Head of Nch Discover

The Head of NCH Discover is a senior leadership role that will play a key role in the delivery of the National Concert Hall’s remit as a National Cultural Institution, and as a centre of musical excellence in Ireland.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and working as a member of the senior leadership team, the post-holder is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and implementation of a comprehensive and nationally significant programme of learning and participation. The post holder is also responsible for the leadership and strategic development of the NCH Discover Centre, a major capital development providing state‑of‑the‑art facilities for learning and participation in a dedicated new facility on the NCH site at Earlsfort Terrace.

Key responsibilities
Leadership
Provide strategic leadership for NCH Discover and contribute to the organisation as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Lead the ongoing development and delivery of the NCH Discover strategy, ensuring alignment with the National Concert Hall’s broader strategic framework, statutory obligations and long‑term vision.

Drive inspirational leadership of the NCH Discover team, fostering a collaborative, innovative and inclusive culture.

Oversee and shape the design, implementation, evaluation and continuous development of a comprehensive programme of learning and participation activity, delivered both at the National Concert Hall and across Ireland.

Contribute to the development of NCH’s overall organisational strategy and policy, ensuring that NCH Discover is embedded across all areas of activity.

Build and maintain excellent working relationships with all internal departments to support integrated planning and delivery.

Foster the Organisational values of respect, integrity, collaboration and excellence and align these to the NCH Discover’s operational and strategic activity.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
Act as a key advocate for NCH Discover and build strategic relationships across sectors.

Develop and manage strategic partnerships at local, national and international level with music and arts organisations, resident ensembles, National Cultural Institutions, educational establishments, communities, healthcare providers and government agencies, to extend the reach and impact of NCH Discover.

Work closely with the Partnerships & Philanthropy team to secure funding and philanthropic support for NCH Discover, particularly as the programme expands into the new NCH Discover Centre.

Act as an ambassador and advocate for NCH Discover, representing the organisation in sectoral networks and forums and contributing to thought leadership in music education and participatory practice.

NCH Discover Centre
Lead the transition and growth of NCH Discover into a new purpose‑built facility.

Provide strategic leadership for the development and launch of the NCH Discover Centre, a state‑of‑the‑art facility for music learning and participation.

Lead and support the growth and development of the NCH Discover team and programme as activity scales up within the new centre, while continuing to grow external delivery on a national basis.

Build and sustain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders involved in the delivery and ongoing success of the NCH Discover Centre.

Champion innovation and the creative use of digital tools and technologies to enhance learning and participation and broaden access.

Evaluation and Impact
Embed evidence‑based practice and continuous improvement.

Lead the development and implementation of evaluation and impact measurement frameworks to demonstrate outcomes, inform strategic planning, support advocacy, and underpin funding bids.

Use evidence and insight to shape programme design and organisational priorities, ensuring that activity is responsive to need and delivers meaningful impact.

Operational and Financial Oversight
Ensure effective planning, governance and resource management.

Lead on budget planning, management and reporting for NCH Discover, ensuring effective allocation of resources and compliance with public sector financial policies.

Oversee financial planning and monitoring for the NCH Discover Centre and associated programmes.

Contribute to organisational planning and governance as part of the Senior Leadership Team, striving for best practice in public sector leadership, policy and compliance.

The Person
The post holder will have a proven record of achievement at senior level, in a position with a similar range of responsibilities that demonstrates the necessary vision and leadership for this important role.

Key experience and Skills

Significant experience in strategic leadership and programme development, ideally within the arts, education or cultural sectors, with a proven ability to deliver impact at scale.

Demonstrated success in conceiving, implementing and evaluating innovative learning and participation initiatives across diverse contexts.

A track record of inspiring, leading and developing high‑performing teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity and accountability.

Proven ability to build and sustain strategic partnerships to extend reach and deepen impact.

Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion to widen access to music and the arts for underrepresented groups.

Experience of budgetary leadership, financial planning and resource management, including securing funding from public, philanthropic and other sources.

Exceptional communication, advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills, with the capacity to influence decision‑making at senior levels and represent the organisation nationally and internationally.

Expertise in evaluation, evidence‑based practice and impact measurement, using data and insight to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.

Ability to contribute to organisational strategy and policy development, aligning departmental priorities with the wider mission and long‑term objectives of a major national cultural institution.

Strong personal integrity and a commitment to collaborative leadership.

The successful candidate must demonstrate evidence of:

A minimum of three years’ experience in either a similar role or equivalent senior management and leadership roles in medium to large sized organisations, ideally in the music and/or cultural sector.

Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with proven experience of engaging, influencing, building and sustaining relationships.

Proven experience of building and developing high‑performing teams and maintaining constructive working relationships at all levels.

A strong commitment to the ethos, principles and values of the NCH.

#J-18808-Ljbffr