Artistic Director

An experienced and visionary Artistic Director is sought to provide creative and strategic leadership across our organisation as part of a new co-leadership model alongside a General Manager. This newly created position will lead our artistic direction, shape its delivery, strengthen partnerships, champion community engagement, and ensure the sustainability and growth of our programmes.

Person Specification

Essential:

– Proven leadership experience in a substantial artistic or creative role (minimum 3 years.)
– Strong understanding of community-led arts practice and inclusive programming, including innovating models that support access and deliver diversity.
– Knowledge and experience of working in the cultural sector in non-metropolitan, regional areas.
– Passion for centring young people, children and families in commissioning work and shaping its legacy.
– Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, projects, and budgets.
– Experience with fundraising, partnership development, and income generation.
– Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
– Knowledge of the UK arts funding landscape.

Desirable:

– Knowledge of communities and regional cultural sectors similar to Peterborough’s.
– Experience of working in a co-leadership or collaborative leadership model.
– Experience of working within a CIC, charity or NPO context.
– Ability to inspire, mentor, and develop others, from early-career artists to community stakeholders to peers.

What We Offer:

– Flexible working hours and hybrid working options (2.5 days/week.)
– An opportunity to co-lead a nationally recognised, community-rooted arts organisation.
– An opportunity to innovate creative practicse and delivery in a young and dynamic city, alongside a skilled and enthusiastic team.
– A supportive team and engaged Board of Trustees

Salary Range: £38K- £42.5K Commensurate with experience and skills within a new co-leadership model with the General Manager.

Hours: Part-time. 2.5 days/week on average (7.5 hours per working day).

Contract: Permanent

Location: Peterborough/ Hybrid. At least 1 day a week on average working in the office with the team, plus homeworking, public facing events and external meetings.

Reports to: Board of Trustees. Line Manages: Event Producer

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Creative & Strategic Leadership

• Lead the artistic vision and design of Jumped Up’s programmes and projects.
• Co-design and deliver, with the team and other stakeholders, including local audiences and participants, a high-quality, inclusive programme aligned with our mission and community needs.
• Oversee programme development to ensure flexibility, innovation, and responsiveness to local and national contexts.
• Lead the programming and audience strategy for our programme of live events (minimum of 4 per year) for audiences of children, families and young people, plus extended engagement and legacy activity.
• Grow the programmes’ delivery of transformative access and inclusion processes and activity.
• Support the development of our co-creation programme with young people and our dance and movement participatory programmes.
• Represent Jumped Up in supporting and influencing Peterborough’s cultural strategy and regional networks.

Programme Oversight & Evaluation

• Maintain oversight of commissioned projects across all strands, including quality of delivery, impact and legacy, and risk management.
• Lead on qualitative evaluation, integrating feedback from communities, artists, and partners into reflections and planning.
• Monitor and develop project performance against KPIs and funder expectations.

Financial & Fundraising Management

• Co-design and manage overall organisational budgets with the General Manager.
• Lead on identifying income-generating opportunities, including partnerships and fundraising.
• Develop and lead strategic funding bids and support in developing the team’s capacity to contribute to fundraising plans.

People & Operational Leadership

• Line-manage the Events Manager.
• Oversee line-managed project plans and ensure alignment with the organisation’s mission, strategy, and compliance requirements.
• Build the team’s capacity to deliver high-impact, community-driven work.

Partnership & Sector Development

• Cultivate relationships with regional and national arts and community organisations, and contribute to local networks, including Peterborough Cultural Alliance and associated networks.
• Lead co-commissions and joint applications with partners, including hosting The Creative Spark, our network of artists, arts organisations and community activists, developing collaborations to increase local young people’s engagement with, influence on and benefits from culture.
• Mentor local artists and support the development of future cultural leaders, both directly  and through the Peterborough Culture Forum and the Creative Spark.

Marketing & Communications

•  Contribute to marketing strategies that develop and diversify audiences.
• Act as an ambassador public spokesperson for Jumped Up and its work.
• Review press releases and communications for major programmes.

Reporting & Compliance

• Contribute to regular reports to the Board of Trustees and funders.
• Maintain positive and transparent relationships with stakeholders and funder.
• Ensure compliance with policies and funder requirements.
• Support quality control and learning across all aspects of the programme.

Other Jumped Up team members are expected to take on additional tasks and be flexible in their work as required by the needs of the organisation and in line with their roles, responsibilities and skill-sets.