Director of Culture

Job Title: Director of Culture

Location: Salford, Greater Manchester

Salary: £80,000 per annum

Job Type: Full time (40 hours per week)

The Lowry is an internationally acclaimed cultural landmark situated at the heart of MediaCityUK, one of the world’s most exciting culture and media destinations. We are committed to celebrating the unique heritage of the location, putting communities and people at the heart of all we do.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to be a visible and effective leader within The Lowry, SCC’s Place Directorate and across the SCPP. ​The Director of Culture role will be integral in further embedding culture, heritage and arts into the regeneration of people and place whilst leading and securing the involvement and support of key stakeholders in the development and implementation of Salford’s Cultural Strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Provides the dynamic, creative and ambitious leadership required to enable Salford’s cultural eco-system and economy to develop and thrive, building on the achievements of the existing ecology and infrastructure.

Leads and secures the involvement and support of key stakeholders in the development and implementation of Salford’s Cultural Strategy, Suprema Lex, whilst shaping new partnerships.

Drives delivery of the city’s Cultural Strategy and its contribution to city-wide plans and other regional strategies, through strong and inclusive leadership and effective partnership working with key stakeholders and partners.

Acts as an ambassador, advocate and voice for the City’s cultural ecology to maximise investment in the city, with particular responsibility for the delivery of an inclusive cultural offer that meets the needs of residents, visitors, and businesses.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Degree or recognised professional/management qualification.
• Extensive experience and consistent achievement at a senior management level within an organisation of comparable size and complexity delivering multi-faceted outcomes.
• Track record of delivering large capital and revenue programmes, delivering within complex budget and time constraints.
• Experience of developing and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with private and public sector organisations, community/customer groups and other stakeholders to drive improvements in service delivery.
• Experience of sourcing and successfully securing funding streams, developing bid/ grant documentation to ensure that Salford is maximizing opportunities to fulfil its cultural strategic ambitions.
• An ability to direct, lead, plan and manage the provision of a cultural strategy, integrating activities with other internal services and relevant external bodies to deliver maximum impact through high levels of personal autonomy.
• Ability to make sound professional and managerial judgements and the ability to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload.
• A commitment to support the City Council with its strategic challenges and to support the achievement of these priorities.
• To ensure an integrated approach to policy development and implementation, through high level and complex interventions and interactions with wide ranging, diverse partnership organisations. Requiring the ability to take a lead role in influencing governmental and non-governmental organisations policies and strategies to meet local needs.
• Ability and vision to recognise emerging issues of relevance and have the analytical, interpretive, evaluative, personal, and organisational skills to develop long term innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Extensive knowledge of the Culture, Arts & Heritage sector.
• Knowledge of the financial, legal and social environment within which LA’s operate.
• Understanding of local democracy and the processes, practices and culture required to deliver strong local governance at a senior level and in a partnership environment.

Benefits and package:

• Complimentary and discounted theatre and live event tickets.
• Free car parking just a few minutes’ walk from The Lowry building.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and a paid day off for your birthday!
• Discounts at the bars, restaurant and gift shop located within The Lowry building.
• Please note that MediaCityUK is a well-connected destination with a variety of different transport options – bus, car, tram and bike.

The application deadline for this vacancy is Wednesday 15 March 2023 at 10:00am.

We particularly encourage applications from the following two people groups who are currently under-represented in our work force and in the wider performing and visual arts sector; those people who experience racism and marginalisation, including those from African, Caribbean, North African, Latin, South Asian, East Asian and South East Asian heritage and their diasporas, those who are disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent or have long-term health conditions. If you’re interested in the role and would like to put yourself forward please hit APPLY.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Director, Executive, Executive Director, Senior Director Arts and Culture, History and Arts, Director of Culture, may also be considered for this role.