The Director of Programmes will contribute to The Africa Centre’s emerging strategic priorities, overseeing and delivering programmes and related project activity. They will engage and connect with diverse audiences and communities through creative programming, delivering innovative, enriching, dynamic and enjoyable events and experiences that entre people of African descent and reach the widest demographic. They will play a leading role in delivering our learning and inclusion work, developing audiences, existing and new, and oversee all The Africa Centre programme activity across the UK, on the African continent and in the wider African Diaspora.
As part of the Senior Leadership team, they will play an important part in driving the vision, mission, and values of The Africa Centre as a world-leading organisation at the forefront of debate, dialogue, and social purpose around our five core pillars of arts & culture, education, community development, entrepreneurship & innovation and thought leadership. Through innovative programme development, they will ensure that the urgent issues faced by people of African descent are reflected and addressed in The Africa Centre’s activity profile. They will ensure that The Africa Centre is a place of fun, connection, education and information, relevant to all people with an interest in Africa and African people.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Oversee, convene and deliver TAC programmes, developing live and digital content in line with our strategic priorities.
- Fulfil the leadership role of contributing to the development of The Africa Centre’s emerging strategy.
- Lead and convene programme development and content delivery, ensuring commercial, artistic, operational and audience development objectives are met for both live and digital events.
- Draw on audience segmentation, communications and brand strategies to strategically align programme to audience and our income generation objectives.
- Work collegiately with the Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver The Africa Centre’s Audience Development Strategy linked to the programme and strategic objectives.
- Identify opportunities to apply for funding and contribute to income generation activities related to programming and engagement.
- Lead on developing and delivering high quality experiences for artists and experts across all our activities, ensuring they are supported and nurtured.
- Establish a strategy for identifying, supporting, and nurturing new creative talent.
- Lead on safeguarding, equalities, diversity, inclusion and access across the organisation’s programming.
Programme Leadership
- Deliver world class content to reflect African excellence drawing on the best creative minds and experts across multiple genres – from contemporary arts to literature and fiction; science and history; geo-politics and climate change; equalities and democracy and more.
- Deliver original content that has variety, breadth, and depth, identifying the most appropriate structure for building relationships with partners, commissioning new work, contracting artists, identifying thought leadership opportunities and utilising a wide range of formats – live and digital - to implement ideas.
- Draw on the expertise within the team, their networks and creative content, convening an holistic programme in line with TAC’s strategic priorities, income generation priorities and brand.
- Develop and implement TAC’s Elimu Education Programme, fostering relevant relationships with educational institutes from primary to tertiary levels across the UK and beyond, and co-creating programmes of activity.
- Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of any contracted work that delivers programmes of activities in the UK and abroad,
- Lead on developing, nurturing and administering relationships with strategic partners including the TAC Global Network of Affiliate Organisations.
- Oversee the work of the Young Africa Centre.
Engagement
- Maintain existing and develop new audiences, identifying programme strands that respond to and anticipate the needs and interests of diverse communities, introducing new ideas, innovative content and inclusive talent pathways.
- Seek out, develop, and sustain networks, stakeholders and partnerships at local, regional and global levels, and explore new ways for the charity to grow and develop at the cutting edge of global ideas
- Identify opportunities to develop The Africa Centre events across the UK and digitally, to reach wider audiences and deepen brand recognition across the year.
- Identify project funding to develop audiences, increase diversity and meet equalities objectives.
- Oversee learning and engagement programmes in the UK.
- Deliver and build upon current UK funded projects and contribute to developing funding bids.
- Oversee the management of TAC’s marketing and communications functions, including our public relations, website and social media accounts, ensuring that they are updated, relevant and archived appropriately.
Impact
- Lead on development and delivery of the organisation’s strategic Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact framework and associated plans and systems
- Develop and delivering TAC’s social purpose agenda, ensuring alignment with our strategic objectives.
- Oversee the development and management of TAC’s archives, be it digital, documental or physical, ensuring that they are catalogued, accessible and available for utilisation as a key resource.
Operational
- Line manage the programme, education and engagement team(s), recruiting, as necessary, skilled persons to deliver TAC programmes.
- Manage the delivery of contracts and partnership collaborative efforts, ensuring that contracting is delivered to the highest standards at all times to protect the reputation and financial standing of the charity and to meet contractor’s expectations.
- Identify potential funders relevant to area and contribute to writing business plans demonstrating a seamless relationship between content, programmes, events, audiences, and the core business activities
- Support the work of the Director of Development Team in developing and delivering the fundraising strategy and the Director of Finance & Operations on delivering TAC financial plans
Governance & Compliance
- Write reports for the board as and when required by the CEO in a timely and appropriate manner
- Work with the Director of Finance & Ops to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the charity in delegated budget area(s), adhere to TAC Financial Regulations and Procurement Policy.
- Ensure that all artist contracting is undertaken within TAC procurements and contracting policies observing all other required policies and statutory guidelines e.g., Equalities, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Intellectual Property, GDPR, Finance and Procurements etc.
- Maintain accurate records on The Africa Centre’s document management system and databases.
- Respond to general enquiries by email or telephone, manage own workload and maintain an online diary, using agreed TAC systems.
- To promote and comply with current legislation including The Africa Centre policies on Equality and Diversity and Health & Safety, Safeguarding, in the delivery of services and the
- Uphold the TAC brand and reputation
Leadership
- Be a vital, collegiate member of the TAC Senior leadership team,
- Develop and nurture relationships with the TAC Board, managing relevant committees and reporting to the Board and sub-committees as required.
