OPEN CALL:Deputy Director at Para Site

Para Site, Hong Kong’s leading contemporary art institution and one of the oldest and most active independent centres in Asia, is seeking a Deputy Director, following the departure in December of Claire Shea, the current holder of the position. Cosmin Costinas, Para Site’s Executive Director/Curator, says: “Since joining in 2017, Claire has been a great partner in bringing Para Site into its current solid shape, often having to navigate together the many challenges of our times. She will be greatly missed, but we wish her enormous success in her future horizons.”

Para Site’s development over the past years is increasingly recognised as an original institutional model and a catalyst for artistic and intellectual exchanges taking place in Hong Kong, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. Para Site has been at the forefront of reflecting on and proposing new ways of working curatorially and institutionally, considering the position of contemporary art in a wider framework of culture and society. In recent years, Para Site has organised exhibitions of international acclaim, travelling them to like-minded institutions around the world, including in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Chiang Mai, Dakar, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Istanbul, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mexico City, New York, Nuku’alofa, San Francisco, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Yangon, Yogyakarta. It has also organised a residency programme, an annual international conference, a learning programme for young art workers, published books, and organised countless educational events. In 2019, Para Site launched a new scheme to cover artists’ health insurance, and in response to the global pandemic, it launched Paid Studio Visits earlier this year, a modest contribution to pay attention to emerging artists in Hong Kong by conducting online studio visits to artists who are thus compensated with an artist fee and health insurance.

Together with the Executive Director/Curator, the Deputy Director works towards the development of Para Site, with a focus on fundraising, external communications, personnel, and developing strategic partnerships. As with every team member at Para Site, there is also an open door towards conceiving and curating projects.

Responsibilities:
-With Executive Director/Curator, oversees and guides the goals of the organisation, establishing future objectives by identifying critical issues and opportunities, and developing strategic recommendations
-Oversees all aspects of Para Site’s fundraising, including establishing goals, objectives, and procedures. This includes: running the annual patrons programme, communicating with individual patrons, and developing and implementing patron programme events; managing corporate funding programmes as well as identifying and cultivating new potential sponsors; directing the large-scale annual fundraising auction; leading the completion and submission of government and foundation grants
-Supervises overall communications strategy to promote the organisation and its activities locally, regionally, and internationally
-Identifies and implements new initiatives and advance existing strategies to further the mission and goals of the organisation
-Supports the Executive Director/Curator as a lead representative of the organisation to external constituents and the general public
-Attends meetings of the Board of Directors as well as lead specific committees
-Develops and monitors the organisation’s budget
-Oversees day-to-day activities of Para Site, developing and implementing internal policies, and provide leadership to maintain an efficient and satisfying working environment

The ideal candidate should have:
-An advanced degree in art history, curatorial studies, museum studies, arts administration or equivalent experience
-Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a supervisory arts administration position
-Demonstrated extensive knowledge of contemporary art
-Experience and proven success with fundraising and financial management
-Excellent managerial skills and experience leading teams and working with a wide range of collaborators
-Excellent oral and written communications skills
-Strong preference given to those with experience working in or with Hong Kong and/or Greater China and speakers of Cantonese and Mandarin

Applications (including a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and available start date) should be sent via email to recruitment@para-site.art by Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Only selected applicants will be contacted. Submissions must be made in English.