Teams interface with wider organization:

• Work closely with the Executive Producer to maximize creative opportunities and promotion of SF Ballet repertoire and artists
• Be a key contact for the Human Resources Department and the Chief Diversity Officer
• Support the Artistic Team in working with internal stakeholders eg Directors gaining consensus, supporting decision-making and assessing priorities
• Liaise regularly and follow medical advice on company dancer health/injury, and co-ordinate with the Fit for Work consultant ensuring that information is relayed to all staff, stagers, and external creative teams in a timely manner

Coaching, training, nurturing dancers within the company:

• Advising the artistic team and dancers on career development and skill enhancement
• Support the Artistic Director and artistic line managers with individual dancer Human Resources matters in collaboration with the Human Resources team
• Analyzing the ranking of the dancer structure, and adjusting to better reflect the progression of each dancer through the company
• In collaboration with Human Resources, create a Job Description for all dancers of the company
• Support individual dancers with confidential career transition and coaching support

Culture policies:

• The Associate Director will devise systems to tighten the cultural competency of the company and implement structures that will clarify and action the company mission.
• Fully implement and embed a dancer and artistic team Agreement of Conduct and update as required to ensure it is fit for purpose
• Identify any future areas for SF Ballet to implement to ensure a supportive and positive culture for the Company
• Work closely with the Director of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer on EDI strategy and action plans

General:

• Stay current with the developments in the International professional sector and share with the Artistic Director and the artistic team
• Respect confidentiality of all parties and communication
• To participate in the provision of a safe working environment, always adhering to the Companys Health & Safety Policy

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

As America's oldest professional ballet company and one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic "firsts" since it was founded in 1933. SF Ballet performed the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first production of Coppelia, choreographed by an American choreographer. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam, and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances a year locally, nationally, and abroad. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

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San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff.

Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).