Executive Director, Mountain Culture

POSITION: Executive Director, Mountain Culture
REFERENCE: 06-312 ESA
DEPARTMENT: Mountain Culture
POSITION OBJECTIVES:
Reporting to the Vice President, Programming, the Executive Director, and Mountain Culture is responsible for providing the overall leadership and program philosophy, strategic direction, program framework and delivery of mountain programming at The Banff Centre.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for the planet, whose career to date has been focused on developing environmental sustainability, especially in relation to the world?s mountain places.
Set in Canada?s first National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, The Banff Centre is uniquely positioned. A globally respected arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference facility, The Banff Centre is mandated to provide environmental programming, which the Mountain Culture department is charged with the responsibility of creating and delivering.
Throughout its rich 31 year history, the Mountain Culture department has created and grown annual festivals and competitions that bring together world-class mountaineers, enthusiasts of extreme sport and committed conservationists to celebrate the mountains, and people?s place within them, through films, books and photography. Through its World Tour, the Banff Mountain Film Festival takes the best of the film festival around the world, with 450 screenings in 30 countries each year.
The Mountain Culture department is also the proud host of the North American node of Mountain Forum, a global community of people and organizations in more than 95 countries who work toward equitable and ecologically sustainable mountain development. As well, it has organized high quality summits and symposia that have gathered experts and raised public understanding and appreciation of issues facing mountain environments.
Now the Mountain Culture department seeks a leader with an exciting vision for the future. As the senior leader, the Executive Director will be challenged to develop thought-provoking environmental programming while building on the excellence of the Banff Mountain Film Festival and its World Tour, the Banff Mountain Book Festival as well as other key programs.
In addition to the Executive Director, we will also be seeking to fill the position of Associate Director with an individual with complementary skills and experience, especially in the areas of mountain film and literature. This individual will work in partnership with the ED in delivering an exciting repertoire of programs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
We require a candidate who is an experienced leader and decision-maker with expertise in the environmental field, particularly as it relates to sustainability in mountain areas worldwide. Not only should the candidate should possess a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of people?s relationship with mountain areas through arts, science, exploration, recreation and culture, s/he should have a personal appreciation of mountain travel and recreation.
An excellent communicator, preferably with international expertise, the Executive Director will have proven business and management skills, accompanied by superior fundraising capabilities to ensure financial accountability, sustainability and planning that will advance the department and achieve budgets. The ability to establish and maintain effective contacts, and develop strategic partnerships, with industry sponsors, foundations, government departments and key sector organizations regionally, nationally, and internationally, is essential.
A seasoned professional with post secondary education in a related field, and a minimum of 10 years experience, the candidate must demonstrate the effective team-building and leadership skills required to lead the dedicated, high-performing team in Mountain Culture.
This is a professional position, with a 12-month probationary period.
DATE POSTED: November 2nd 2006
DATE CLOSES: December 15th, 2006
Detailed job description is available upon request. Please call Trevor Tyre 403-762-6173 for more details