Manager Program Services - Arts

Position Purpose

Provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for arts programs that advance community cultural development and support a vibrant, inclusive arts sector. The position is responsible for the development, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of grant programs, ensuring public resources are invested transparently, effectively, and in alignment with organizational priorities and community needs.

Key Accountabilities/Position Outcomes

• Leads the planning, implementation, administration, and evaluation of arts granting programs and related funding initiatives.
• Develops program strategies, policies, guidelines, eligibility criteria, and assessment frameworks to support equitable and accountable grant delivery.
• Oversees annual operating and project grant adjudication processes, ensuring fairness, consistency, transparency, and adherence to approved policies.
• Manages program budgets, funding allocations, and reporting to ensure effective stewardship of public funds.
• Provides strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership, committees, and elected officials regarding arts funding priorities, emerging trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Establishes and maintains productive relationships with artists, arts organizations, Indigenous communities, cultural stakeholders, funding partners, local governments, and community groups.
• Leads program evaluation and performance measurement activities to assess outcomes, identify community impacts, and support continuous improvement.
• Oversees the preparation of reports, funding recommendations, briefing materials, presentations, and public communications.
• Ensures compliance with applicable legislation, policies, governance requirements, and financial controls.

Additional Information

• None

Qualifications

Certifications

Role Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of public-sector granting practices, program administration, and accountability frameworks.
• Strong understanding of the arts and culture sector, including the operational and funding realities of artists, collectives, and arts organizations.
• Knowledge of equity-informed, transparent, and arms-length adjudication processes.
• Ability to develop strategic funding programs that align with community outcomes and organizational priorities.
• Experience managing complex budgets, financial analysis, funding allocations, and reporting requirements.
• Strong policy analysis, program planning, and evaluation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly through reports, briefing notes, presentations, and public-facing materials.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in a politically and publicly accountable environment.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, advisory bodies, community partners, Indigenous communities, and external funders.
• Proficiency with grant management systems, data analysis tools, and Microsoft 365 applications.

Leadership Profile

CRD Leaders are champions for creating an accountable, high performance, service oriented organization that makes a difference in our community. They pay attention to shifts and trends in an ever-changing and complex environment and think strategically to serve residents, businesses and local governments today while developing a sustainable organization for the future. The following is a leadership summary for this position.

Professional/Individual Contributor Level 2 (P2)

Leaders at this level generally use their knowledge and skills in their discipline to identify and solve problems in their work area, analyze and assess solutions, and respond to non-standard requests and moderately complex problems from clients with moderate direction from a supervisor. They work within a team, prioritizing and organizing their own work and controlling costs in their own area to contribute to the overall achievements of the team.

While CRD Leaders are accountable to all Leadership Competencies, the competencies listed below have particular relevance to this position. Click here for a complete definition of our Leadership Levels and Competencies.

Leadership Competencies