Vancouver Tap Dance Society

About the Society

The Vancouver Tap Dance Society (VTDS) is a registered charitable, non-profit organization focused on promoting, preserving and developing awareness of the art form of tap since 1995. We achieve this through our innovative Tap Academy; youth performance ensemble, TapCo; extensive Outreach Program; and hosting the Annual Vancouver International Tap Festival. TapCo, our youth ensemble, has entertained in excess of 100,000 students in B.C. We teach 300 students – preschoolers to octogenarians – and we are proud to support fifty of them with scholarships. Our social and community benefits have consistently included bringing world class tap artists to our city to teach and perform, providing scholarships for children to take classes who otherwise could not afford to, and giving everyone access and an opportunity to participate. Our passion for the art form ​is a hallmark of the VTDS, and this extends to our professional faculty, a commitment to preserving the legacy of the tap masters, promoting leadership, confidence, discipline, and teambuilding to children of all ages through our academy and performances. Our most important role is as ambassador for the development and increased awareness of this unique form of dance to audiences internationally. We offer sought after, high-profile performance and training opportunities which focus on developing not only technical prowess, but talented future professionals in the discipline.

Our Culture

As a non-profit Society working to provide engaging education and experiences to the community, we value strong leadership with a respectful collaborative approach, and individuals who work in the interest of advancing the whole while being able to generate excitement and engagement. We welcome the input and special skills of our team, and appreciate the ability to learn and grow with them.

Our Future

As an artistic organization respected internationally as a recognized gate keeper of tap dance, the organization serves the tap community and its future sustainability with dedicated leadership through a strong artistic lens. We foresee the continued growth of the Society, with further development of the innovative and high-level programming for which we are renowned, as well as a growing contribution to the development of a strong professional community. Additionally, the development and implementation of the dynamic plan for our strategic direction will provide an opportunity for the ideal candidate to have a substantial impact and influence in the future of the Society, and on the portrayal and development of the art form and culture locally, and beyond. The Society has evolved under the leadership of an Executive Director with a strong background in finance and business, however the board recognizes that the Society is an artistic organization and is open to the idea that the successful applicant may be more focused on the artistic aspects of the organization.

Job Description

We are transitioning from our original executive director and seeking a passionate and innovative candidate to shepherd the Society through this important transitional period toward further growth and the fulfillment of the Society’s long-term vision. The departure of our executive director will leave substantial opportunity for the ideal candidate to take on a vital and visionary role of leadership and guidance within the VTDS organization, including:

• Developing the art form, and becoming an Ambassador for the organization
• Supporting the Academy team of faculty and staff
• Assessment of program delivery
• Risk management
• Producing Vancouver International Tap Festival
• Grant writing
• Building Operations and Management
• Spearheading projects to enhance the tap community
• Providing creative projects that are performance and/or professional development driven
• Monthly board meetings and promotional and society related events
• Human resources and governance best practices

Our ideal candidate has strengths in administration and in artistic development and is interested in playing a central role in service of the mission and vision of the VTDS. The ideal candidate also has a passion for our art, knowledge of the dance form and an interest in the promotion and education of the discipline.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the successful candidate will become a collaborative partner with our engaged and dedicated team comprised of a board of directors, the Artistic Director of TapCo, a faculty of 6 instructors, an Academy Manager, and a Bookkeeper. The candidate will provide ethical, strategic, transparent, and value-centered leadership while helping shape the future of the organization and the development of the art form. We are offering a full-time (35-40 hours), permanent opportunity with a flexible schedule and work environment, as well as Medical and Dental benefits. Base salary is $60,000 annually but may be increased based on the experience of the successful applicant.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of leadership and management principles as they relate to non-profit/voluntary organizations
• Experience in a dynamic, hands on, Management Role
• Post-secondary degree in business or NPO management, a Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, is a plus
• Experience in the conception, development, and implementation of the artistic vision and mission of a dance company or academy
• Knowledge of and/or experience in the application processes for municipal, provincial, and federal grants or the interest in learning
• Financial literacy and budget management skills
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn, QuickBooks, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience in human resources management
• Experience in project management
• A talent and enjoyment for speaking and engaging with the public on behalf of the organization
• Knowledge of current community challenges and opportunities relating to the mission of the organization
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations and an ability to interface and engage diverse volunteer and donor groups

Our ideal candidate possesses the following Personal Qualifications:

•  Knowledge of and/or interest in rhythm tap dance
• Transparent, ethical, and high integrity leadership skills with an ability to foster       teamwork
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic work environment
• Ability to think and act creatively and with vision in the pursuit of the improvement and growth of the organization
• Ability to be a creative and artistic resource to the Society staff with regards to programming and community development
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organization
• Ability to anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of members to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters
• Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, task facilitation, and time management
• Strong decision-making skills with a focus on the goals of the organization.
• Strong and effective communication skills with public speaking ability
• Strong problem solving, troubleshooting, and critical thinking skills

Flexibility​:

• We are open to changing the current structure of the organization and will be accepting applications from those who have more tap dance based experience and would provide tap specific artistic leadership. For the right candidate, we may be willing to transfer certain financial and managerial aspects of the job to another employee in order for this candidate to focus more on specifically tap dance related endeavours.

To Apply:

Submit the following via email to board@vantapdance.com​ by June 30, 2018.

Start date: October 1 – November 1, 2018 (depending on availability of the successful applicant)

Attention:​ Karen Gram, President of the Board of Directors of the VTDS

• Cover letter (maximum 750 words) explaining why this position excites you, and why you are our ideal candidate
• CV/Resume
• Links to any relatable work you have completed