Interim Director North East and Skills and Workforce (NNF1)
Please note: This vacancy is open to Arts Council England employees only. Applications from candidates who are not currently employed by Arts Council England will not be considered.
Interim Director North East and Skills and Workforce (NNF1)
Contract: Fixed term contract / Secondment until 30 September 2026, working 35 hours per week (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £63,847 per annum Grade A plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Newcastle (The role will be based in Newcastle; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
Role details - This is an exciting interim opportunity to play a senior leadership role at Arts Council England, helping to deliver our next NPO round.
As Interim Director, North East and Skills & Workforce, you will contribute to the leadership of our work in the North and provide national leadership for Skills & Workforce. The role brings together two important areas of responsibility: senior area leadership in the North East, including leading the team based in Newcastle, and national leadership for Skills & Workforce. This role offers the opportunity to influence and support our work with the cultural and creative sector locally and nationally and help shape our decisions on the next national portfolio.
As part of the North Area leadership team, you will share responsibility for the successful delivery of Arts Council England’s national strategy locally. You will lead the team formally based in Newcastle and act as a senior Arts Council contact in the North East for a range of stakeholders and external partners.
You will provide leadership, support and advice to senior relationship managers, including on escalated National Portfolio Organisation, investment and stakeholder issues. You will also contribute to the development and delivery of North area plans, helping to make sense of national objectives locally and ensuring effective delivery across the area.
Alongside this, you will provide national leadership for Skills & Workforce. You will work closely with colleagues across Arts Council England to help shape and deliver our approach in this area, bringing together expertise and insight from across the organisation and the wider sector. You will build effective relationships with relevant partners and stakeholders and help ensure that our work responds to the opportunities and challenges facing the cultural and creative workforce.
The role involves working in a highly collaborative, matrixed environment, building strong relationships across Arts Council England and with external partners. You will need to bring strong leadership, strategic thinking, excellent communication skills and the ability to influence credibly at senior levels.
This opportunity is intended for someone able to undertake the full breadth of the interim role, bringing together the North East area leadership and national Skills & Workforce responsibilities.
About you - You will bring experience of leading senior teams and working effectively in a matrix structure. You will be able to demonstrate credible leadership, strong strategic judgement, and the ability to build effective relationships internally and externally.
You will have a good understanding of the cultural sector in England and the current challenges and opportunities it faces. You will be a confident communicator, able to act as an advocate and spokesperson for Arts Council England, and able to influence a wide range of stakeholders, including at senior levels.
You will need to be able to provide visible and supportive leadership to the Newcastle-based team, contribute to area planning and delivery, and build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders across the North East.
You will need the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders within Skills and Workfoce policy and practice and provide credible national leadership for Arts Council England’s work in this area.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: NNF1
Closing date: 09:00, Monday 09 November
Interview: (virtual) Monday 23 or Tuesday 24 November
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
