Job Posting: Chief Executive Officer for National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) is the only national audiovisual archive in Australia, uniquely placed to be a leader in the collection, preservation, curation and sharing of audiovisual heritage. NFSA’s headquarters is in Acton, Canberra at McCoy Circuit, ACTON 2601 Act Australia, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. 

NFSA is a Full Institutional Member of SEAPAVAA. 

The NFSA Board is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NFSA. The job description and requirements are as listed below.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under section 9 of the NFSA Act 2008, the NFSA is governed by a Board. The CEO is appointed by the Board after consultation with the Minister under Section 22 of the NFSA Act. The CEO holds office on a full-time basis and may be appointed for up to five years. The CEO is not a member of the Board, although they attend Board meetings, and are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the NFSA.

The CEO of the NFSA is the institution’s most senior executive and responsible for its overall strategy and day-to-day management and the leadership of its organisational culture, under the Board’s oversight and governance.

Location

The position is based at the NFSA’s offices in Acton, Canberra, with regular travel to Sydney and Melbourne offices.

Conditions of employment

The CEO is classified as a Principal Executive Officer Band B under the Remuneration Tribunal’s Principal Executive Office (‘PEO’) Structure. Under the PEO Structure, the Remuneration Tribunal determines a reference rate specific to each position, and provides accountable authorities, in this case, the NFSA Board, with a limited range of discretion around this rate in which to set remuneration. Remuneration can be negotiated within the parameters established by the Tribunal.

Indicative remuneration range: $270,000 – $300,000, with the possibility of an increase of five percent after one full year in the role. Performance payment may be applicable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading, inspiring, and developing the team of more than 160 skilled archivists, curators, historians, audiovisual technicians, and other employees based at the head office in Canberra and smaller offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

• Manage the annual budget of approximately A$31 million.

• Understanding NFSA’s stakeholders and building and enriching a strong network of relationships across industry and Government

• Driving and ensuring the digitisation of NFSA’s collection

• Enhancing the NFSA’s quality and profile and redefining NFSA’s physical and virtual presence

• Driving access and engagement in Australia particularly through digital platforms

• Maintaining a relevant acquisition program of Australia’s relevant audiovisual material and related artefacts

• Leading a successful archiving program and developing partnerships as Australia’s leading digitisation centre

• Refining the approach to NFSA’s client services

• Ensuring the continued financial viability of NFSA

• Developing NFSA’s long-term and short-term strategic direction

• Promoting and supporting innovation

• Working with the NFSA Board and ensuring corporate governance requirements in Australia are met

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Could be an experienced general manager from the arts, media or entertainment industries

• May be an administrator from an arts organisation or a gallery, library, archive, or museum, preferably with experience in the audiovisual archive subsector

• May be a successful digital content leader from the film, television, radio, or digital media sector

• Has strong curatorial sensibility

• Has good knowledge of Australian history

• Has a sense of Australian cultural significance and a passion for audiovisual media

• Has strong leadership qualities and have a proven capacity to promote and maintain a positive, productive and inclusive organisational culture

• Has led and developed significant teams of people in a structured environment

• Has experience leading technicians and creatives

• Has experience bringing strong local and global networks

• Has a strong track record working with government and funding bodies

• Has proven success in attracting funding and driving strategic outcomes

• Academic qualifications from well-regarded institutions are anticipated and higher degrees are desirable

Selection Criteria

The core Australian Public Service Commission merit-based criteria for agency head positions apply to this position.

The following text lists the core Australian Public Service Commission merit-based criteria for agency head positions:

• Demonstrates high-level leadership and vision
• Manages large and/or complex operations
• High level of judgment
• Demonstrates a high standard of professional and personal integrity and capacity to promote these in an organisation

Should you be interested in this position, kindly apply through NFSA’s Recruitment Portal. Applications close at midnight on 1 March 2021.

If you have any inquiries, please contact Stacey Colver, Manager, People & Culture at (02) 6248 2111 or ceo.recruitment@nfsa.gov.au.

For more information regarding this position, please refer to this link.