Job Opportunity: Arts and Culture Specialist

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.

The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.

We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Art and Culture Specialist is responsible for coordinating and delivering City-led art and culture programs that meet community needs, align with City priorities, and exceed industry standards. This role maximizes resources and partnerships to support key program areas, including Horizon Stage, Black Box Theatre, the Municipal Art Collection, public art installations, community activations, outreach and in-reach initiatives, and year-round arts and culture programming, including camp support.

This position is highly public-facing and works closely with internal departments, external agencies, and community partners to ensure program success. The Specialist provides day-to-day leadership and oversight to contract instructors and performers, volunteers, program coordinators, and seasonal staff. Responsibilities include monitoring program outcomes, gathering and applying participant feedback, and building strong relationships with community organizations, schools, businesses, and local artists to enhance program quality, relevance, and access.
The Specialist ensures that clear program policies, practices, and standards are in place to support consistent, high-quality delivery. With expertise in programs, performances, and art experiences, the role may also support issue management and facility development as it relates to arts and culture components.

This position provides ongoing support for City-led special events that incorporate art and culture programming.

This is a full-time, permanent position with an annual salary ranging from $82,937.40-$98,589.40.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership
• Communicate and integrate the benefits of art and culture into messaging, training and other materials and contexts.
• Act and represent as the professional face of the corporation within the community, ensuring integrity, respect, accountability, and confidentiality are standard.
• Align with the City’s Strategic and Corporate plans as well as City values and guiding principles.
• Support and facilitate comprehensive training for identified program delivery staff to ensure standards for content, delivery, safety, and reporting are met.
• Through modeling, training and feedback, lead employees to meet the organization’s expectations for productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment.
• Actively participate in the strategic and service planning activities of the Program and Events work unit.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of corporate planning documents, tools and how they are applied.
• Develop and fosters positive relationships with community agencies, service groups, residents and participants utilizing or partnering to implement programs and projects.
• Provide support in the day-to-day supervision and training and mentoring to program delivery staff in the achievement of their roles and responsibilities.
• Receive and investigate complaints or concerns relative to the delivery of Art and Culture programs and services and ensure appropriate information is provided, or appropriate action taken, elevating the issue to manager as required.
Program Service Delivery
• Develop comprehensive program and performance plans for Horizon Stage, Black box Theatre and other City spaces, arts and culture programs, and community interests.
• Monitor the efficient and effective ongoing operation of art and culture programs provided by the City as well as continual enhancements to the programs and their processes.
• Collaborate with Horizon Stagelighters for artist sponsorships and presentations.
• Support the development and implementation of corporate public art policies, procedures and processes.
• Ensure program planning aligns with outcome and output targets, using varied measurement tools.
• Utilize traditional and non-traditional facilities to deliver diverse programs.
• Implement key standards like High 5, Developmental Assets, GBA+, and Truth & Reconciliation recommendations, environmental strategies, arts and theatre standards and practice, Fundamental Movement Skills, etc.
• Collect data for program development and evaluate new program requests.
• Support program and facility schedules and maintain appropriate work records and documentation.
• Oversee program logistics, including supplies, staff apparel, and participant needs.
• Manage program scheduling and fees, ensuring effective fiscal management.
• Report on program progress, successes, and recommendations to the Manager.
• Contributes to the planning and delivery of City-led, special event program components, as required.
Risk Management and Safety
• Oversee and support the development of risk management and safety programs consistent with City standards, policy, and provincial/federal legislation for employees and public facility users.
• Ensure program facilities are clean, safe, and tidy, for successful program implementation.
• • Report all health and safety incidents, near misses as required in a timely fashion.
• • Participate in regular Health and Safety meetings and relevant health and safety training as required.
Budget Administration
• Recommend and prepare specific program/event and area budgets, including supplies, staffing requirements, fees, and contractors to Manager.
• Assist in managing and communicating program budgets as per City policies and practices, by tracking expenses and reporting accordingly.
• Recommend increases and decreases in fees and charges to reflect changes in market when requested.
Contract Management
• With support from the Manager, establish and manage formal and informal relationships between The City and arts and culture groups, community organizations, performers, and contractors to direct the use and development of community facilities. This includes program contractors, performers, artists, and technical support.
• Works collaboratively and communicates all contract requirements to appropriate staff for completion in a timely manner, specifically performer riders and other requirements. Coordinate program and event contractors for short-term or specialized project work within City policy.
• Facilitate contracts and permits related to this area with strategic guidance from the Manager, including contract program instructors, grants, special event permits, field trips, etc.
Public Relations, Customer Service, and Marketing
• Facilitate, actively contribute, and monitor the development of program and event marketing and promotional strategies.
• Develop implement and monitor marketing and promotional strategies, assess feedback for service improvements, and support public relations initiatives.
• Assess feedback from partners on their future needs and evaluates current services.
• Support the creation and content of promotion and marketing tools to raise community awareness about participating in various activities throughout various platforms (social media, newsletters)
• Review and support content for media releases and public messaging relevant to programs and events.
• Provide professional public information, education, referral, and advocacy, following corporate standards.
• Provide guidance and support for marketing and communication materials, updating signage, policies, and procedures, and recommending improvements.
• Respond to customer concerns and complaints with tact, professionalism, and understanding within appropriate time frames.
• Identify issues and inquiries requiring escalation and ensures relevant details and customer contact information are documented and communicated appropriately.
• Complete required investigations, reports, and follow-up actions related to incidents or accidents.
• Maintain awareness of departmental and corporate events, programs, services, and facilities, as well as community-led and regional initiatives, to share accurate information with front-line staff, program participants, and residents.
• Develop and fosters positive relationships with contractors, artists, participants, caregivers, families, community groups, and partner agencies involved in program delivery.
Other Duties
• Understand and adhere to City policies, procedures and standards, whether written or implied, as amended from time to time.
• Contribute to a positive safety culture by always acting in a safe manner and complying with City safety policies and procedures for staff and contractors.
• Continuously enhance professional and technical expertise through participation in educational workshops, seminars, networking opportunities, and engagement with professional societies.
• Act as a steward of the City's Corporate Culture by following the “Values, We Live By”.
• All employees shall act in a safe manner at all times and will report any unsafe conditions, procedures or acts for the benefit of the City. Continual adherence to the City Safety Policy is mandatory.
• Employee are expected to stay current on WHMIS and other safety-related procedures.
• Perform other job-related duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:
• Post-secondary degree in an Arts and Culture discipline with 4 years of relevant work experience OR a college/technical diploma in an Arts and Culture discipline with 6 years of relevant experience will also be considered.
• Experience in staff supervision and/or leadership.
• Advanced communication skills and excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent collaborative negotiation and problems solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with all levels within the organization and externally.
• Ability to effectively transfer ideas, concepts, and information into effective and efficient strategies.
• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate innovative plans.
• Ability to work both independently as well as within a multifaceted team environment.
• Strong customer service orientation and the ability to build positive, productive business relationships.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in interpersonal dealings which are difficult, sensitive and confidential and may involve exposure to the media or public criticism.
• Enhanced knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.

