Visual Arts Support Manager

A. Details

Position: Visual Arts Support Manager (2 open vacancies)

Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Whole time equivalent: Full-time (35 hrs per week)

Reports to: Creative Arts Director

Duration: Permanent

Role Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 19th of October, 2026.

B. Department & Role Overview

As the largest national funder of visual arts, the Arts Council sustains the entire ecology by supporting a diverse network of artists, organisations, and correspondingly audiences. This role carries a critical responsibility to support the development of the visual arts ecosystem, ensuring public funding is strategically invested, monitored, and optimized.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the management of the Visual Arts Team. The team is responsible for policy formulation, development initiatives, funding and relationship management. The role arises due to changing work arrangements; as the development supports, funding schemes and budgets of Council have expanded additional skilled, expert people are needed to deliver and support the work of the team.

Working closely with the permanent Head of Visual Arts, the Visual Arts Support Manager will manage a specific number of funding programmes, including limited relationship management in this area and oversight and sign-off of award payments; support/lead key development initiatives; and motivate and collaborate with the Arts team.

This post holder will report to the Creative Arts Director and will partner the Head of Visual Arts across their responsibilities, incl. the management of the team and other Arts Council staff in the implementation of specific cross-organisational projects to deliver the objectives of the ten-year MGAW strategy - Making Great Art Work and future policy and strategy.

C. Key Responsibilities

General Manager Responsibilities:-

- Actively contribute to the delivery of the Arts Council’s strategic goals;
- Lead the project teams by example, coaching and supporting individuals as required;
- Be flexible and willing to adapt, positively contributing to the implementation of change;
- Take responsibility and be accountable for the delivery of agreed objectives;
- Successfully manage a range of different projects and work activities at the same time;
- Delegate work effectively, providing clear information and evidence as to what is required;
- Practice and promote a strong focus on delivering high performance and service delivery;
- Contribute to strategic decision-making where required;
- Create and maintain collaborative internal and external relationships;
- Make clear and timely decisions on important issues as required.

Support Manager Specific Responsibilities:-

- To partner with the Head of Team in policy formulation, development initiatives, grant and relationship management, to deliver the Arts Council strategic objectives and corporate plan;
- To lead designated arts staff;
- Lead, motivate and support team members (and adviser/s);
- Establish, develop and manage funding relationships in visual arts, as agreed;
- Deliver funding rationale and recommendations;
- Establish current profile and emerging trends and opportunities;
- Provide expertise and intelligence to support on development of sound policy making and strategy;
- Develop and implement agreed initiatives/programmes;
- Attend and/or represent the Arts Council at events as agreed with the Head of Team;
- Provide leadership continuity for the team during the Head of Team’s absences;
- Any other duties appropriate to the Grade that may be assigned from time to time.

Note : Arts Council roles and responsibilities are subject to change with ongoing and future organisational requirements and developments.

D. Skills Knowledge and Experiences

Essential

- A minimum of five years’ relevant experience;
- A demonstrable commitment and interest in the development of visual arts;
- An understanding of the policy environment for arts development, in particular for visual arts and its related areas;
- An understanding of the key strategic issues relevant to arts development in the current environment;
- An ability to think analytically and communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively;
- Good interpersonal skills, including an ability to listen and negotiate;
- Evidence of experience/ability in strategy development and implementation;
- Evidence of experience/ability in managing funding and other client relationships;
- Excellent standards of written and oral communication;
- A commitment to high standards of public service;
- A proven ability and experience in management and administration.

Desirable

- Experience working in an international environment, particularly within the relevant Artform /art practice context;
- A full driving license;
- The ability to converse in the Irish language, both verbally and in writing.

Qualifications

- The successful candidate will ideally be academically strong with at least a primary degree, and preferably a post-graduate or professional qualification in a relevant area.