We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
Music Relationship Manager (Part- Time)
Pay band: 7
Location: London, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh
Department: Music
Contract type: Indefinite with Part-Time Contract - 2.5 Days
Closing Date: 14th June 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.
2 vacancies are available to hire for this role.
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
About Team:
British Council’s Music team are looking for 2 x Part-Time Music Relationship Managers with extensive UK sector experience and a background in music programme and partnership management. They will play an active role in shaping and delivering international music programmes within the Music Team.
This Music Team role sits within British Council’s Cultural Engagement (CE) portfolio and contributes in delivering our vision and five-year arts strategy across British Council global priority regions. CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our UK arts team works with the arts and culture sector in the UK, and our global network of offices, to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting and seeing each other through the arts and music.
Our work is delivered through four global programmes:
- Culture Connects supports artistic and cultural exchange between the UK and countries internationally
- Spotlights on Culture engages and represents the UK’s cultural diversity and creativity at high-profile cultural events
- Creative Economy analyses, creative ecosystems and highlights emerging trends and areas of convergence and difference between creative economies
- Arts Responds to Global Challenges celebrates the transformative power of arts and culture to change attitudes and the protection and promotion of cultural expression, diversity and heritage at risk.
The team works across the breadth of the UK music sector to reflect a diverse and exciting range of music from classical and contemporary music to jazz, global music and folk right through to indie, electronica, hip hop and grime. The role will be part of a small UK based programme team, actively connecting with colleagues across the global network to shape and ensure high quality delivery of programmes
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.
Further information
In addition to a competitive salary and excellent pension contributions, the British Council offers:
Role Benefits /Package
- Salary offer up to £35,000 Yearly Gross – plus £3,300 yearly gross London allowance. Since the role is Part-Time, the salary will be calculated according to the Pro-rata.
- 32 days annual leave (Pro-rata), in addition to public holidays
- 3 days volunteering leave
- Career average defined benefit pension scheme
…And an Unrivalled Opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you’ve built up working in and / or leading music sector organisations to support British Council in building connects and trust across the world!
We particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in the arts and music sector. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women.
Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on 14th June 2023 UK Time.
Interviews will be held during the 22nd June 2023 and 23rd June 2023
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.