Head of Development – Wexford Festival Trust
The Wexford Festival Trust produces the world-renowned Wexford Festival Opera, in addition to owning and operating the Festival’s home – The National Opera House, Ireland’s only purpose-built opera house and one of the country’s most modern multidisciplinary performance centres. Founded in 1951, Wexford Festival Opera plays a central role in the cultural life of Ireland, and is one of the world’s leading and most respected opera festivals, famed for enabling local, national and international audiences to indulge their passion for unjustly neglected opera, all presented to the highest professional standards, while providing access to, and a platform for, new and emerging Irish and global performing and creative talent.
Already a leader in cultural philanthropy in Ireland, Wexford Festival Trust is at an exciting phase of strategic growth. In order to fully support this growth and achieve the strategic objectives of achieving greater sustainability through enhanced levels of voluntary income generation, an accomplished development executive is required.
The Role
Reporting to the CEO, the Head of Development will be responsible for leading and managing the Wexford Festival Opera (WFO)development department. The Head of Development, a new role within the organisation, will hold accountability for the company’s overall fundraising and income generation strategy and implementation. The successful candidate will significantly grow the level of voluntary income in accordance with WFO’s strategic objectives.
The Head of Development will possess the ability to:
• Develop, implement and communicate WFO’s overall multi-million euro development strategy;
• Lead individual and corporate major gift fundraising solicitations;
• Shape and scale a development office for national and international growth.
The Head of Development will have exemplary business development skills with enhanced management capabilities and a proven track record in income generation.
Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience and knowledge of Irish and international philanthropic markets. S/he will have an interest, enthusiasm and affinity for fundraising and working with people, preferably with knowledge of arts philanthropy and current relevant policies regarding taxation in Ireland and abroad in addition to best practice governance and fundraising principles.
This enterprising leader will have a natural orientation to the mission of WFO, possessing intellectual curiosity, a love of opera and the arts and a personal and professional desire for success.
To apply or for further information:
For a full position and person profile, or an informal and confidential conversation please contactMillington Pope Consultant Darra Power Mooneydirectly. Alternatively, please submit your CV and letter of application to Darra in the first instance — a full pack will be made available to people with CVs of interest and/or we will be in contact to discuss the opportunity with you.
Closing date: 5pm on Friday, 11th September 2015.
Email:D: +353 (0)1 640 1925, UK: +44 (0)207 1010701.
For more information on WFO please visit:
Wexford Festival Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to a transparent and robust recruitment process. The final decision will be based solely on merit. Canvassing will automatically disqualify candidates. Applications are invited from suitably qualified female and male candidates.