HIAP is looking for a Director

HIAP Suomenlinna. Photo by Tuomas Laasanen.

(Information in Finnish / Hakuohjeet suomeksi)

When the current long-term Director moves on to another position, HIAP (Helsinki International Artist Programme) is looking for a visionary and capable Director to be responsible for the organisation’s operations and finances, as well as collaborations and strategic planning.

We expect the Director candidates to have relevant management experience, strong knowledge of the residency field or the art sector, and the ability to foster collaboration networks both in Finland and internationally. The position will be filled for a period of five years starting from 1 August 2024, after which there is a possibility of a continuation.

HIAP is Finland’s leading artist residency organisation and a significant actor in the international artist residency scene. HIAP’s core activity is to arrange artist residencies in Suomenlinna and Cable Factory, offering art professionals time, space and support for creative work in interaction with the local art scene.

HIAP’s programme activities have been built around collaboration initiatives, such as Ukraine Solidarity Residencies Programme, Post-Fossil Transition (in collaboration with Mustarinda) and HIAP’s exhibition pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale. Important key themes of the past years have been ecological sustainability, collegiality and learning.

HIAP has a permanent staff of 2 people and additional employees with fixed-term contracts.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director is responsible for a wide range of tasks. The responsitilities include:

Financing and fundraising (applications, reporting), development of new financing models.
Preparing the annual activity plans, managing the activities in accordance with the strategy and mission, and long-term strategic planning together with the board.
Responsibility for the association’s financial planning and follow-up.
Leadership of the personnel and the development of residency activities in close cooperation with the entire staff.
Leading the organisation’s communications and publicity.
Leading the development of new projects and initiatives, as well as developing both national and international collaboration networks.
Following up and contributing to the discourse on artist residencies, taking part in the relevant conferences and seminars.
Preparing the association’s annual meetings and reporting the activities regularly to the association’s board.

AS THE DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO:

To lead and develop a residency organisation that has a significant position in both national and international context.
To operate at the vantage point of the international arts sector.
To work with a collegial work community and to have rich interaction with a diverse residency community.
To work in the unique premises and surroundings of Suomenlinna World Heritage Site.
To work within flexible working hours (partial remote work possible).

WE EXPECT YOU TO HAVE:

At least five years of work experience in tasks related to international art and culture activities.
A suitable higher education degree.
Versatile leadership skills and good interpersonal skills.
Strong knowledge of the arts sector or artist residencies.
Experience in long-term financial planning of a private or public organization.
Excellent English language skills.

WE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS AN ADVANTAGE:

Extensive knowledge of international residency field and networking skills.
Comprehensive Finnish language skills.
Experience in diverse stakeholder work and networks with Finnish and international arts and culture professionals and actors.
Proven skills in team leadership and financial management.
Interest in developing and expanding organisation’s fundraising capabilities.
Experience in fostering organisation’s ecological and social sustainability.

The work involves travelling. HIAP prioritises ecological travelling via land or sea.

SALARY AND WORKING HOURS

The position is full-time and starts on 1 August 2024 with a monthly salary of EUR 3,850. There is a possibility to revise and raise the salary, if funding permits. Incentives for obtaining new funding are negotiable.

ABOUT HIAP

HIAP’s guiding values are hospitality, ecological and social sustainability and dialogue. In accordance with HIAP’s strategy, the organisation strives to promote equality, diversity and fairness.

HIAP office is located in Suomenlinna. The office is not fully accessible, and Suomenlinna is partly a challenging environment for people with impaired mobility. There is a possibility for partial remote work. The working languages of the organisation are Finnish and English.

We welcome applicants of different ages, gender and backgrounds who meet the requirements for the position. All applications will be treated confidentially.

HOW TO APPLY

Send us a one-page application, in which you describe your motivation for applying for this role, and what your strengths would be in the role. Include the name of the person(s) who can provide a reference for you.

Please submit your application and CV in one PDF by Tuesday 16 April at 24:00 (Finnish time) to recruitment@hiap.fi. In the email subject line, please add “HIAP Director 2024” and name the PDF file as Surname_Firstname.

The interviews will be held in April-May 2024. The aim is to make the selection by the end of May 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to deliver a pre-task, which will be announced at a later stage. The candidates selected for the interviews will receive further information about the interview in advance. The interviews will be conducted by members of the HIAP board and a HIAP staff representative. Several rounds of interviews may be organised.

Further information about the position provided by:

Chairperson of the HIAP board
Petri Ruikka
+358 44 5505078

Contact by telephone:
Thu 4 April at 1–3 pm
Thu 11 April at 1–3 pm