Senior Consultant - Toronto
About Lord Cultural Resources
Lord Cultural Resources is the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. We offer a range of services for cities and counties, museums, science centers, gardens, conservatories, cultural centers, universities, and heritage sites around the globe. Since the firm’s founding in 1981, we have helped to create, plan, and operate cultural spaces and places in more than 460 cities, in 57 countries and six continents. We aspire to strengthen belonging, learning, and gaining strength from the many communities of gender, culture, race, and ethnicity we serve.
Join us to make the world a better place through culture.
Position Location
Toronto, Canada
Job Description
The objective of this role is to contribute to the fulfillment of and oversee the successful completion of project work as a Senior Consultant reporting to a Director. We expect that your time will be devoted to Project Work (75%), Business Development, General Administration and Promotion (25%).
Senior Consultants provide strategic thinking, analytical and leadership skills that enable project teams to manage projects or bids and carry out the substantial analysis and writing tasks required for project deliverables. Senior Consultants also co-ordinate project teams on a day-to-day basis; supervise and coach the work of more junior consultants in data gathering and draft preparation; and, to provide “on the job training.” In many instances, the Senior Consultant will be the primary client liaison on the client side.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Conducting secondary and primary research related to strategic, cultural, and interpretive planning, ; conducting qualitative stakeholder or key informant interviews; facilitating focus groups; analyzing data; preparing synopses and summaries of studies, client documents/reports, and interviews.
- Writing and editing research reports or key finding reports, including development of professional recommendations; drafting and proofreading presentations to clients; and generally being able to confidently present findings and recommendations to clients while fielding questions and feedback.
- Leading and supporting client-facing workshops, meetings, and presentations virtually and in-person
- Serving as project manager of multi-phase client projects, including: tracking, coordinating, and evaluating project needs and developing solutions to new or unforeseen challenges; managing Lord team members; directly liaising with client representatives and subcontractors; overseeing and coordinating the graphic or logistical production of reports or other project deliverables with designers, developers, and content managers, including client marketing and communication collateral; ensuring adherence to budgets and schedules; maintaining overall accountability for project success and facilitating decision-making in day to day progress of client projects.
- Advancing general business development opportunities for the firm by promoting Lord Cultural Resources brand, services, and products to prospective and existing clients and cultivating business to business contacts, relationships, and partnerships.
- Evaluating new opportunities and associated risks, including preparation of responses for requests for firm information and reaching out to leads and potential clients through written and verbal communications and research for leads and proposals.
- Coordination of and assistance and presence at trade shows and/or presenting at conferences and professional development forums.
- Handling administrative tasks such as responding to information requests, both internal and external; timely completion of timesheets and expense reports; following procedures and protocol for knowledge management, including proper storage and circulation of project files (subcontract agreements, budgets, invoices, project deliverables/).
- Participation in internal initiatives and committees.
- Assistance in planning and execution of office events and conferences, and, as needed, attendance at other promotional/cultivation opportunities such as openings.
- Professional development that will further your personal knowledge and credibility, such as writing articles and speaking engagements.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate must have an excellent work ethic; possess the motivation and willingness to learn on the job; and be comfortable juggling multiple responsibilities simultaneously. This requires a high-level of attention for detail and impeccable time and project management skills. The successful candidate must also have a genuine enthusiasm in museums, culture, and the arts.
Required Qualifications:
- Undergraduate degree from a 4-year accredited university or college in a relevant field of study.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience of full-time employment in a position managing or coordinating cultural programs, or a commensurate role.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience coordinating or managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Proven research and analytical skills, including the ability to analyze qdata, identify trends and support relevant industry-related recommendations.
- Excellent critical thinking, analytical ability, and writing capabilities in English, including the ability to draft summaries of client meetings or calls, report findings, or formal/written stakeholder communication.
- Exceptional presentation and oral communication skills in English.
- Proficiency with MS Office Applications, including functional knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
- Working knowledge of interpretive theory, stakeholder engagement, and cultural planning strategies as they relate to museums and cultural institutions.
- Ability and willingness to problem solve quickly and flexibility to adjust strategies based on evolving assumptions or information.
- Ability to work independently and in a team setting on several projects simultaneously in an integrated work environment.
- Lord maintains hybrid work. Candidates are expected to work from the office 3 days a week. Ability to travel is a requirement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree i.e. in arts administration, business administration, arts education, museum management/planning, urban planning, art history, architecture, communications, and/or a relevant field of study.
- Previous experience working in a museum or cultural institution.
- Experience with or significant knowledge of interpretive planning, visitor experience, stakeholder engagement and exhibition development.
- Advanced experience with MS Excel, including familiarity with pivot-tables and cross-tabulation and modeling of raw data.
- Familiarity with Lord Cultural Resources’ methodologies and/or willing to excel in them as expressed in The Manual of Museum Planning, 3rd Edition 2012, The Manual of Museum Management, 3rd Edition 2009, The Manual of Museum Exhibitions, 3rd Edition 2022, The Manual of Strategic Planning for Cultural Organizations, 2nd 2017, The Manual of Museum Learning, 2nd ed., 2016 and other publications as required.
- Proficiency with additional languages such as French, Spanish, or Arabic is an asset.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume along with a cover letter to hr@lord.ca . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Lord Cultural Resources is an equal opportunity workplace and we welcome cultural diversity in our workforce. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Lord Cultural Resources will provide a reasonable accommodation to employees and prospective employees to the point of undue hardship upon request and as required in respect of the individual’s particular restrictions and limitations. If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or a medical need, please advise us in your application.
Compensation/Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000
The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, and special qualifications.
Candidate management processes at Lord Cultural Resources are handled by humans.