Director – Canadian Leadership Institute

Job Description:

We’re Recruiting For…

Director, Canadian Leadership Institute

The Confederation Centre
The Confederation Centre is Canada’s National Memorial to the founders of the country. It is the result of a dream shared by all Canadians – a place where Canada’s evolution and multicultural character is celebrated and explored right where Canadian confederation began; where the talents of Canadian people are nurtured and showcased through arts, learning, and conversation. Taking up a full city block in downtown Charlottetown, the Centre includes performance venues, art gallery spaces, arts education and learning studios, and spaces for convening and conversation.

Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964 to commemorate the centennial of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the Confederation Centre has welcomed millions of visitors from Canada and the world to experience Canada through many lenses. Producing world-class theatre performances, gallery exhibitions, arts education, community programs, and convening opportunities for discussion on Canadian confederation, the Centre is the largest national multidisciplinary cultural institution in Atlantic Canada.

As an employer, the Confederation Centre brings together people of diverse skill sets and qualifications in an equally diverse set of programs and multidisciplinary environments. It has a significant economic impact for the region including an annual operating budget of $13 million, a GDP impact of more than $27 million and creates more than 400 jobs. These numbers are currently increasing as the Confederation Centre undergoes the most significant transformational expansion in its history. A $65 million rejuvenation of the former library and archives complex is underway and will be substantially completed by late 2026. This exciting project will result in more programs, jobs, and new facilities to support a Canadian Leadership Institute for discussion of important issues in Canada, an Arts Academy for learning programs, and an Arts Innovation Hub for the creation of new Canadian content.

The Centre is governed by a national board of 24 directors from across Canada, informed by an advisory group of Governors, and inspired by a Youth Advisory Board of ten young leaders who help us connect with new generations and stay relevant into the future. The Confederation Centre is a place where Canadians and visitors gather for inspirational experiences in arts, culture, and conversation. It is where people learn about Canada and explore the issues most important to us; it is Where Canada Connects.

The Canadian Leadership Institute

Located beside Province House, the site of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the newly formed Canadian Leadership Institute at the Confederation Centre builds on the renowned Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture which has, for more than 20 years, engaged Canada in an annual conversation about an evolving Confederation.

In 2023 we launched the Charlottetown Forum to increase engagement in conversations about Canada. This set us on a trajectory towards creating more convening opportunities on important issues in Canada. The new Canadian Leadership Institute will facilitate these convening sessions with experts, leaders, and the public on a host of issues that affect Canadian confederation. Forums, meetings, conferences, and other gatherings will explore important Canadian issues in three categories: Public Policy; Truth & Reconciliation; and Arts & Culture.

The Institute will help Canadians explore, discover, and make progress on issues such as economics, trade, national defense, immigration, health care, education, AI and digital evolution, identity and culture, music, arts, truth and reconciliation, energy, agriculture, the environment, sovereignty, and many others. The Institute’s inaugural Director will establish and develop new programming; to work in collaboration and partnership with other leaders and organizations across Canada; and to engage all Canadians in these important discussions.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The capital city of PEI is the birthplace of Canadian confederation, and the Confederation Centre of the Arts is Canada’s national memorial to those who met here in 1864 and proposed a union that would result in a new country three years later. Charlottetown is a beautiful place to live and work. It has a thriving cultural community with numerous attractions including arts, recreation, restaurants, parks, and the harbour. Charlottetown is home to the University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College, and welcomes roughly 1.5 million tourists every summer. Minutes away are some of the best beaches, golf courses, and natural attractions that Canada has to offer.

The opportunity
We are seeking a Director to lead the Canadian Leadership Institute and engage diverse audiences and communities in dialogue, forums, debate, lectures, and conferences, on topics that matter to Canadians and impact Canadian confederation. Building on 20 years of the Symons Medal and Lecture series and the Charlottetown Forum at the Confederation Centre, this new Institute will expand convening programs at the Centre to include more formats and engage more people.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can build on the Centre’s successful history of innovative cultural and learning programs and define Institute’s place in Canadian discourse. The Director will help build the programming of the Institute in three streams: Public Policy; Reconciliation; and Arts & Culture. In doing so, the Director will contribute to the Confederation Centre’s rejuvenation efforts, reconnecting it with the rest of Canada, and re-establishing the Centre as a place for engagement and learning about Canada.

