Programme Officer (Participation and Young People) letter ...newwritingnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Programme-Officer... · Programme Officer (Participation and Young People)

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4 October 2017 Dear Candidate Programme Officer (Participation and Young People) Salary: £19,289 pa, full-time, permanent contract Thank you for your interest in making an application for the above post. Alongside the Job Description for the post, our websites will give you a good overview of the range of our work and our creative priorities as a company: http://newwritingnorth.com http://northernwritersawards.com http://durhambookfestival.com http://cuckoowriters.com How to apply Apply online by uploading your CV and covering letter to our website (www.newwritingnorth.com/vacancies). Your letter should outline why you’re a suitable candidate for the post and how you meet the job criteria. Critical dates Deadline for applications: 11:59pm on Monday, 30th October Candidates notified of interview: by Wednesday 8 November Interviews: Wednesday 22 November Please note that no applications received after 11:59pm on 30 October will be considered. If you would like to discuss the post in advance of application or if you have any questions about the Job Description please contact Anna Disley by email in the first instance at [email protected]. Best wishes

Claire Malcolm Chief Executive NEW WRITING NORTH

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Job Description Job information

Job title Programme Officer (Participation and Young People)

Location New Writing North Offices - Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, and also at festivals, events and schools around the region

Working hours 35 hours per week. This includes at least two hours attending young writers’ groups, which take place every Saturday during term-time. We operate a lieu time system.

Position in organisation

Reports to Senior Manager (Participation and Young People) Responsible for Volunteers on projects from time-to-time Budget accountability

Manage some project budgets as delegated by the Senior Manager

Overall purpose of the job

The Programme Officer (Participation and Young People) will work with the Senior Manager (Participation and Young People) to deliver artistically ambitious projects and initiatives, which engage people in our work, including through the innovative use of digital technology. The projects and initiatives will create the best conditions for people, especially young people, to express themselves creatively, to fulfill their artistic potential, to support their ongoing creative development and to engage with our work. The post reports to the Senior Manager (Participation and Young People) who oversees this area of work. The job will involve the post-holder working with staff across the organisation. The post-holder will also engage with and develop relationships with external partners and peers. Responsibilities and duties

Responsibility % time

Artistic development 10% Project coordination 30% Creating digital content 20% Marketing 20% Delivery 20%

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Duties required from each responsibility

Artistic development • In collaboration with the Senior Manager (Participation and Young People),

devise projects and programmes of activity that contribute to our values, goals and objectives

• Recruit and work alongside artists to deliver our young people’s programmes and participatory initiatives

• Listen to young people and feedback their ideas, interests and concerns, so that they are central to the opportunities we offer young people

• Make the best use of digital technology to distribute, promote and provide a platform for work generated by participants and drive audiences to engage with our work digitally

• Uphold and progress the ‘Creative Case for Diversity’ throughout our programmed work with young people and communities

• Contribute to artistic planning around our work with young people, communities and under-represented groups

Project coordination • Help devise projects and initiatives in liaison with partners that fulfill our

objectives • Support the planning, scheduling and contracting of projects and initiatives

with partner organisations • Schedule and contract artists and other freelance staff to deliver

programmes of work • Act as the first point of contact for participants on our programmes • Support the Senior Manager (Participation and Young People) and

Executive Director (Programme and Impact) with fundraising, including research, drafting bids and donor liaison

• Organise and run events associated with our programmes of work • Manage budgets as delegated by the Senior Manager (Participation and

Young People) • Undertake evaluation and collect appropriate data according to our

audience development and evaluation strategies • Create regular evaluation reports for the projects and programmes you are

delivering and report to line manager Creating digital content • Create content for our young writers’ website www.cuckoowriters.com • Contribute to the development of and deliver innovative programmes of

work which ensure we are making maximum use of digital technology to engage young people in our work as artists, critics and audiences

• Lead on and generate social media content for our young people’s programme

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Marketing • Contribute ideas for marketing our work to younger audiences in

consultation with the Senior Managers for Marketing and Communications and Participation and Young People

• Support the Senior Manager to devise and deliver strategies for recruiting young people to our work

• Commission designers to create marketing materials and publications relating to projects

Delivery • Undertake day-to-day coordination of identified programmes of work • Attend project workshops regularly • Build relationships with participants • Support the Senior Manager to ensure the quality of work across our young

people’s programmes is consistent • Use young people’s feedback to identify creative opportunities and ensure

these are maximised • Identify young people’s talent and opportunities for their development • Support the young people who engage with our work by responding to

individual enquiries and signposting individuals to further opportunities for development

• Support freelance staff in workshop delivery (this will require Saturday working)

• Deliver Arts Award and continuously identify opportunities to deliver it across our programme

• Support the delivery of our events (eg Durham Book Festival, Northern Writers’ Awards, Writing Conferences) when required

• Adhere to all provisions in our Safeguarding policy

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Job Criteria Qualifications, experience and skills/knowledge required to do job

Area Essential criteria (required) Desirable criteria (optional)

Qualifications A degree level qualification or equivalent work experience to match that level of knowledge

Experience

A least 1 year’s relevant work experience Some experience of working directly with young people and/or communities Experience of relationship management Experience of coordinating projects Experience of digital marketing and/or digital content development

Experience of fundraising and resource development Experience of arts producing Experience of working with schools

Skills or knowledge

Ability to contribute imaginative ideas to create high quality arts activity for young people A problem solving approach Confidence to communicate with a range of different sectors and partners Knowledge of participatory arts practice and policy An understanding of and commitment to the Creative Case for Diversity Excellent digital knowledge

An understanding of the role the arts can play in social change

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Copy writing skills Knowledge and interest in contemporary literature and current affairs Ability to work independently, manage competing workloads and be highly proactive Strong planning and organisational skills with excellent attention to detail Ability to work flexibly both with colleagues and with partners

Other factors

A passion for the arts and literature Willingness to work on Saturdays and occasional evenings (a time off in lieu system is in operation) A desire to work within a small team of people and to contribute to a wide range of projects The successful candidate will be required to apply for a DBS check if they don’t already have one

A good knowledge of the socioeconomic composition and geography of the north of England A full, clean driving licence and access to a car for business purposes