The Opportunity:
Role Purpose:
We are looking to secure 2 x Part-Time Music Relationship Manager posts and the role will cover a broad but distinct range of music sector specialisms. Both roles will play a valuable part in our mission is to support connections between the UK and international music and arts sector to connect, exchange and collaborate internationally. Our work also provides opportunities for the contemporary UK music sector to flourish in the international cultural landscape. You will work to create a more inclusive and sustainable future through professional exchange and sector development programmes.
Having a vast extensive UK sector experience and a wide network of contacts, as well as knowledge of UK music sector practice and partnership management experience, you will lead and manage a portfolio of UK sector relationships and create opportunities for collaborative international programmes.
You will provide specialist music expertise and programme management support within British Council global teams to ensure the development of high-quality, strategic music programmes as well as developing partnerships and based on the British Council global programmes.
Music programmes sit within the arts portfolio of activity, ensuring programmes achieve targets, meet global and local requirements as appropriate and support the British Council’s cultural relations objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Pro-actively builds professional networks and information channels that maintain an excellent understanding of relevant developments, stakeholders and opinion formers across the entire UK contemporary music sector to support the creation and delivery of high-quality projects/programmes.
- Provides support, expertise and advice to colleagues to ensure high quality music programme content in major arts programmes based on a genuine understanding of the key British Council priorities and best practice within the subject/sector specialism
- Demonstrating the diversity of the UK Music sector with the team, with knowledge of at least 4 the following areas within music: music education, the classical and orchestral sector, contemporary opera, experimental and contemporary music, electronic, jazz, folk, music of black origin such as hip-hop, afrobeats, RnB, Amapiano, and grime
Relationship & stakeholder management
- Proactively identifies and enhances a diverse range of potential/actual partners for music project and programme development and delivery, to secure the successful achievement of British Council objectives.
- Builds and maintains valuable relationships with internal partners and key stakeholders, to ensure impactful and collaborative delivery of portfolio goals in a complex matrix environment.
Programme management
- Contributes to the development and presentation of specific music project or programme proposals, both face-to-face and digital, including the subject or sector specialism-related component of wider programmes, to ensure these are soundly based and gain approval
- Oversees and, as necessary, advises on the implementation of approved music programmes and products to ensure these are efficiently and effectively delivered
- To be able to speak to technical and non-technical British Council members of management systems, websites and marketing materials so the information is up to date in relation to British Council’s work of various subject/sector specialism
- Deliver advice and support to relevant programmes and projects, and to external delivery organisations and provides quality control.
- To identify project and programme issues, and potential solutions or improved ways of working to address them, and provide advice to and support delivery partners, escalating where necessary.
Business development
- Advising professional input to support development of high quality, competitive and customer/market-focused bids, research, tender submissions, programme plans and sponsorship appeals, which can generate specified commercial returns and cultural relations impact.
Leadership and Management
- Plans and prioritises own work activities, connecting to those of wider project team/teams, to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and programmes.
- Matrix Working -many teams are outside of the direct management and are external to British Council i.e. delivery organisations
- Communicates knowledge, expertise and ideas to support senior managers and peers identifying and/or developing ways in which arts department can make the most effective impact on the British Council’s cultural relations.
- Works within a cross-departmental and multi-location team to create and facilitate the delivery of high-quality programmes – using negotiation skills within a matrix structure to persuade colleagues to support and external partners to deliver programmes, or work in new ways in support of cultural relations and to increase impact for the British Council in the UK and overseas.
- Actively champion to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Assisting people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health.
- Understands the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to the role and makes time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.
Commercial, financial & resource management
- Using British Council systems and processes, plans and manages the budget as necessary for a range of small/medium-sized projects and programmes.
- Contributes to programme and project evaluation for reporting.
Requirements of the role:
- A vast experience in the UK music sector – such as devising and managing music projects and programmes, working with music education and talent development programmes or creating / producing music events.
- Knowledge of the UK contemporary music sector, challenges and opportunities
- An ability to make critical judgements about music programmes and across multiple music genres is essential
- A diverse network of contacts across the UK music sector
- Experience of building relationships, and negotiating contracts with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience of working on international programmes and projects.