CTC: 20 to 25 LPA
Location: Chennai
Working Days: 5-days, with occasional working evenings and weekends, as is the norm with the events sector
Festivals From India is hiring for its client, a leading Asian Cultural Centre, for the position of Deputy Director, who will play a key leadership role in managing the Centre’s programming, operations, and stakeholder relationships. The individual will bring empathy for the arts, a creative and strategic mindset, and the ability to oversee both administrative and programmatic functions, along with strong business acumen. The role involves managing budgets, leading teams, supporting partnerships, and shaping cultural programming that aligns with the Centre’s mission.
Please note:
- The vetting process for this role comprises 2-3 rounds of interviews and may be followed by a brief assignment.
- Festivals From India is hiring for this role on behalf of an Asian Cultural Centre.
- This is a full-time contractual position based in Chennai.
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- Postgraduate degree in Arts Management, Communications, Cultural Studies, or a related field.
- 8–12 years of relevant experience in cultural management, programming, or operations (ideally within the arts, non-profit, or international collaboration sectors).
- Prior experience managing partnerships with embassies, corporates, and cultural organisations.
- Proven track record of strategy and brand building, fundraising and stakeholder management.
- Experience in audience engagement and outreach programming.
Key Personal Attributes & Skills:
- Strong leadership, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage budgets and oversee financial operations.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Empathy for the arts, creative thinking, and cross-cultural sensitivity.
- Knowledge of or exposure to Korean culture is an asset.
- Comfortable working evenings/weekends during the cultural season.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy
- Support the Director in executing the Centre’s strategic and cultural objectives.
- Provide leadership to a team of ~15 staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Ensure long-term sustainability of programs and operations through efficient planning and stakeholder engagement.
- Oversee HR, finance, and facilities coordination in partnership with the parent company.
Programming & Curation
- Actively contribute to conceptualising and curating the Centre’s cultural and artistic programming across performing arts, heritage, and education.
- Travel across India and to Korea to engage with artists, festivals, and institutions; identify collaboration opportunities and touring productions (e.g., Busan Art Fair).
- Oversee audience development and educational outreach initiatives.
- Ensure high-quality programming with a balanced annual schedule of 40–45 projects (varying in scale).
Operations & Financial Management
- Manage operational budgets and oversee P&L responsibilities.
- Coordinate with finance teams to ensure accurate tracking of revenue, expenses, and project budgets.
- Supervise operational logistics across the Centre’s café, craft shop, and studio spaces.
- Maintain transparent systems for documentation, reporting, and performance reviews.
Partnerships, Fundraising & Stakeholder Management
- Build and manage relationships with donors, CSR partners, corporate members, embassies, cultural institutions, funding bodies, and other key stakeholders.
- Identify and develop new donor, CSR, sponsorship, and institutional partnership opportunities to support the Centre’s programmes and long-term sustainability.
- Strengthen and expand the Centre’s membership base, currently comprising 46 Korean and 8 Indian companies.
- Manage ongoing donor and partner engagement, including regular communication, reporting, documentation, and relationship stewardship.
- Represent the organisation at partner meetings, conferences, networking forums, and external events.
Communications & Outreach
- Collaborate with the communications team to ensure visibility and brand alignment.
- Contribute to messaging, reports, and public-facing materials that communicate the Centre’s work effectively.
- Engage with media, artists, and community representatives as required.
- Familiarity with long-term strategic planning in arts institutions.
Pay: ₹2,000,000.00 - ₹2,500,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
