London, UK
Director
at Open City
Open City is seeking a director to join its team in London.
The charity behind the UK’s biggest architectural festival, Open House London, is seeking a new director to lead the organisation into the 2020s. You’ll need a wide range of skills – from public speaking to fundraising to preparing quarterly reports for the board of trustees – as well as a passion for architecture, design, ideas, education and all things urban.
For the right candidate, this job offers unparalleled freedom to shape one of London’s great public events, and to make an important contribution to an understanding of, and appreciation for, the city.
About Open House
Over the last twenty five years the Open House weekend has grown into a much loved London institution. Held every September, it encompasses buildings and activities right across the Capital. In 2019 over 800 properties, many of them not normally accessible to the public, were thrown open ranging from private homes to city offices and the US Embassy, and from the contemporary to the historic. Between them they received more than 360,000 individual visits over the two days.
There is no charge for admission on the Open House weekend. This year’s event was supported by all 33 London Boroughs and the Mayor of London, as well as various sponsors. Over 100 architectural practices also participated, while 7,000 volunteers ensured that everything ran smoothly. Worldwide over 40 major cities now run Open House events, under license from ourselves.
But while Open House is our flagship there is much more to us than a single weekend each year.
What else do we do?
Open City, the organisation that runs Open House, is a charity promoting people-centred cities with a year-round programme of events and initiatives for both public and professionals alike. We have a mission statement: ‘Making cities better for everyone through experiencing and learning from great buildings and places’.
Our core team works with the Open City network – built environment professionals, educators, clients and politicians – to produce Open House for the public; programmes for professionals; and learning programmes for schools and communities. We are a permanent team of seven, assisted by wonderful volunteers, working out of our offices in the East End.
Our programmes
As well as the Open House weekend, we organise Open House Families, a design festival for kids; Open House Tours, offering walks and boat trips to buildings of special interest; Accelerate, with UCL, which helps to prepare children from disadvantaged backgrounds to train as architects; Architecture in Schools, a curriculum-friendly architecture class for London’s primary schools and Citymaking Sessions, an events programme for everyone interested in how cities are made.
See our website here for full details.
We believe that the future of city-making is equitable urban design and planning, in which everyone has a role in shaping their city. Open City’s diverse programme of events – which place learning through architecture at their core – is working towards that goal.
And we don’t stop there. This role is an open-invitation to craft ever more meaningful initiatives which chime with our goals.
Personal specification
Open City is a small organisation but it runs very big programmes and events. It is why we need a director who can both manage operational detail and provide strategic direction. Someone who can inspire and lead, while ensuring that we remain viable and relevant.
We operate in a complex environment with many stakeholders – volunteers, industry sponsors, government, schools, the public at large. This is a role where your charm, optimism and personal confidence will be called into play as you communicate and negotiate with these many interests; including raising the funds to keep the programmes going.
We seek someone with:
- a passion for people, architecture, urban design and the city
- a track record in the creative industries or a background in a comparable activity in the public or voluntary sectors
- excellent written and verbal communication skills – public-speaking is central to the role – and the ability to connect with public and professional audiences, politicians and government
- an understanding of budgets, project management and working with a board of trustees
- an ability to inspire and manage a committed team
- fundraising skills and the ability to raise sponsorship and win contracts
- strong networks and a wide contact book
- experience of managing multiple creative teams
- availability to work out of hours. Some meetings might be in the evenings and some attendance at weekend and evening events will be part of the job
- the drive to generate ideas, be a thought leader and build on the Open City creed and accomplishments
What we offer and the application process
Contract: a full-time, office-based job, although flexible and alternative arrangements will be considered, including a part-time proposal.
Salary: according to experience, in the range of £55k – £65k
Holidays: 25 days holidays per year plus bank holidays, pro-rata
To apply: please submit your CV with a covering letter telling us why this position appeals to you and what you can bring to the role.
Applications close on 16 January 2020, with interviews on 24 January, leading to an appointment shortly thereafter.
The start date will be as soon after the end of January as possible. Please explain your availability to begin the role.