Seeking full-time director

L’École supérieure d’art d’Avignon (ESAA) recruits a full-time director. The École supérieure d’art Avignon (ESAA) belongs to the public system of art and design schools supervised by the Minister of Culture. The school receives the majority of its financial and administrative support from the city of Avignon, as well as state funding overseen by the Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC). 

ESAA offers one of four national degree programs in conservation-restoration accredited by the Direction of the Museums of France (Musées de France), an accreditation that is internationally recognized. The qualification of conservators and restorers to work for the Musuems of France is governed by the Patrimonial Code (Code du Patrimoine), Book IV (Museums), Title V (Collections of the Museums of France), Chapter II (Conservation and restoration), Section 3 (Qualifications required for restoration).

Along with the three other accredited programs (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris; Institut national du Patrimoine, Paris; École supérieure d’art et de design TALM-Tours), ESAA is a member of the Conference of Public Education in Conservation-Restoration (Conférence des formations publiques en conservation-restauration).

ESAA is an active member of the Ecole(s) du Sud network, which aims to build and enhance cooperation in the areas of teaching, research, artistic creation and the professional integration of young graduates.

ESAA is located in Avignon, a city with an architectural patrimony included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and with an exceptional reputation, courtesy of the Festival d’Avignon, numerous museums, and a vibrant cultural scene. The school employs approximately thirty professors, administrators and technicians who are responsible for providing a high-level and efficient public service to 124 students (2023-2024 enrollment). ESAA has an operating budget of €1.816 million and an investment budget of €23,000. The school is housed at two teaching sites.

Join an institution of higher education that is in the midst of a major transformation, committed to providing an efficient service while ensuring well-being in the workplace and giving meaning to the many projects carried out for the benefit of its students.

ESAA is fully embedded in its local region, offering a wide range of Artistic and Cultural Education courses (ateliers EAC), while also being a key player in the Avignon Terre de Culture 2025 initiative.

As director, you will be joining a team responsible for implementing the school’s five-year project, which you will work on collegially with the faculty, in line with the guidelines established by the Board of Governors (Conseil d’administration).

To implement the general guidelines of the school’s policy as defined by its Conseil d’administration, the Director must develop: the school’s five-year project, which was shared with the faculty, administration and students, and approved by the Conseil d’administration in February 2024; research initiatives at the master’s level, in collaboration with regional scientific players, in particular the University of Avignon; the attractiveness of the school, both within the region and beyond; the success and well-being of all students, with an emphasis on diversity, equality and access for all backgrounds; the implementation and proper functioning of the governance bodies specific to the school’s statutes and requirements; the professional integration of students; international mobility and outreach; awareness of the ecological transition objectives; the institution’s ability to mobilise the resources corresponding to its range of education programmes.

Within the framework of this positive work environment, you will more specifically:

Responsibilites
Within the framework of the school’s five-year project, in collaboration with the Scientific and Pedagogical Council (CSP):
–implement the actions of the 2024-2029 school project;
–implement the pedagogical project in compliance with the accreditation criteria for awarding national diplomas (DNA and DNSEP), in particular the accreditation contract and the institution’s multi-annual contract, in line with the guidelines established by the Conseil d’administration;
–consolidate the partnership with the University of Avignon (research, student life, work on a joint master’s degree, etc.);
–be an active member of the École(s) du Sud network and a driving force in its proposals;
–consolidate the role of research, experimentation and innovation in all of the school’s curricula;
–pursue and promote the policy of professional integration of graduates;
–work closely with national and regional supervisory bodies;
–maintain a balance between the two specialisations of restoration and creation, a combination that represents ESAA’s uniqueness and strength;
–give priority to developing artistic and cultural education initiatives in the Avignon area.

Within the framework of partnerships, in collaboration with the Scientific and Pedagogical Council (CSP):
–represent ESAA at conferences and events dedicated to art, culture and conservation-restoration (local, departmental, regional, national and international levels);
–develop projects by responding to calls for proposals.

Within the framework of staff direction:
–lead the teaching, administrative and technical staff (30 people);
–engage in high-quality social dialogue;
–organise and facilitate the operation of the public institution’s various bodies;
–conduct professional interviews with the teaching staff;
–implement actions and tools to promote social dialogue and preventive measures relating to psycho-social risks, with the aim of improving well-being throughout the school community.

Within the framework of the school’s budget, as authorising officer, in liaison with the Secretary General:
–implement the recommendations of the regional audit office (Chambre régionale des comptes) in collaboration with the resources departments;
–develop the school’s resources: subsidies, sponsorships, services offered, Artistic and Cultural Education courses (ateliers EAC), etc.

Within the framework of the management of the ERP (establishment receiving the public), in collaboration with the Secretary General:
–manage and maintain the buildings in good condition in liaison with the owners of the two sites;
–be responsible for Health, Safety and Working Conditions at both sites.

Profile
You must have a higher education degree (BAC + 5, doctorate) and successful experience in research, higher education and the contemporary art world. You must know how to manage a cultural organisation, ideally an art school. Your management experience and knowledge of local and regional government would be real assets.

You must have expertise in the fields of contemporary art and conservation-restoration. 

Your ability to work as part of a network and to develop partnership projects would also be appreciated. You should have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to manage priorities, and have strong analytical, synthesis and writing skills. You should be recognised for your dynamism, availability and sense of public service.

Conditions of employment
The post is open to civil servants and contractual employees under public law. Remuneration is on the basis of the job description for territorial attachés or territorial directors of artistic teaching establishments. Three-year contract, renewable for periods of three years, with a limit of two renewals.

Work site
École supérieure d’art d’Avignon, 500 chemin de Baigne-Pieds, CS 40172. 84978 Avignon cedex 9. The director’s physical and active presence at the school will be appreciated (proximity of residence), and remote working should be limited.

Calender
–Applications (in French) will be received until October 6, 2024 (CV, motivation letter, references, note of intent on pedagogical directions in relation to the school’s five-year project)
–Recruitment interviews: October/November 2024
–Desired start date: autumn 2024

Applications
Applications (CV, two-page letter of motivation and intent, references) should be sent by email to: recrutement.direction [​at​] esaavignon.fr, Attention: Damien Malinas, President of the EPCC ESAA.

If you have any questions, please contact the HR department at 04 90 27 23 62.