Asset Qualifications:
• High Five Certification
• Quest 1 (Programming Planning/Development).
• Experience in public speaking
• Knowledge in preparing grant applications.

Competencies:
Thinking & Acting Strategically - Forward-thinking. Sees the big picture and imagines the future. Links long-range visions, strategies, and concepts to daily work. Aligns personal actions and initiatives with customer needs, and with organizational priorities and direction. To think and act strategically requires an understanding of our organizational direction, as well as the internal and external factors that influence decision-making.

Building Influential Working Relationships - Strengthening and developing working relationships and strategic alliances that are founded on ethics, trust, and guided by our corporate values of respect, leadership, accountability, communication, and integrity.

Optimizing Performance & Results - Reaches for excellence for oneself, one’s team, and the organization. Determined and focused on achieving outcomes that align with organizational goals. Creates goals and priorities that maximize resources while using an enterprising, resourceful approach to deliver outcomes and achieve customer expectations. Maintains accountability for results.

Growing Talent & Workforce Capacity - Honouring the individual differences that make each person unique. Being curious and committed to listening, reflecting, and learning. Developing individual and workforce capabilities to enhance the organization’s capacity to accomplish strategic goals, enhance program and service delivery, and provide an exceptional customer/client experience. Contributes to a learning and teaching culture.

Fostering Innovation & Steering Change – Creates an environment for transformation. Advances the City through improvement based on innovation and guides the associated change. Uses the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to produce new or improved programs and services to meet current and future needs of our customers, our organization, and our community.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Must obtain a satisfactory review of a three-year Driver’s Abstract, with a maximum of six demerits.
• Criminal Record Check Clearance.

Working Environment:
• Monday to Friday.
• Hours of Work: 8:30am to 4:30pm.
• Overtime is required.
• Travel is required.
• Exposure to noise levels that may exceed 85 decibels.

NEXT STEPS

• You must apply through the City of Spruce Grove careers portal to be considered. We do not accept applications through other forums. Please apply here.
• Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
• Candidates may be interviewed as applications are received.

WHY WORK FOR US?

• Competitive annual salary
• Pension
• Medical & Dental Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Wellness Initiatives
• Work/Life Balance
• Recognized General Holidays
• Leave Options
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Positive Work Atmosphere
• Employee Awards
• Volunteer and Fundraising Opportunities
• Professional Development