- Represent the organisation at appropriate internal and external events and meetings, locally, regionally and globally.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- A clearly-evidenced long-standing passion for Africa and people of African Descent
- 3 - 5 years working at a senior level in a similar role
- Excellent Programme Management experience with excellent budget management skills
- Excellent communication and networking skills, adept at effectively engaging people across a range of settings – from school children to Prime Ministers and Presidents;
- Educated to degree level of equivalent (relevant subject area)
- Team player, able to work cross disciplinary with artists, experts, academics, key stakeholders, and audiences in a programming function working with diverse audiences
- Specialist knowledge of audience development gained through 3 years’ experience
- Agile approach to work, recognising the limitations and challenges of running a small charitable organisation and willingness to work flexibly to get things done, apply effort and integrity at all times. Regular weekend and evening work will be required.
- Experience of working with an operations team to deliver events (production, tech requirements, artist management)
- Experience of delivering to funder obligations (Trusts and Foundations/Public and Private Funding) • Excellent network in publishing; cultural and creative sector; or other relevant sectors
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, et al.
Desirable
- Understanding and experience of digital content production
- Masters level qualification or equivalent
- Awareness of how to use emerging technologies including AI to develop impactful programming and engagement.
- Experience of working within a grant management organisation.
- Experience of positive action activity to deliver inclusive Programmes (equalities, diversity, inclusion, and access)
Work Arrangements
Location: The Africa Centre office, London. Occasional remote working is encouraged. The post-holder will be required to be on location in London for relevant activities. Some international travel will be required.
Type of contract: Permanent
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Works with: Senior Leadership Team of Director of Development, Director of Finance & Ops and CEO
Responsible for: Programme Managers (x 2 - 3), freelance workers, volunteers
Hours of work: Full time. 35 hours per week. The post holder will be expected to be flexible and there will be requirements to work such days and hours that may vary in accordance with business requirements, including regular evenings and weekends and occasional holiday periods.
Holidays: 25 days per year, plus Christmas shutdown (3 days) and public holidays
Accessibility and Inclusivity
We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. Disabled applicants are invited to contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss steps that could be taken to overcome operational difficulties presented by the job, or if any adjustments or support are required regarding the recruitment process.
To apply please forward a CV and send in your CV and a covering letter of no more than 2 pages or a video presentation of no more than 2 minutes in length
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Grants and Trust Fundraiser
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Fundraiser to work closely with the Head of Fundraising and Chief Executive to maintain a fundraising pipeline, research new prospects and write high quality bids to a range of grant and trust funders.
The organisation is at an exciting stage of its development with a strategy of cautious and sustained growth, so if you want to be part of the next chapter of growth and development… then apply today!
Position: Senior Grant and Trust Fundraiser
Location: London or West Midlands/hybrid (with frequent travel to London if you are based in the West Midlands)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5hours, flexible working
Salary: £35,000
Duration: Permanent
Closing Date: Thursday 6th June
Interview Date: Stage one interviews will take place week commencing 20th May, although it may be earlier for particularly promising candidates, we reserve the right to close the application window early.
The Role
You will be instrumental in securing the funding, which the organisation needs to continue to deliver and develop its services, across a wide range of functions and projects. You will be an entrepreneurial, knowledgeable fundraiser, adept at finding the right opportunities to fit the right projects. You will also be meticulous and organised in your approach to stewardship, maintaining contact with funders and working with colleagues to collate the information needed for reporting.
The fundraising strategy contains plans to further develop specific areas of fundraising such as individual giving, corporate partnerships and legacies, and you may be called upon to support the Head of Fundraising in putting plans together for the implementation of these, working alongside the Senior Administrator (Fundraising and Communications).
About You
You will have experience in a fundraising, philanthropy or relationship management role and a track record of success in securing at least five-figure donations from grant and trust funders.
You will have:
· Knowledge of digital fundraising approaches
· Outstanding writing and communication skills
· The ability to understand financial language and budgets
· Strong research and prospecting skills
· The capacity to build excellent relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally
· Experience of measuring impact and delivering evaluation reports
You will be asked to submit a one-page covering letter and your CV.
About the Organisation
The charity have been around since 1997, when it started as a small playgroup set up by parents dismayed at the lack of provision for their autistic children. Since then, it has grown into a major deliverer of services and support in London and the West Midlands with a turnover of around £2.6m per year. The mission is to support autistic people to live happy and fulfilling lives and change society’s attitude to autism, whilst also providing essential services and enriching opportunities to autistic people.
Join a value-driven organisation, which employs value-driven people who want to make a difference and play a vital part in ensuring that it can resource and sustain this amazing work.
Benefits include:
· Flexible working patterns with the option to work in a hybrid way
· 25 days of leave (pro rata for part time roles) each year plus 8 bank holidays and the additional office closure between Christmas and New Year
· Access to ongoing training and progress in the areas that interest you
· Access to our wellbeing initiatives and an Employee Assistance Programme
· Enrolment on to our pension scheme
· A supportive, warm and fun working environment made up of values driven people who are passionate about changing the world for autistic people
We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and global majority candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and disabled candidates.
The charity is a neuro-affirming employer, with a strengths and rights based approach to neurodiversity which affirms neurodivergent identity – they don’t want to “fix” or “cure” autism, and don’t see it as a “disability”. The team are working to improve the ways in which they recruit and support neurodiverse employees and those with lived experience of neurodiversity.
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PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.