Learning and Engagement Manager

About us

Kala The Arts is an award-winning, Arts in Education charity and a professional dance organisation in the Southwest region, and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced professional with a passion for the arts, to help promote and drive engagement with our work, and bring our mission and vision to life for partners, artists, communities and external audiences. For more than 26 years, we have created and delivered South Asian Dance classes, training programmes, productions, performances, workshops, and exhibitions across Hampshire and Berkshire. We deliver renowned workshops and performances that bring the ancient dance form of Odissi to thousands of new audience members every year. Over the last four years, we have led and organised more than 10 middle-scale events with local councils and businesses, playing an important and influential role in both creating and promoting opportunities for South Asian Arts and Cultural Diversity across schools and communities in the South West region. We have a strong track record of collaborating and connecting with organisations at a local, national, and international level and reached 35,000 audience members through various platforms in 2024.

The opportunity

This is a part time role of 20 hours per week, worked over 2.5 days per week, with the opportunity for some remote work. This is a one-year fixed term contract (initially), reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Trustees. As we continue our journey to bring communities together through the Arts and expand our programme of activities, we are looking for a part time Learning and EngagementManager to join our dynamic and creative team made up of staff, volunteers and committed Trustees.  This is an excellent opportunity for a personable and enthusiastic individual with strong administrative and education skills and has an interest in Arts. This is a busy, varied, and outward facing role and provides the opportunity to manage the creation, operation and promotion of our core outreach programmes. This is a fixed term position for a period of one year initially, to be reviewed on an annual basis based on performance and delivery.

Purpose of the Role

• Main contact for developing and managing the educational and learning development within the organisation.
• Develop and maintain good communication and working relations with the Trustees, staff, volunteers, students and external contacts.
• Coordinate and provide support with the schools and community programme on various projects by Kala The Arts
• Supporting dance.
• Working on the Arts Council’s portfolio of projects, annual partnership events.
• Approaching new areas and expanding ways of creating new audiences, profile audiences and contributing to KTA’s diversity and inclusion aspirations.
• Support reporting to Arts Council including development of processes and KPIs.
• Delivery of South Asian dance projects

The main responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate and book spaces for regular classes, classes rehearsals, rehearsals by artists and other logistics for the Artistic Director.
• Coordinate the community classes, schools workshops, open days, teacher training, CPD training days.
• Undertake general administrative duties for projects, board minutes, project meetings and follow ups.
• Develop a strong understanding of the company, departments and key employee roles
• Proactively create strong relationships and open communication with stakeholders such as Partners, communities, Senior Managers, the Board, artists, Sponsors and Donors.

Reporting

• Take minutes of meetings as requested and understand the tone and sensitivities and adapt writing style as necessary.
• All general administration tasks and activities for the project.

Skills and experience required:

Essential 

• Excellent organisational and management  skills with previous experience of providing support at Director or senior organisation level
• Proven experience of working in  a small office Strong writing and proof-reading skills and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build effective and resilient relationships at all levels and with key stakeholders while demonstrating tact and diplomacy
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook and MS Office skills
• Ability to work with autonomy and flexibility and to safeguard confidential information
• Demonstrable experience of working with both communities and schools on arts related projects, health and  preferably dance related
• Proven experience of working with freelancers on the development and implementation of education events.
• Creative, innovative and high level of interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work well with a wide variety of participants from school aged pupils to communities.
• Evidence of ability to work well as a member of a team and work independently.
• Strong initiative with the ability to overcome problems and identify solutions in a timely manner.
• Excellent attention to detail and well organised to deal with multiple projects.
• Strong work ethic.
• Prior expertise in an administrative role within arts education.
• Participate in any training or education necessary to enable them to work sustainably including familiarisation with the Company’s Environmental policy;

Desirable

Whilst not essential, an interest in Arts and culture and knowledge of South Asian Arts is desirable.

In return, we can offer the following:

• A passionate, committed, and supportive team.
• A varied role with the opportunity to create interesting educational and artistic projects.
• Being an integral part of developing a growing organisation.
• Hybrid working (up to 1.5 days from home).
• Holidays
• Being part of the production or events and meeting new people

Start date: As soon as possible

Next steps:

To apply, please send us your CV, together with a covering letter of no more than two pages of A4  explaining how your skills and experience match our requirements to [email protected].

Deadline: 10am, Monday 7th April.

Please note: The salary for this position is £27,000 per annum, pro rata

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail in the first instance, please get in touch with our CEO via the email address above and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Kala The Arts is a diverse organisation that promotes and advocates for Equality, Diversion, and Inclusion. Applications will be assessed as they are received. We are only able to accept applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK or have more than one year left on a relevant visa.