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, as well as streamline operational activities that best meet both community and organizational needs. This includes reassessing and reinvigorating retail, restaurant, art sales, art rentals, events, venue rentals, and other revenue generating enterprise initiatives while ensuring the highest caliber visitor experience and market visibility for the AGA.

Roles and Responsibilities

Ideation, Strategic Direction, and Implementation

• Serve as a thought leader and collaborative partner to the Executive Director & Chief Curator, Board, and senior leadership team in assessing, recommending, and implementing clear 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 based in a welcoming and inclusive visitor experience and market visibility.
• Engage in a collaborative and comprehensive change management process where all voices are welcomed, heard, and included in a cross-functional leadership team and community-focused organization.
• Focus on a visitor-centered plan in thoughtful dialogue with curatorial, education, marketing, and other senior leaders to support increased attendance and brand awareness.
• Cultivate partnerships and opportunities that expand revenue opportunities, both earned and contributed, that build financial resilience for ongoing programs, education activities, facilities, and the visitor experience.
• Oversee the writing and reporting of grants for departments and operational areas (i.e. capital, building, technology, human resources) with support from Finance and Administration, Executive Director & Chief Curator, and other departments as needed.
• Nurture authentic relationships with Indigenous peoples, settlers, and newcomers by including them in equitable organizational practices and policies.
• Ensure the vitality of a strategic plan that attains the vision to drive responsible growth, achieves sustainable financial success, and meets visitor expectations.
• Embrace other ideation, strategic direction, and implementation responsibilities as needed.

Human, Financial, Technological, and Facilities Vibrancy

• Oversee financial operations, including the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets in collaboration with the Executive Director & Chief Curator, Head of Finance & Administration, Board Audit & Finance Committee, and senior leadership team.
• Monitor operating, endowment, and capital revenues and expenditures, and guide delivery of regular updates to Board and department leaders to ensure the most effective use of resources.
• Develop appropriate facility repair and replacement plans, in collaboration with the Head of Facility Operations and Head of Finance & Administration, and communicate priorities to the Head of Development & Engagement, as well as the Board’s Building and External Relations Committees.
• Deliver transparent, comprehensive, concise, relevant, and timely information to the Executive Director & Chief Curator and the Board.
• Manage Human Resources, ensuring that the overall staffing, structures, policies, systems, and procedures are in place, equitably distributed, and reviewed for effectiveness within a positive organizational culture.
• Inspire, mentor, evaluate, and guide a high-performing team that supports a culture of inclusion, growth, and continuous improvement in alignment with the AGA’s values.
• Advocate for digital innovation and strengthen the IT and financial infrastructure of the AGA and capabilities to ensure effective and efficient operations.
• Embrace other human, financial, technological, and facilities vibrancy responsibilities as needed.

Mission-Oriented Partnerships, Public Visibility, and Community Engagement

• Develop an active community presence and build strong, positive relationships with business, university, tourism, and civic leaders to foster opportunities for ongoing support, new initiatives, and partnerships throughout the community.
• Guide Enterprise & Visitor Experience team with engaged alignment and increased revenue opportunities that benefit those who interact with the AGA in person, virtually, or otherwise.
• Oversee Marketing & Communications in developing and executing a comprehensive plan that will raise public visibility, engage the community, define the brand proposition, build trust, enhance reputation, and deepen loyalty.
• Commit to Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, including integrating Indigenous knowledge systems and practices into organizational frameworks and resource allocations.
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communication to support and strengthen the AGA’s brand and visibility.
• Embrace other mission-oriented partnerships, public visibility, and community engagement responsibilities as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The Deputy Director & COO will be an innovative and resourceful leader who is motivated by achieving visitor experience and revenue results, advancing organizational priorities, and maximizing the impact of the AGA with and for Indigenous communities, settlers, and newcomers alike. They will embody integrity and respond quickly to evolving operational, capital, and strategic needs while maintaining a strong focus on accountability.

Highly interactive and collaborative, the Deputy Director & COO will thrive in a visible leadership role that requires frequent communication, relationship-building, and cross-departmental coordination while contributing to a supportive and team-oriented environment. The Deputy Director & COO will be receptive to new ideas and adapt comfortably to changing circumstances.

Other key competencies include:

• Visitor, Donor, and Community Focus – The dexterity to anticipate, meet, and/or exceed a broad range of stakeholder and rightsholder needs and expectations in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Professional and Personal Accountability – The integrity to be answerable for personal and professional actions while readily modifying and adapting to change with resiliency, flexibility, and humility.
• Project, Priority, and Time Management – The capacity to manage, prioritize, and deliver upon complex goals, align competing yet complementary priorities, mobilize team and financial resources, and achieve desired outcomes within allotted time frames.
• Self-Starting – The ingenuity to be creative, take initiative, analyze complex aspects of a situation, and make consistently sound and timely recommendations.
• Leadership and Teamwork – The ability to inspire and build trust, lead with confidence, act with integrity and authenticity, respect team members’ perspectives, and make 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 in a multi-faceted visitor- and community-facing organization is needed. Candidates from galleries, museums, cultural institutions, or destination-based entertainment organizations are encouraged to apply. Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, analysis, and reporting that enables timely data-driven decision making with limited risk, is essential.

Experience with strategic planning, retail operations, rentals, food services, and process improvement methodologies and culture building is desired. Expertise with capital projects, ideally in a museum or cultural setting, as well as building relationships with government entities, universities, business, tourism, and commerce partners, is preferred.

A proven mindset of continuous improvement, relying upon knowledge of evolving contemporary organizational practices and industry standards, both functional and sector specific, is appreciated. A candidate who does not meet all the qualifications but possesses transferable or equivalent skills, relevant leadership experience, and/or education is encouraged to apply.

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 access to extended health and dental coverage, life and disability insurance, travel assistance, and a range of wellness support options, including paramedical services and mental health resources. The plan also includes access to online health and wellness tools through EquitableHealth.ca and coverage options that support employees and their families through all stages of life and work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 for our enrichment and that of the community we serve. The Art Gallery of Alberta is an equal‑opportunity employer serving diverse communities.