Call for Applications for the Position of Director (Strategy) at Arts Council Malta

Jobsplus Permit Number: 904/2025

OVERALL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Director (Strategy) is directly responsible for the design and implementation of strategies for the cultural and creative sectors and other stakeholders. The Director (Strategy) will ensure planning, implementation, management, and oversight of the strategic goals and objectives of Arts Council Malta.

The Director (Strategy) will directly supervise the staff engaged within the Strategy Team. The Director (Strategy) will act in collaboration and in partnership with the Board of Directors, Executive Chair, Chief Operations Officer, Director (Funding), and Senior Management of Arts Council Malta.

The Director (Strategy) reports to the COO and the Executive Chair.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy

• Supports the COO and Executive Chair in providing strategic direction for the preparation of the entity’s Strategic Plan and Budget;
• Provides strategic leadership and support to the Strategy team that mirrors the mission and core values of ACM with the highest level of personal and professional integrity.
• Provides senior policy direction in preparation of ACM’s strategic plans;
• Provides holistic vision required in ensuring comprehensiveness and sensitivity in the development of ACM’s Strategy;
• Identifies and affects performance indicators in line with the ACM’s mission and the strategic objectives.
• Develops and reinforces the Public Cultural Organisations strategic framework including a cohesive calendar of events, audience development, ticketing system, and promotion and creation of new initiatives;
• Establishes a policy framework for the variety of programmes developed, managed and / or supported by the entity and, ensures new client assistance initiatives are developed and undertaken in line with overall policy vision;
• To oversee research and evaluation required to inform the development of the strategy and strategy-related actions;
• To monitor and assess cultural policy and related strategies;
• To manage and stimulate a cross-functional team and related working groups, with the aim of developing and designing improved and innovative strategic frameworks for the cultural and creative sectors;
• To develop and design a roadmap of actions necessary to implement strategic objectives;

Technical

• Considers and advises the COO, Executive Chair and the Board of Directors on the potential implications of new policies or changes to existing policies;
• Provides advice on core business matters;
• Ensures the development of information for the public and business to advice persons and entrepreneurs of the services provided by ACM and their entitlements and responsibilities thereto;
• Evaluates abilities and performance of the respective units, with discussion and assessments of performance, with recommendation on areas of improvement;
• Seeks legal advice to ensure that interpretation of the law(s) and regulations administered by ACM, and the priorities of the Board of Directors are clearly understood;
• Develops reports for the Board, identifying issues, problems, unmet needs and service gaps, and recommends initiatives and amendments to policies and programmes as required;
• Drafting of correspondence, research proposals, reports, speech notes, discussion documents and position papers;
• Prepares Board submissions and reports or briefing and presentation material for the COO and Executive Chairman and Board members;

Consultations

• Consults with senior management and other staff members in an effort to resolve problems and overcome challenges;
• Represents the entity and , where and as appropriate, exercise a strategic role on policy development and planning teams;
• Liaises on an inter-ministerial and inter-agency level on matters related to the cultural and creative sectors.

Self-Improvement

• Be well informed and up-to-date on emerging culture, creative industries and industrial property related policies and issues;
• Training;

Supervision Received

• Policy direction from the COO and Executive Chair and Board Members on assignment issues of strategic importance or issues that are contentious or sensitive.

Essential Competences and Abnormal Working Conditions

• Encompasses a creative, growth and culturally responsive mindset
• Ability to advise, support and influence a diverse array of strategic people and culture functions;
• Possess strong analytical and communication skills;
• Task-focused, with energy and motivation;
• Ability to set priorities and work under pressure;
• Use and exercise of independent and seasoned judgement;
• Excellent level of interpersonal skills, written and oral communication;
• Organizational skills with attention to detail;
• Ability and willingness to travel;
• Work as necessary to meet deadlines.

Other

• Represents ACM and, where and as appropriate, exercise a strategic role on policy development or planning teams as assigned by Executive Chair;
• Represents ACM at speaking engagements, external meetings, conferences, events, and other community activities as assigned by Executive Chair;
• Performs other duties as assigned by Executive Chair.

Eligibility Requirements

By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

1. citizens of Malta; or
2. citizens of other Member States of the European Union who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters of employment by virtue of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or
3. citizens of any other country who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment by virtue of the application to that country of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or
4. any other persons who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment in terms of the law or the above-mentioned EU legislation and treaty provisions, on account of their family relationship with persons mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or
5. third country nationals who have been granted long-term resident status in Malta under regulation 4 of the ‘Status of Long-Term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations, 2006’ or who have been granted a residence permit under regulation 18(3) thereof, together with family members of such third country nationals who have been granted a residence permit under the ‘Family Reunification Regulations, 2007’; or
6. in possession of a residence document issued in terms of the “Residence Status of United Kingdom Nationals and their Family Members in Malta in accordance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community Regulations”.

The advice of the Citizenship Unit within Community Malta Agency and the Expatriates Unit within Identita` should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation. Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue.

AND

able to communicate in both the Maltese and English language in order to sufficiently and adequately carry out the duties applied for.

AND

must be in possession of:

• a recognised Master’s qualification at MQF Level 7 (subject to a minimum of 90 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regard to programmes commencing as from October 2008) or higher, recognised comparable qualification in Cultural Policy & Management or relevant areas, plus five (5) years relevant work experience.

Or

• a recognised Bachelor’s qualification at MQF Level 6 (subject to a minimum of 180 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regard to programmes commencing as from October 2003), or an appropriate, recognised, comparable qualification in Cultural Policy & Management or relevant areas, plus ten (10) years relevant work experience.

AND MUST HAVE

• Strong leadership and understanding of the need for consistent management processes
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage and monitor the effective use of the entity’s resources

Contract and Salary information

The selected candidate will enter into a three (3) year full-time employment contract, with the possibility to renew for a further period of three (3) years, depending on his/her performance. The salary paid will be of a basic salary of €40,833 in 2025 (Grade 3 of the ACM Grading and salary Structure), a Performance Bonus of up to 15% per annum, an all-inclusive Communication Allowance of €1,800 per annum, an all-inclusive Transport Allowance of €4,659 per annum, and an Expense Allowance of €2,000 per annum.

Applications

Interested applicants are required to send a motivation letter together with a CV and copies of certificates to vacancies@artscouncil.mt

Applicant holding foreign qualifications are required to produce a recognition statement by the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) within the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), which is to be obtained by submitting an online application for the recognition of qualifications at https://services.mfhea.mt/CertificationApplication.aspx. Such statement should be attached to the application and the original presented at the interview.

Closing date for applications is 26th September 2025 at noon.

Eligible applicants will be asked to sit for a selection interview.