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The Chief Executive & Creative Director holds the most senior post at Dance City, unites the creative and strategic functions of the organisation, and is accountable to the board of trustees for the good management and impact of the charity. The Chief Executive & Creative Director leads and works collaboratively with the board, senior management team (SMT) and stakeholders and partners to ensure that Dance City creates opportunities for people to create, produce and experience dance at its very best. The Chief Executive & Creative Director drives the business, identifying commercial opportunities, securing financial resilience, and ensuring that Dance City’s programme is at the vanguard of sustainable dance development in the region. The Chief Executive & Creative Director is based in the northeast and plays an active role in the social life and cultural communities of the region. 
 

Role Profile and Person Specification 

Key deliverables 

• Lead on Dance City’s vision, values and organisational objectives and ensure the relevance and sustainability of its creative programme.

• Ensure there is alignment between Dance City’s creative ambitions and its business needs and that all activity is delivered to the highest possible standards to plan and within budget.

• Grow the organisation’s earned income and shape and set targets for initiatives embracing commercial ventures, corporate partnerships, public funding, trusts and foundations and individual philanthropy.

• Be accountable to the board and to funding bodies, and for the responsible stewardship of Dance City.

• Ensure a strong profile and reputation for the organisation and for dance practice locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. 

• Initiate, develop and sustain partnerships with existing and potential funders and key stakeholders. 

• Lead and enable the senior team; motivate, inspire, and support the development of the wider staff team.

Role profile 

Leadership and governance  

• Develop and monitor the strategic plan with the SMT and Board. 

• Work closely with the Chair and Trustees to ensure the good governance of the charity and that organisational performance is structured and monitored using well articulated, achievable KPIs. 

• Support Trustees in being an effective Board, ensuring it comprises the appropriate range of skills and has access to training and development opportunities.

• Deploy Trustees’ skills and networks to identify and activate opportunities for commercial development and business growth.

• Be an inclusive leader, collaborate with and empower the SMT, and motivate, support and develop the wider staff team. 

Advocacy, profile and civic engagement 

• Promote the profile and reputation of Dance City locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

• Initiate and enable constructive debate about dance and its development by artists, policy-makers and the public, and to promote Dance City’s role in dance leadership.

• Articulate the transformative potential of dance in enabling social cohesion, the centrality of its place in the wider creative industries sector, and its potential, through civic partnerships and collaboration, to make a major contribution to the economy and well being of the city and region. 

• Ensure Dance City is part of local, regional, national  and international arts discussions and networks, is represented at key events and viewed as crucial to decision-making processes in the dance and wider cultural and social sectors.

• Be the face of Dance City in professional and community networks and at events in the northeast; communicate and advocate for its plans and ambitions to the widest range of people including politicians, the media, funders, artists, audiences and the public.

Creative 

• Shape, co-create and communicate the creative vision for Dance City. 

• Oversee the development and delivery of a creative programme which appeals to a wide range of audiences, demonstrates excellence, and sets out to grow appetite and demand for diverse dance experiences. 

• Build and manage sustainable commercial and funding partnerships which will enhance the profile of the programme and enable the commissioning, programming and presentation of dance within and beyond Dance City.

• Oversee the evaluation of the programme, to ensure quality, to engage in reflection and implement learning with colleagues.

• Maintain an overview of the local and national dance ecology in order to inform advocacy and planning.

Brand, commercial performance and income 

• Oversee the design and delivery of effective marketing and communications strategies that are developed and effectively delivered, to retain existing and grow new audiences for dance in the northeast and to promote the Dance City brand.

• Be proactive in the development and delivery of effective fundraising and income generation strategies for Dance City, to ensure that contributed income grows and is diversified, and to develop commercial opportunities enabled by the building and programme. 

• Play an active role in identifying and approaching prospective donors, sponsors and funding partners.

• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing and potential supporters and to lead on key public funding and donor relationships.

Finance and operations  

• Be accountable for the financial operation of the organisation, ensuring budgets are set and monitored, appropriate financial policies and procedures are in place, compliance with appropriate legal and fiscal frameworks is followed, and that there is timely reporting to the relevant funders and authorities.

• Oversee and ensure the smooth and efficient management of Dance City’s facilities and infrastructure.

• Ensure Dance City remains a visible champion of environmental responsibility.

• Ensure the organisation is fully compliant with all legal requirements, including health and safety, and that all staff are trained appropriately. 

People and culture 

• Set the tone for and model the organisational culture, be an inclusive and consultative leader, championing employee wellbeing and engagement. 

• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place for recruitment, induction, appraisals and the professional development of staff.

• Ensure the organisation upholds its principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, valuing the wellbeing of all colleagues.

Person specification  

Essential  

• Has held a senior role in a cultural venue or within an organisation with a substantial arts programme or partnerships; is well networked in and beyond the cultural and creative industries. 

• Understanding of the current landscape and eco-system in the cultural sector and awareness of local/national political initiatives that will impact on - and create opportunities for - Dance City and its partner organisations.

• Understanding of the legal, fiscal, social and political context within which the arts operate, and the contribution they make to health, education, social cohesion and civic pride.

• Understanding of the needs of dance as an art form and a commitment to best practice and to promoting inclusion and equality of opportunity.

• An inclusive leader with experience of overseeing organisational transformation and managing change. 

• A track record in relationship building, working in partnership with a range of funders, agencies and organisations, and of successful fundraising and income generation from a range of sources. 

• A strong advocate and compelling storyteller, able to network, represent the organisation, communicate its vision and inspire confidence among existing and potential peers and stakeholders.

• Strong financial literacy and skills, knowledge of charity governance and relevant financial policies and procedures; experience of senior financial accountability.

• Experience of working effectively with a Board of Directors, understanding of best practice in governance and organisational development.

