First Fortnight seeks administrator

First Fortnight,  a charity-based organisation with the expressed aim of challenging mental health prejudice through the creative arts, is seeking an administrator. We believe the arts allow us to create a space where people can talk about mental health issues in a non-scripted manner. Once that conversation has begun, we hope this will then help change people’s perceptions about an issue that affects us all with one in four of us set to experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. With that in mind, we hope to make the First Fortnight of each year synonymous with mental health awareness, challenging prejudice and ending stigma.

Founded in 2009, First Fortnight staged its first two-week arts festival in 2012. The charity has since become a mental health service provider with the establishment last year of the First Fortnight Centre for Creative Therapies. The centre currently employs two psychotherapists providing art-therapy for individuals experiencing homelessness and mental ill health in Dublin. The First Fortnight charity is managed entirely by its voluntary board members.

Our Mental health partners include See Change, Mental Health Reform, Spun Out & My Mind. Our core funding is a combination of earned income, public and private investment. In addition we fundraise year round.

Organisational Structure

The administrator will report to the organisations directors.

Position Profile

Key elements of the role are as follows:

• Day to day administration, correspondence and communication
• Conducting ongoing research to provide the evidence base for ongoing activities
• Promoting awareness of the festival nationally and internationally
• Managing the festival’s online presence throughout the year, developing content on www.firstfortnight.ie and social media platforms with particular emphasis on interactivity and audience development
• Funding & fundraising
• Accounting & financial management
• Office management
• Programme co-ordination
• Organisational communications
• Volunteer programme co-ordination

The key qualities sought are:

• Visual literacy, excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proven track record in a similar role
• Evidence of successfully managing relationships
• Experience setting and controlling budgets and in efficient use of financial and other resources
• Knowledge of the performing arts
• Enthusiasm for Dublin and Ireland and knowledge of the country’s national culture and artists
• Commitment to extending participation in the arts & health

Skills and personal qualities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to build trust?based relationships internally and externally
• The ability to think strategically
• Initiator and collaborator, able to work effectively with others
• Resilient, with the ability to cope with pressure and high expectations
• Integrity, honesty and loyalty
• Proven leadership, team?building and management skills
• Planning and decision making skill, note taking and meeting management skills
• Commercial awareness

Summary of Terms and Conditions

Contract: Six months
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Notice: One month notice on either side
Probation: One month, with notice of one month during this period
Location: 12 Earl Street, Dublin 8.

Application Process

Applicants are invited to submit:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae outlining all relevant experience
• A letter of application outlining what makes you an appropriate candidate for the position
• Contact details for two professional referees

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 5pm on Wednesday 6 Aug 2014.

Applications will be accepted by email only and should be submitted to the board: careers@firstfortnight.ie

Interviews will be held in Dublin on 13-15 Aug 2014 and applicants selected for interview will be expected to make themselves available on this date. Following initial interviews a second round of interviews may be held.

The festival acknowledges applicants’ need for privacy and will take all necessary steps to ensure all applications and interviews are handled in the strictest of confidence.

www.firstfortnight.ie