Communications & Events Manager

Introduction

Culture Commons are a small but highly impactful team of policy experts supporting the UK’s creative, cultural and heritage sectors to co-design policy and lead advocacy.

In your role as Policy Communications and Events Manager, you will lead on all external facing materials related to Culture Commons flagship open policy development programme for 2024 exploring ‘the future of local cultural decision making’.

This unique programme is a first-of-its kind, bringing together some of the most high-profile stakeholders operating in the creative, cultural and heritage ecosystem (including local governments, arm’s length bodies and grant givers) in all four UK nations, and will influence the development of policy for years to come.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated person with demonstrable experience in a similar role to join us mid-programme as we ‘gear up’ to disseminate key research findings from the research phase of the programme as well as help us land policy positions from the upcoming policy development phase of the programme to relevant external stakeholders.

We think this role will be of particular interest to communications and event management specialists with an interest in policy, the creative and cultural sectors and/or social justice.

About Us

Culture Commons bring the creative, cultural and research sectors together to design policy, influence decision makers and drive positive change. We build impactful advocacy programmes and campaigns to influence policy makers at the local, national and international levels.

The team is made up policy professionals, creative and cultural sector leaders, former politicians, grassroots activists, civil servants, and parliamentary advisers who all have track records of taking ideas from proposal into law.

We operate a cross-subsidy and not-for-profit model that enables us to work with leading creative businesses and research institutions, but also support smaller and grassroots creative and cultural organisations - ensuring that all voices are heard in policymaking processes.

We are kindly supported directly and indirectly with project and core grant funding from the liked of Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Arts and Humanities Research Council, Federation of Entertainment Unions and Research England.

You can find out more about us at www.culturecommons.uk 

Job Description

Location

Anywhere in the UK - remote, hybrid and flexible working options considered; some travel may be required from time to time to meet the needs of the programme e.g. event delivery

Salary

£34,000 pro rata

Holidays

28 days pro rata including bank holidays

Contract

Part time (3 days/24 hours per week) fixed term to end of October 2024 with option to take it full time permanent

Deadline

Monday 22nd April 2024

Interviews

Friday 26th April 2024

Start date

ASAP after interview

You will work with the Culture Commons team to successfully lead on the identification, development and deployment of a series of communication outputs during the remaining stages of a major four nations open policy development programme.

The person who picks up this role will help ensure that findings and outcomes from the programme are shared with a wide range of external stakeholders at each stage of the programme lifecycle, maximising both impact and reach wherever possible.

As part of your role, you will work with the Culture Commons open policy development programme team, including the Director, Policy and Programmes Manager, Postdoctoral Research Associate and Administrator, to:

Communications

• Monitor programme developments and capitalise on opportunities to produce external facing com to maximise reach and impact

• Identify and communicate key findings emanating from a series of Insight Papers for our different stakeholder groups (inc. policymakers, academia and the creative, cultural and heritage sectors) on social media

• Draft copy for external documents e.g. blogs, the programme’s digital hub, brochures, newsletters and other written materials

• Sourcing images and other media content for inclusion in key documents

• Lead on all social media outputs, including developing material for our X and LinkedIn channels that spotlight our impressive partners and programme updates

• Drive traffic to our open call for evidence with a particular emphasis on engaging groups who are usually underrepresented in policymaking processes

• Coordinate a series of ‘think pieces’ by programme contributors on subjects of relevance to the programme

• Uploading content into the Wix website platform as necessary

• Support the Culture Commons Director with perusing and produce materials for press and PR opportunities

• Updating the internal partner communications messaging board (intranet) as necessary

Event Production

• Support the co-design of a series of smaller online events related to our Knowledge Exchange and Insight Gathering worst ands (usually hosted on Microsoft Teams in panel, workshop or roundtable formats)

• Leading on the production of agendas, managing diary invites, arranging short speaker briefing sessions with support of wider team members as necessary.

• Liaising with partner organisations to ensure smooth delivery of all events.

• Lead on the planning and production of a larger digital ‘conference’ alongside programme partners to share key findings in circa September 2024

• Supporting with the design and delivery of in-person visits to our ‘place partner’ areas where necessary

• Map stakeholders and keep contact details and engagement records updated on our CRM system alongside wider team

• Support with collating and reporting data to feed into an independent external evaluator

Person specification

• Experience in a fast-moving policy communication and/or events management role

• Ability to produce online events from a standing start through to completion with due regard to the factors that make for a successful experience for guests and attendees

• Experience leading on the planning and delivery of successful in-person visits, meetings and events

• Ability to digest large amounts of information and articulate key points that are likely to be of interest to different audiences, including policy makers, academics and creative, cultural and heritage sector representatives

• Experience in maintaining a professional social media presence and building relevant audience where necessary

• Ability to access and assess online engagement metrics (inc. social media/website hits) to refine communications approaches and supply an external independent evaluator with the details they need to communicate overall programme reach

• Track record of implementing and maintaining activity trackers and managing deadlines appropriately

• Strong interpersonal skills, a creative mindset, initiative, and the ability to work independently when required

• Strong organisational skills and an attention to detail when dealing with multiple and conflicting priorities

• Familiarity with standard Microsoft packages and basic design capabilities with the ability to pick up new digital skills with training including via Canva

• Is confident in communicating with senior stakeholders, ensuring that vital communications senior sign off in a timely and organised manner

• General understanding of government, parliamentary and policy making processes would be an advantage but not essential

Key attributes

• Works in a planned and structured manner whilst nonetheless demonstrating the ability to be flexible and adapt to changing business needs

• Collaborates and includes others, fostering a collegiate and transparent environment, built on trust and integrity

• Makes the most of their own time and being mindful of others' time too

• Approaches work with energy and positivity, motivating those around them

• Remains calm and composed when faced with high-pressure situations

• Communicates articulately and confidently, even in challenging situations, and is not afraid to address conflict sensitively

• Approaches complex problems and decision-making objectively, seeking the best possible solutions

• Strives for excellence, always aiming to deliver the highest quality results, and embraces opportunities for improvement

Culture Commons are committed to ensuring that all our roles are open to everyone who would like to apply, including those from demographic groups underrepresented in the workforce. We are very happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure your application process is open to you - please let us know if there is anything we can do to support that.

Application process

If you would like to apply for this position, please email your CV with a maximum two page covering letter (font size 12) outlining why you are interested in this position and how you meet the person specification, to contact@culturecommons.uk Please include ‘Communications & Events Manager – [insert your name]’ in the RE window by 22nd April 2024.

Interviews will take place on 26th April 2024 and will take place in London and/or online depending on the location of applicants.

We anticipate a start date as soon as possible after appointment. If you have any questions or holidays/dates that may affect any of the above, please let us know in advance.