• A commitment to living in the region, able to travel nationally and internationally, and to work some evenings and weekends where there is reasonable expectation to attend events.

Desirable 

• Experience of running a building with a diverse and impactful arts programme. 

• An extensive network in the cultural sector. 

• Experience of significant national/international cultural partnership projects. 

• Experience of managing significant public investment programmes such as ACE NPO, Creative Scotland RFO or equivalent.

Equity, diversity and inclusion 

At Dance City we believe that voices and perspectives from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences make our understanding of the world and the arts more relevant.

We believe that difference is our strength.

Therefore we actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and those that are under-represented in our city and region and in dance leadership. 

St Pauls Advice Centre is a trusted, community-based charity providing free, specialist legal advice to people facing poverty, insecurity and injustice. We work across welfare benefits, debt, and immigration, supporting people to understand and exercise their rights.

We are looking for a thoughtful and committed Community Engagement Officer to join us on a maternity cover basis. This role is central to ensuring that the voices, experiences and insights of the communities we serve inform how our services are designed, delivered and improved.

About the role

Working closely with the Executive Director and wider team, you will coordinate our community engagement activity and help strengthen relationships with local communities and partners.

You will play a key role in maintaining and developing our engagement work, ensuring continuity while contributing to how we listen, learn and respond as an organisation.

Your work will include:

• Building and maintaining relationships with community groups, residents and partner organisations
• Coordinating engagement activities such as community events, conversations and feedback processes
• Supporting and facilitating advisory or user groups to shape services
• Gathering and organising insight from engagement activity to inform service delivery and development
• Working with staff and volunteers to ensure community voice is reflected across the organisation
• Contributing to accessible, community-facing materials and communications
• Supporting collaboration and partnership working across the local area

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience of community engagement, outreach or participation work (paid or voluntary)
• Builds trust easily and works well with people from a wide range of backgrounds
• Communicates clearly and sensitively, both verbally and in writing
• Is organised, reliable and able to manage their own workload
• Is interested in how community insight can shape services and improve outcomes
• Shares our commitment to equity, dignity and social justice

Experience in the advice or charity sector is helpful but not essential.

Why join us

This is an opportunity to contribute to an organisation working at the intersection of advice, health and justice. You will help ensure that services are shaped by the people who use them, and that community voice is central to how we work.

We offer:

• Salary: £27,254 FTE (Actual £10,901.60)
• 14 hours per week (flexible working)
• Fixed-term 9-month maternity cover contract
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Additional 3 days leave between Christmas and New Year
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A supportive and reflective team culture

Apply

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of the issues our clients face, and from communities underrepresented in the advice sector.

To apply, please complete the personal application form, the competency application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form and email them to us.

Closing date: Monday 27th April, 10:00 am
Interview date: Tuesday 5th May

Please note: we do not accept CVs. No agencies.

We seek to appoint a community pioneer for ‘Earthed’, a relatively new initiative that seeks to work across the Almondsbury and Severnside area (South Gloucestershire)

The successful applicant will be supported fully so they are free to wander and seek to respond to where God is calling. Applicants will be creative visionaries, who are resilient and able to respond to the challenges such a unique role will uncover.

This isn’t about running polished events or having everything figured out. It’s about bringing people together in simple ways - walks, time around a fire, moments of reflection - and seeing what grows.

The Community Pioneer for Earthed will cultivate spaces where people can connect - with one another, with nature, and with God. These spaces will be open, authentic, and welcoming, especially to those who are curious, questioning, or exploring faith.

St Pauls Advice Centre is a trusted, community-based charity providing free, specialist legal advice to people facing poverty, insecurity and injustice. We work across welfare benefits, debt, and immigration, supporting people to understand and exercise their rights.

We are looking for a skilled and thoughtful Marketing & Communications Officer to help us strengthen how we communicate our work, reach underserved communities, and influence the systems that shape people’s lives.

This is a role for someone who combines creativity with purpose. You will help ensure our communications are clear, accessible and rooted in the realities of the communities we serve.

About the role

Working closely with the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, you will lead the coordination of our internal and external communications. You will shape and deliver a strategic communications approach that reflects our values, strengthens our voice, and supports our impact.

Your work will include:

• Acting as a brand guardian, supporting consistent tone of voice and visual identity
• Managing and developing our website and digital platforms, improving accessibility and user experience
• Creating engaging and accessible content for social media, reports and publications
• Producing Annual Reports, Impact Reports and other key outputs
• Designing clear, inclusive information and publicity materials
• Supporting media engagement, including drafting press releases and articles
• Contributing to events, partnerships and fundraising activity

You will also contribute to organisational learning by helping us communicate insight, evidence and impact in ways that are meaningful to communities, partners and funders.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in a communications, marketing or digital role
• Writes clearly and effectively for a range of audiences
• Can translate complex information into accessible, engaging content
• Is confident managing digital platforms and content systems
• Understands the importance of inclusive, community-centred communication
• Brings strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently
• Shares our commitment to equity, dignity and social justice

Experience in the advice, charity or public sector is helpful but not essential.

Why join us

This is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in an organisation working at the intersection of advice, health and justice. You will help ensure people can access the support they need, and that their experiences inform wider change.

We offer:

• Salary: £31,537 pro rata (Actual £12,614.80)
• 14 hours per week (flexible, with some preference for Wednesdays)
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Additional 3 days leave between Christmas and New Year
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• A supportive, reflective team culture

Apply

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of the issues our clients face, and from communities underrepresented in the advice sector.

To apply, please complete the personal application form, the competency application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form and email them to us.

Closing date: Monday 27th April, 10:00 am
Interview date: Thursday 7th May

Please note: we do not accept CVs. No agencies.