Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer

Position Summary

The Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer (Deputy Director & COO) will be an innovative yet practical leader who embraces a vision for the Art Gallery of Alberta (the AGA) that focuses on the diverse community it serves. In close partnership with and reporting to the Executive Director & Chief Curator, the Deputy Director & COO will oversee all financial, facility, technology, marketing, communications, and human resource aspects of the AGA, and streamline operational activities to meet community and organizational needs. The role includes reassessing and reinvigorating retail, restaurant, art sales, art rentals, events, venue rentals, and other revenue‑generating initiatives while ensuring a high‑caliber visitor experience and market visibility.

Roles And Responsibilities

Ideation, Strategic Direction, and Implementation

• Serve as a thought leader and collaborative partner in assessing, recommending, and implementing short‑ and long‑term plans that balance strategic objectives, capital needs, team cohesion, financial outcomes, and community impact.
• Reassess and reinvigorate admissions, memberships, and revenue‑generating enterprises with a welcoming and inclusive visitor experience.
• Engage in a collaborative and comprehensive change management process that welcomes all voices in a cross‑functional leadership team.
• Focus on a visitor‑centered plan in dialogue with senior leaders to support increased attendance and brand awareness.
• Cultivate partnerships and opportunities that expand earned and contributed revenue to build financial resilience.
• Oversee the writing and reporting of grants for departments and operational areas with support from Finance and Administration.
• Nurture authentic relationships with Indigenous peoples, settlers, and newcomers through equitable organizational practices and policies.
• Ensure the vitality of a strategic plan that drives responsible growth, achieves sustainable financial success, and meets visitor expectations.
• Embrace additional ideation, strategic direction, and implementation responsibilities as needed.

Human, Financial, Technological, and Facilities Vibrancy

• Oversee financial operations, including the preparation of annual operating and capital budgets in collaboration with key financial and leadership stakeholders.
• Monitor operating, endowment, and capital revenues and expenditures, and guide delivery of regular updates to the Board and department leaders.
• Develop facility repair and replacement plans and communicate priorities to the relevant committees and stakeholders.
• Deliver transparent, comprehensive financial information that enables effective policy setting and community ambassadorship.
• Manage Human Resources, ensuring effective staffing, structures, policies, and equitable distribution within a positive culture.
• Inspire, mentor, evaluate, and guide a high‑performing team that promotes inclusion, growth, and continuous improvement.
• Advocate for digital innovation and strengthen the IT and financial infrastructure to ensure efficient operations.
• Embrace additional responsibilities in these areas as needed.

Mission‑Oriented Partnerships, Public Visibility, and Community Engagement

• Develop an active community presence and build strong relationships with business, university, tourism, and civic leaders to foster support and new initiatives.
• Guide the Enterprise & Visitor Experience team toward increased revenue opportunities for all AGA interactors.
• Oversee Marketing & Communications to raise public visibility, engage the community, define brand proposition, build trust, enhance reputation, and deepen loyalty.
• Commit to Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into organizational frameworks.
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communication to strengthen the AGA’s brand and visibility.
• Embrace additional mission‑oriented responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The Deputy Director & COO will be an innovative, resourceful leader motivated by achieving visitor experience and revenue results, advancing organizational priorities, and maximizing impact with Indigenous communities, settlers, and newcomers alike. The role requires integrity, rapid response to evolving operational, capital, and strategic needs, and a strong focus on accountability.

Other Key Competencies

• Visitor, Donor, and Community Focus – anticipating and meeting stakeholder needs in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Professional and Personal Accountability – integrity and adaptability with resilience and humility.
• Project, Priority, and Time Management – managing complex goals, aligning priorities, mobilizing resources, and achieving outcomes within time frames.
• Self‑Starting – creativity, initiative, analysis, and timely recommendations.
• Leadership and Teamwork – inspiring trust, leading with confidence and authenticity, respecting perspectives, and making equitable decisions.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) with at least 10 years of demonstrable senior management experience in revenue‑generating enterprises, finance, facilities, and operations within a visitor‑ and community‑facing organization is required. Candidates from galleries, museums, cultural institutions, or destination‑based entertainment organizations are encouraged. Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, analysis, and reporting, and a track record of decisive decision‑making in complex settings are essential. Experience with strategic planning, retail operations, rentals, food services, process improvement, capital projects, and building relationships with government, universities, and business partners is desired. Transferable skills and education in lieu of some qualifications are encouraged.

Compensation And Benefits

The AGA provides a competitive and equitable compensation package with an estimated base salary in the range of $160,000 to $200,000. Benefits include extended health and dental coverage, life and disability insurance, travel assistance, wellness support options, paramedical services, mental health resources, and access to online health tools through EquitableHealth.ca.

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume, including demonstrable initiatives and accomplishments, please visit ArtsConsulting.com/OpenSearches or contact Bruce D. Thibodeau, Founder & Senior Advisor, 52 Church Street, Suite 217, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2B5. Tel View phone number on ca.talent.com. Email: View email address on ca.talent.com.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Gallery of Alberta is committed to promoting diversity and representativeness within our organization. We strive to provide and maintain a fair and equitable environment for all by valuing and respecting individual differences. The AGA respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional land of diverse Indigenous peoples. The Art Gallery of Alberta is an equal‑opportunity employer serving diverse communities.