Role Summary
Chelmsford became England’s newest city in 2012.
The ‘city of Essex’ is now responding to public expectations for well-planned strategic investment in the arts, culture and heritage.
If you are an experienced fundraiser, with a record of bidding successfully to trusts, foundations and grant-making bodies, and you are a leader with a passion for Chelmsford, we’d like you join us as Executive Director in the Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust.
Introduction
Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust is seeking an Executive Director with the passion, experience and skills to help to shape a strong future for the arts and culture in the City of Chelmsford.
A leader and practitioner, the Executive Director will coordinate the Trust’s relationships with grant-making bodies; work closely with partner organisations; proactively advocate for the arts, heritage, culture and well-being; and respond to the expectations of Chelmsford’s residents and visitors.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a track record of success in relevant social enterprises in the arts, heritage or broader cultural sector and public-facing environment; a proven capacity to work efficiently and imaginatively with minimal supervision; and a commitment to a strong future for culture in Chelmsford.
Terms
Two-year fixed term contract initially, subject to performance agreement and appraisal. Part time – 2.5 days per week (0.5 FTE). Salary pro rata on 40 hour week, based on full time circa £35,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications; potential for an additional, incentivised component.
For conditions and how to apply – see below.
Purpose
To be responsible for the development and delivery of strategies and initial programmes for Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust, aligned with the strategic vision of the City of Chelmsford for its arts and cultural provision.
For background – see below
Primary tasks
Reporting to the Chair, the Executive Director will collaborate with Board members, the Charity Secretary (retained by the Trust on an honorarium), colleagues in Chelmsford City Council and others, to:
- be a proactive advocate for the arts, culture and heritage in Chelmsford
- act as an ambassador for the Trust, maximising publicity for the organisation throughout the city, representing the Trust, safeguarding and enhancing its reputation and promoting its work
- track what the people of Chelmsford want for the future of culture in their city
- research, prepare and submit fundraising proposals in relation to the Trust’s support for Chelmsford City Council, starting with the preparation of persuasive bids for investment by Arts Council England and other key partners.
- network efficiently, use social media confidently and appropriately and attend events including evening productions and networking functions
- establish new and maintain existing effective collaborative relationships with current and potential funders, acting as the key point of contact for the Trust.
- build partnerships with a range of organisations and individuals to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Trust
- develop an individual donor plan and associated strategies to support the establishment in due course of an Endowment Fund
- maintain local & national knowledge of fundraising legislation and opportunities in the arts, heritage & culture sectors
- ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and other statutory bodies
- be responsible for GDPR compliance and be the Data Controller for the charity
Qualifications & Experience
- Demonstrate required capabilities in relevant charity environments, with a proven track record of achieving significant annual fundraising targets, and with responsibility for:
- determining strategies in concert with governance
- developing effective plans in relation to fundraising
- securing major grants from public and private organisations
- working with individual donors at all giving levels
- A compelling communicator and influencer, experienced at a senior leadership level and having previous strategic responsibility, working with funders, managers and trustees
- Working knowledge of governance and the day to day application of charity law
Skills & Knowledge
- Competent in financial analysis, forecasting and reporting
- Effective and influential communicator with excellent negotiation skills and confidence in staging effective and persuasive presentations that lead directly to support and investment
- Comfortable with digital platforms and applications for maintaining communications and exchanging information
- Working knowledge of marketing and public-facing communications
Personal Attributes
- Excited for the future of Chelmsford
- Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the motivations of charitable trusts, corporate supporters and individual donors
- Personal integrity and professional standing
- Collaborative and approachable with strong leadership ability
- Self-motivating; creative thinker, with entrepreneurial instincts
- Ability to see ‘the big picture’ and to realise the delivery of a vision
Conditions and How to Apply
The Trust is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity of background, experience and perspective, and to equality of opportunity in its programmes, advocacy, employment practices and in the sponsorship of its services.
Flexible working location, with arrangements to help achieve a balanced lifestyle. Reflecting the independence of the role, core Values will include the highest levels of integrity and trust.
The contract could include annualised hours and flexible tasking to fit around other commitments and specific personal requirements. Some evening representational work will be expected.
The Trust invites applications by 19 April 2019, via email moc.liamg@tdcc.riahc ot
Include an up to date CV and a covering letter addressed to the Chair, Roy Clare. Briefly outline experience, skills, qualifications and career profile in relation to the Role Description above.
For those who match the specification, a conversation with the Chair will be scheduled. Subsequent stages will include a face to face panel interview, when References will be taken up.
Applications will be handled in strict confidence. The trust intends to make an appointment by the end of May 2019 if possible.
Background
Chelmsford became a city in 2012 and is the only city in Essex. It has a population of approximately 120,000 within a district of 170,000.
The city is developing a cultural strategy that looks ahead more than twenty years. Oaklands Museum is undergoing a Heritage Lottery Funded redevelopment opening in summer 2019, the theatres are developing to attract wider audiences and other forms of art and culture activities are igniting city-wide.
Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust is an independent charity whose objective is to support and enable development of culture in Chelmsford through fundraising and advocacy.
The Trust will develop individual giving, trusts and foundations, legacies and endowment, to create capacity for strategic development. The Trust is interested in individuals who can bring direct experience of innovative ideas in the development of resources.
Who we are
The Trust is governed by a board of unpaid, volunteer Trustees drawn from the business, education and arts communities, who are advocates for the arts and culture in the city.
The Trustees bring experience in art galleries, museums, theatres, education, local government and finance.
There is one City Council representative on the Board of the Trust who is an elected Councillor.
The Trust is separate from, but works closely with, Chelmsford City Council.
The Trust is working closely with Essex County Council, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford Festival, Ignite Chelmsford and other key organisations across education, business and arts and heritage.
How we work
The Trust sees culture as a vital tool to draw diverse communities together; to raise aspirations for the City and individuals within it; and to draw people to the City as residents, students, investors, employees and visitors.
The Trust adds value through advocating for the City’s strategies and work programmes for culture, heritage, tourism and place-making.
We identify ways to leverage additional capacity; exploiting milestone events; and planning to establish an endowment fund to support long term investment in line with the City’s agreed priorities.
What we do
The Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust exists for the public benefit, to advance:
Arts and culture by promoting awareness of the merits of the collections and encouraging high standards of the arts of performance in museums, theatres and facilities owned by the City of Chelmsford; initially, priority will be advocacy for the intrinsic value and instrumental benefits of cultural and creative activity in terms of well-being for children, families and older people.
Education by making grants to support the development of collections and resources that enable people to have access to art, culture, heritage or science, in museums, theatres and facilities owned by the City of Chelmsford; initially, priority will be support for the partly HLF-funded transformation of Chelmsford Museum within Oaklands Park
Such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time, to increase participation in artistic, cultural and scientific pursuits by people of all ages living in or visiting the City of Chelmsford; initially, priority will be on projects related to the City’s plans for a Year of Creativity and Science in 2020 – Essex 2020
Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust is a registered UK charity No 1080431 Company No 10894512.