Would you like to lead this team?
The organisation
At the European Juggling Association (EJA), we believe in the power of juggling and performing arts to connect people across borders and differences, creating beautiful and joyful moments together. As a Europe-wide, volunteer-led organisation, we exists to stimulate and promote juggling in Europe and beyond. We do so primarily by maintaining the continuity of the European Juggling Conventions, aiming to take place in a different place in Europe every year.
We support the EJCs in many ways. We are closely involved with the organising teams, relaying information and experience from previous conventions. We also promote the EJCs locally in many European countries and languages by leveraging the EJA’s multinational board. In August 2022, the term of the current President is ending, and will be up for election.
The role
The President is one of the three key leadership roles in the EJA, the other two being Secretary and Treasurer. Together, these three lead the organisation.
The President’s primary area of responsibility is culture and strategic direction.
What does success as the President look like?
A successful President will maintain and nurture an organisational culture in which people feel motivated to engage and volunteer. The EJC organising teams feel supported and have the tools to organise safe, successful and enjoyable events. People connected to the EJA have a shared vision for the future and a broad understanding of what is needed to get there.
What does the President need to do?
A President plans and chairs meetings effectively; manages people and their expectations as well as the effective use of their time and resources; and works with others individually and collectively to:
- provide overall leadership for the organisation, for example by:
- building healthy relationships with a wide variety of people connected to the organisation (also called “stakeholders”)
- influencing and encouraging people effectively to achieve a shared vision
- shape the culture of the organisation in line with its values, for example by role-modelling good practice
- collaboratively identify and nurture an organisational strategic direction, for example by:
- listening to and understanding different perspectives
- articulating a shared direction and developing a high-level plan
- enable and facilitate effective structures and conversations, for example by
- understanding formal and informal organisational rules and how they interact
- collaborating with others to enable these formal and informal rules to interact effectively
As a voting member of the board, this role (alongside several others) takes legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organisation. If you are interested in doing or helping with the work but would not like this level of responsibility, please get in touch, and we will find a solution!
This role is a volunteer position, and therefore unpaid. Reasonable and necessary expenses can be covered.
What is this kind of role often called in other languages or organisations?
Chief Executive Officer / CEO; Executive Chairperson; Geschäftsführende*r Vorstandsvorsitzende*r; Director*a General
You could be a great President if…
You have a good understanding of the European Juggling Convention, ideally having been to a few of them and understand their differences, similarities, and how they are organised. You have been around in the juggling and circus scene a bit, and you are passionate about it.
You have experience in leading volunteer groups, and can demonstrate how you’d apply this experience in the European Juggling Association’s context. Additional bonus points if you can demonstrate how you have done this in a virtual, multi-cultural environment.
You can communicate well in English, both in written and spoken form, and you are sensitive to cultural differences and language barriers that can impact the European Juggling Association. Final bonus points if you have an understanding of organisational structures both in a legal context and in context to enable people to work together effectively.
This is a voluntary role, so while it might go without saying, it’s worth noting: You also have all necessary equipment required to fulfil a role like this (e. g. a computer, internet, phone, etc) and you are willing to use this as part of your role.
(Disclaimer: We’re not necessarily looking for people with fully developed skills and experience in all these things. Rather, we are looking for people who want to do this kind of work, who want to learn and do a good job, who can dedicate the time and effort that the job requires, and who do things they see need to be done (or are able to find the right help they need to get it done). If you have loads of experience and want to use it for the benefit of juggling and circus arts, great! If you don’t have the experience but want to learn, and have the time and commitment to do well, also great!)
How to apply
If this sounds like you, or if you have any questions, send an email to the Executive Committee at directors@eja.net. Please include a little bit about why you’d be passionate about the EJA and being its President, and how you meet the person specification. A CV outlining your past experience would be very helpful.
Please send this email by the end of Monday, 8 August 2022.
We will then meet you at the EJC in Tres Cantos for further conversations – please come to us after the General Assembly, which will start on Tuesday, 9 August, 17:00 in the Arena. If you cannot come to the EJC, we will arrange a call after the EJC. The President will be elected by the board at a board meeting after the EJC.