AEC Executive Director

Job offer

The Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) seeks for recruitment, as of 1st February 2024 an Executive Director for its international office in Brussels.

Application deadline: Monday 11 September 2023, midnight CET

Starting date: 1st February 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE POSITION

The Executive Director of AEC is responsible for guiding, advising and delivering upon AEC’s work in these areas. The Executive Director reports to the AEC President and works closely with the Association’s Executive Committee and Council. Council is the body elected by the membership to act on its behalf and the Executive Director’s role is both to advise Council and to ensure the proper enactment of decisions taken by Council on behalf of the membership.

The Executive Director leads a small and highly professionalised Office Team located in Brussels.

The new post-holder will build upon the prominent profile that AEC has established in Europe and beyond, acting as an advocate not only for the Association but for higher music education as a whole. He/she/they will also maintain and further develop AEC’s strong network of international partners in the field of higher education and culture.

Applicants should have leadership experience in the higher music education sector: they will probably have held a senior post in European higher music education and will be able to relate as equals to institutional leaders in the field. They should have a clear and ambitious personal vision for the future of European higher music education, but also a readiness to listen to the membership, tap into its feelings and see those translated into concerted advocacy and action for the sector. They should have a solid experience in project management and advocacy.

The position is based in Brussels (AEC Office) and requires frequent travels abroad.

SALARY

A minimum wage of € 70’000,00 gross per year (based on Belgian employment regulations) will be offered. The actual wage will be negotiated on the basis of the qualification and working experience of the candidate.

MORE INFORMATION

Information about AEC can be found at www.aec-music.eu.

Further information about this position can be obtained from Mrs Deborah Kelleher (deborahkelleher@riam.ie), AEC President, or Mrs Linda Messas, AEC General Manager / Vice Executive Director (lindamessas@aec-music.eu).

HOW TO APPLY?

Please email your CV and a concise motivation letter as a single attachment in PDF to applications@aec-music.eu with the subject Job application Executive Director [your surname].

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadline: 11 September 2023 (included).

First round of interviews with short-listed candidates: Online on 3rd October 2023.
Second round of interviews: at the AEC Office in Brussels on 17th October 2023.

AEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Reporting to: AEC President

Responsibilities and tasks:

1. Representation, Lobbying and Profile-raising

Representing AEC at major internal events and raising its profile externally by making presentations at events connected with music, higher education, European policy and the arts & culture;
Lobbying effectively and pro-actively within the European Institutions and with other bodies influential in the spheres of music, higher education, the arts & culture;
Building strategic alliances and partnerships to strengthen the position of the AEC and to advance the cause of higher music education;
Maintaining and further developing contacts with other international networks and governments at both national and European level;
Exercising overall responsibility for the marketing and promotion of the AEC with the aim of increasing the visibility of the Association to its members, constituents, international networks in the fields of higher education, European institutions, national government bodies and other key stakeholders or target groups;
Exercising overall responsibility for the development of all communications, including the website, database, publications and archives, and evaluating the progress made in these areas.

2. Support for Executive Committee, Council and General Assembly

In conjunction with the General Manager / Vice Executive Director, advising the AEC Executive Committee, AEC Council, committees and sub-groups of Council, the AEC General Assembly on issues requiring their decision, and ensuring the faithful implementation of decisions reached by these bodies;
Developing the AEC Strategic Plans in conjunction with the AEC Council and the AEC Office Team, and then ensuring that these are executed as agreed by the General Assembly;
Being proactive in advising the AEC Council and the entire Membership on issues pertinent to the work of the Association;
Taking responsibility for the financial sustainability of the Association, including income-generating strategies and investigating additional services for members and key stakeholders;
Responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure that the AEC stays well informed about its members, their needs and expectations;
Responsible for developing and implementing strategies that support the AEC in its aim to increase membership.

3. Leadership of the AEC Office

In conjunction with the General Manager / Deputy Director, ensuring the efficient management of the AEC Office, including finances, communication, general planning and personnel management;
Exercising overall responsibility for the professional organisation of the permanent and statutory meetings in the AEC (annual congress, general assembly, council meetings, annual meeting for international relations coordinators, platforms) offering advice and leadership to the responsible Office Team member and working closely with the Office Team in the preparation of key materials.

4. Individual expertise

Possessing, and maintaining through regular updating, a high level of individual expertise in at least one of the areas of development most relevant to AEC and its members (see Strategic Plan 2016-2023);
Deploying this expertise generously across the Association, helping to spread knowledge, build capacity and, where appropriate, shape opinion among its members;
Using this expertise to offer informed, well-argued advice and recommendations to the Council in its formulation of Association-wide policy, being prepared to take a strong lead, whilst remaining sensitive to the diversity of views, traditions and regional situations that exist among member institutions.

5. Projects

Identifying new opportunities for projects, evaluating their viability and deciding on whether they should be applied for and initiated;
Leading major project applications;
Exercising overall responsibility for ensuring that current projects are well managed and that financial and other reporting is carried out in a timely and professional manner;
Directly managing some of the projects in which AEC is involved.

6. Other

Undertaking any tasks and responsibilities as reasonably required by the AEC Council, AEC President, the membership and the organisation;
As with all members of the AEC Office Team, providing general support to the Office colleagues at times of exceptional pressure, within the constraints of own workload.