The Director is a member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Working in collaboration with Directors of other program areas and administrative departments, the Director of the Canadian Leadership Institute is responsible for providing leadership in planning, direction, management, and sustainability of all operations for the Institute.

As a member of the senior leadership team at the Centre, the Director works in collaboration with other leaders to successfully implement the strategic priorities of the Centre and meet the goals outlined in the Centre’s Strategic Plan. The Director is responsible for creating and implementing a plan for the leadership institute that supports the strategic mandates of the Confederation Centre and serves the needs of stakeholders throughout the region and across the country.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and communicate a strategic vision for the Canadian Leadership Institute which supports the Strategic Plan of the Centre and ensures it is relevant and meaningful to stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and collaborative communications for all Centre staff and volunteers who support the activities of the institute, along with external collaborators, setting goals, fostering professional development; and maintaining a positive, inclusive work environment.
• Work closely with CEO and the senior management team, to ensure that the Canadian Leadership Institute is sustainable and efficiently aligned to the broader operations of the Confederation Centre.

Sustainability and Fiscal Responsibility

• Develop and manage the Canadian Leadership Institute’s multi-year budget plans ensuring the prudent allocation of resources while identifying new revenue sources.
• Take an active role to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the Institute through strong financial management and proactive, entrepreneurial strategies for revenue generation.
• Foster collaborations and partnerships in the local, regional, and national community of organizations in the public policy space.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with funding agencies, community groups, donors, sponsors, government officials, and professional cultural service organizations.

Operational Management

• Annual programming of convening opportunities in the form of forums, debate, discussions, conferences, or online experiences in three program streams:
• Public Policy: facilitate gatherings for progress on a broad range of issues that are important to Canada and discussions of Canadian confederation
• Reconciliation: in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, facilitate convening sessions that contribute to progress on reconciliation and the TRC calls to action
• Arts & Culture: facilitate discussion on a broad range of issues in the arts and cultural sector in performing arts, visual arts, writing, new media, AI and technology, and others
• Oversee the day-to-day operations and successful delivery of convenings, events, and all projects produced, hosted, or supported by the Institute.
• Provide supportive and inspirational leadership to all involved in the Institute, fostering a collaborative and professional, high-performance work environment, while also providing guidance and leadership more broadly across program areas at the Confederation Centre as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the Institute, promoting its programs, events, and forums in the media, to funders, sponsors, government, and to the public.

The Ideal Candidate:
You are an experienced and strategic leader who is passionate about Canada, public policy, and engaging experts on a wide range of issues impacting Canadian confederation. You appreciate expertise and sector leadership, and love bringing people together for inspirational and informative discussion, and a plan for real outcomes and impact. You are an expert in one or more areas, and you have a broad range of interests across public policy and Canadian issues. You have experience communicating deeply with leaders and experts in government or any sector to convene and make meaningful progress on individual issues, while strategically working toward a greater vision to make Canada a better place for all.

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in public policy, cultural, or academic sectors, with increasing responsibility in program building and operational management
• Demonstrable experience and success developing and managing budgets for operations and programs
• Substantial experience with funding applications processes and revenue generation
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop staff and volunteers
• Strong communication skills with experience in public speaking, media relations, and stakeholder engagement
• Experience in strategic planning in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Graduate degree in communications, public affairs, or the arts
• Experience and comfort working with government and industry leaders
• Experience addressing issues of financial sustainability and new business models
• Bilingualism (French/English) is an asset

Additional Information:
The Director, Canadian Leadership Institute, is a full-time, year-round position, beginning April 1, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The hiring salary range is $85,000 – $110,000 per annum commensurate with experience, with a comprehensive benefits package and pension plan. Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage.

• Employer-matched pension plan
• Paid vacation and contingency days
• Staff discounts on shows and events
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training and professional development opportunities

How to Apply

Please submit your resume with a cover letter to Sara Rogers, People & Workplace Manager by applying below.

Confederation Centre of the Arts is committed to promoting a diverse workplace culture. We encourage applications from under-represented communities and persons with disabilities. When requested, we will provide accommodation for candidates throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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