Jobs for the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The COO will translate BLiM's mission and strategy and ensure its well-run, properly resourced, with its ambitious day-to-day delivery. You will free the CEO to focus on strategic leadership and external influence by owning operations, people management, financial oversight and internal systems.
The COO will be a senior leader who shapes organisational culture, makes operational decisions, manages complex stakeholder relationships and drives the performance of a passionate, high-commitment team. You will be the person the organisation looks to when it needs clarity, stability and momentum.
The COO joins at a moment of leadership transition following the departure of BLiM's co-founder and Director of Operations.
Why Join Us:
Black Lives in Music (BLiM) is a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing racial equity across the UK music industry. We amplify the voices of Black artists, music professionals and communities; drive systemic change; and hold the industry accountable for meaningful progress. Through research, advocacy, programming and strategic partnerships, BLiM creates the conditions for Black talent to thrive.
BLiM has published ground-breaking research including the Being Black in the UK Music Industry report, produced the UK's first Black classical music festival in Classically Black, influenced government policy on live music licensing, and built a network of over 100 partner organisations across the four nations. BLiM is now entering a new phase of its development, with a strengthened leadership team, a Target Operating Model designed to carry the organisation beyond its founding era, and an ambition to become the UK's most influential voice for racial equity in music.
Person Specification
Essential
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Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally as a COO, Head of Operations or Director of Operations in a charity, social enterprise or purpose-driven organisation.
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Demonstrable track record of building and improving operational infrastructure: systems, processes, policies and ways of working that make organisations more effective and resilient.
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Proven people management experience, including line management of senior staff, performance development, recruitment and team culture-building.
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Strong financial literacy, including experience of budget management, grant compliance, financial reporting and working with a board finance function.
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Experience of leading or supporting governance processes, including board reporting, risk management and compliance.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex operational information into clear, accessible reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.
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A genuine, demonstrable commitment to racial equity and an understanding of the specific systemic barriers faced by Black professionals, artists and communities.
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The emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill to lead with care, build trust quickly and navigate complex relationships under pressure.
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The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a small, fast-paced, mission-driven organisation where the work is varied, the stakes are high and no day is the same.
Desirable
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Experience of working in or with the music industry, creative industries or arts and culture sector.
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Familiarity with Arts Council England funding frameworks, charity law and the regulatory environment for non-profit organisations.
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Experience of implementing or managing a CRM system, project management platform or other operational technology.
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Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) frameworks and how to embed inclusive practice into operational systems and culture.
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Experience of leading an organisation through a period of significant change, transition or growth.
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An existing network within the UK music sector, creative industries or racial equity and social justice space.
At BLiM, we're interviewing on a rolling basis, so we'd encourage you to apply sooner rather than later!
To be considered for a first interview, please include a Cover Letter with your application. This initial conversation will be relaxed and informal, and we'll take you through the full interview process together so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
To drive transformational, systemic change across the UK music sector, ensuring every person regardless of background.
Thank you!
Artist/Producer – Early Years
Salary: £30,000, per annum, pro rata (£11,997 per annum actual for 2 days per week)
Contract: Fixed term 1 year (September 2026-September 2027)
Hours: Part-time, 2 days per week (with regular Tuesdays and Wednesdays).
Location: Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
About Us
Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces with an international reputation for innovation and ambition. The gallery presents a programme of changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art each year, coupled with an extensive programme of education, events and performance projects involving several thousand people of all ages and backgrounds.
About You and The Role
The Artist/Producer is responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery of Modern Art Oxford’s early years projects including our co-learning, sensory play project Make Play, holiday workshops and welcome tours and activities for primary schools, charities, and community groups.
Modern Art Oxford’s early years programme recognises and celebrates children, as active participants in our shared society. Established in 2017, Make Play is one of the core strands of our programmes for children aged 6 months to 5 years. It provides a child-led creative space for babies and children to explore, play and learn in a safe and stimulating environment.
The Artist/Producer takes a lead role in developing activities in response to the temporary exhibitions programme, working closely with the Curator Communities, Practice & Participation to ensure a holistic and well-curated offer throughout the year.
Modern Art Oxford’s early years programme engages more than 1,000 children, parents, and carers each year through our regular sessions at the gallery and offsite with local partners.
Key responsibilities
- Workshop and Programme Delivery
The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience of working in Early Years education, strong understanding of Early Years pedagogy, child-centred and inclusive practice, experience working with artists, facilitators, or creative practitioners and experience of delivering projects and workshops in art galleries and museums with demonstrable experience of working with diverse materials and media.
They will have confidence managing multiple projects, partnerships, and delivery locations, be self-motivated and collaborative with excellent communication and relationship building skills, good IT, administrative and organisational skills.
The ability to work weekends, knowledge of equality, diversity, and inclusion practices and procedures and a DBS check and training in safeguarding are also required. First Aid training is desirable.
Benefits
An auto-enrolment pension scheme is in place with Legal & General. Under pension auto enrolment legislation, the employee will pay 5% (before tax relief) and the employer will pay 3% of qualifying earnings to the Legal and General plan. A salary sacrifice scheme is available after 3 months employment.
Employees are entitled to a staff discount in the Modern Art Oxford Shop and Café.
There is an Employee Assistance Programme through Gemelli, and a series of discounts and salary sacrifice schemes through BHN Extras.
Applications must be received by 9.00am Monday 29 June 2026
Initial interviews planned for 14, 15, and 16 July 2026
Ideal start date in the w/c 24 August 2026
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Modern Art Oxford is committed to creating equality of opportunity for all and we value diversity in our team. As part of our Anti-racism Action Plan, we welcome applications from people from the Global Majority who are under-represented in the workforce in our sector.
No agencies please.
