Creative Central

Job Title: : Cultural Development Manager
Directorate: : Regeneration
Grade: : Level 15 (subject to review)
Salary: £41,616 – 44,302 per annum

Applications from – www.stoke.gov.uk

Job Purpose

Stoke on Trent is a city with a number of enviable cultural assets. From the Potteries and Art Gallery Museum that houses the biggest collection of Staffordshire pottery in the world, to the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall, and innumerable unique heritage buildings the city enjoys a thriving cultural life and is home to a growing sector of creative industries ranging from film and animation, fine arts, music, performing arts, craft based ceramics to digital media companies. The purpose of this post is to develop and deliver with key strategic partners a programme of high quality and high profile cultural events in Stoke on Trent to build and enhance its reputation as a centre of cultural significance, and to ensure that the commercial opportunities arising from the assets are optimised.

In 2009 the city saw the launch of the British Ceramics Biennale, cementing the city as the World Capital of Ceramics and promoting the city as a centre for innovation in design. Cultural regeneration is seen as a key driver of the future prosperity of the city.

Key Duties / Responsibilities

Strategic Management

Ensuring that the city is well represented at international, national and regional forums to pursue the objectives of the NSRP Business Plan;

Ensure that the cultural strategy is developed as part of the overall regeneration programme to transform the economy of North Staffordshire and develop activity that promotes regeneration;

Advise the city council on cultural and arts policy, ensuring that the Festivals and Events and Cultural Strategies are kept under review and refreshed to provide a clear steer for the development and delivery of future programmes;

Develop and Deliver with partners an ambitious programme of festivals, events and cultural activities designed to celebrate local culture, enhance the reputation of the city and attract increased numbers of visits from leisure and business visitors;

Optimise the opportunities for Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire arising from the enhanced presence of the BBC in Manchester;

Liaise closely with the Sector Development Manager to attract and support the growth of creative industries within the area;

Performance

• Developing and delivering a programme of world class cultural events and festival;

• Run the film office to promote opportunities for the use of Stoke on Trent as a film location;

• Manage a small team of cultural development officers to advise on cultural activities , and deliver a programme of cultural and arts projects;

• Work with the sector support and development manager and the inward investment manager to assist and support the development of the cultural industries sector, which has been identified as one of the priority sectors with growth potential for North Staffordshire;

• Lead on cross departmental boards to deliver against the Cultural Strategy;

• Manage contracts with major providers of cultural services such as the Ambassadors Theatre Group, New Vic Theatre and Mitchell Memorial Theatre Trust;

• Work with colleagues and external partners to ensure that the commercial and regeneration potential of the Staffordshire Hoard is optimised;

• Manage the City Centre Partnership and ensure the delivery of the CCP business plan;

• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with HENS to secure appropriate levels and standards of environmental and neighbourhood related service delivery;

• Liaise with the city marketing group to secure delivery of appropriate marketing materials for the promotion of the city centre;

• Organise delivery of key city centre events such as farmers and specialist markets, Christmas Lights switch on, and liaise with colleagues in the council over the delivery of events within the boundary of the city centre.

Resource Management

• Manage the City Centre Team;
• Manage the Cultural Development Team;
• Manage the Festivals and Events team

Communications

• Produce a periodic newsletter for the City centre Partnership and City Centre Guide;
• Ensure that festivals and events are appropriately marketed and publicised;
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with media to secure PR coverage and advertorial promoting the image of the area through its cultural assets and events.
• To liaise with, consult and provide advice to Elected Members, Officers of the City Council, and all relevant external organisations
• To report to the council and its committees on all aspects of the management of the Service, including legislative requirements, national and local developments, targets and achievements in service delivery.
• To consult with service users.
• To raise the profile of the Arts and Cultural sectors through appropriate use of local and national media.
• To ensure a culture of effective communication at all levels of the organisation through team briefings, one to one sessions

Culture

• create a culture that develops and shares best practice, knowledge and skills in business development, sector support, city centre management and managing workspace strategy and operations;
• promote a positive culture of achievement, responsibility and results orientation among the team;
• promote equality of opportunity in the development and delivery of service;
• provide excellent customer focused service to all internal and external customers in line with the council commitment to excellence;

Finance and Staffing Dimensions (if applicable)
• Gross Revenue Budget : £3m
• Capital Budget:
• Staff: 12

Key Result Areas

• Delivering a programme of high class cultural events and festivals for the city;
• Delivering the Cultural Strategy;
• Securing increased use of the area as a film location;
• Increase the number of cultural industry practitioners and boost the output of the sector;
• High quality services delivered with budget;
• Compliance with all corporate procedures;
• Annual performance targets achieved.

Cultural Development Manager, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire