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Chief Executive
Arts Council England works to help the arts reach more people in more places. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, we will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. Arts Council England believes that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and works to create opportunities for people throughout the country. Our agenda for the arts Arts Council England’s ambition for 2006–8 is to put the arts at the heart of national life and people at the heart of the arts. The priority areas in Our agenda for the arts 2006-8 are: • taking part in the arts • children and young people • the creative economy • vibrant communities • internationalism • celebrating diversity Our aim is for everyone in the country to have the opportunity to develop a rich and varied artistic and creative life. We will ensure that more high quality work reaches a wider range of people – engaging them as both audience and participants. We support artists and arts organisations to take creative risks and to follow new opportunities. By 2008 we hope to see: • a more confident, diverse and innovative arts sector which is valued by and in tune with the communities it serves • more active participation in the arts by adults and young people across the country For more information please visit: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk The Chief Executive’s role Arts Council England has undergone transformational change and re-engineering over the past four years, merging with the regional arts boards in 2003 and then reshaping the national office to focus on strategic leadership for the organisation and the arts in 2006.These major shifts have equipped Arts Council England to become a thriving 21st century organisation. We are at the centre of emerging public policy in the development of the creative economy and promote the arts in wider society, working in partnership with government, the cultural world and a wide range of other bodies. There are nine Arts Council England regional offices based across England with a national office currently based in Westminster in central London. The Chief Executive leads Arts Council England, its four National Executive Directors and its nine Regional Executive Directors as well as around 850 staff. Arts Council England is governed by a Council comprising up to 15 people, including the Chair and nine members who also chair the regional arts councils. Each of the nine regional arts councils comprises up to 15 members, except the South East Regional Arts Council, which has 20 members. The regional offices are responsible for the agreement of regional strategies, plans and priorities for action within the framework of national policies and priorities, approval of three -year regional investment plans and detailed regional annual budgets, and distribution of National Lottery funded grants to individual artists and groups. Around 160 staff are employed across the organisation as part of the Creative Partnerships project, jointly funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Education and Skills to promote creativity in schools. This project is currently funded on a time-limited basis and may become independent of Arts Council England over the next couple of years. The current Chief Executive, Peter Hewitt, will be leaving in March 2008 after being in his post for ten years. At a recent speech at the Tate Modern, the current Prime Minister, Tony Blair, described the last decade as a ‘golden age’ for the arts, due to substantial public investment and growing emphasis on the importance of access to and participation in the arts for all. The recruitment of Peter’s successor is an important milestone for Arts Council England, DCMS, the arts community, audiences and the people of England at large. Building on our 60-year history, Arts Council England’s new leader will face some very contemporary challenges, such as ensuring the arts continue to receive the level of government funding required to sustain the rich artistic life the country currently enjoys, working on the government’s emerging agenda on the creative economy under the leadership of a new Prime Minister and looking forward to the cultural Olympics in 2012. Job description Job title: Chief Executive Location National office, currently based in Westminster, central London and expected to travel in the UK and occasionally internationally Reports to: Chair, Arts Council England Responsible for: Four National Executive Directors and nine Regional Executive Directors; staff members in the Chief Executive’s Office Principal purpose of the post To provide strategic and executive leadership for Arts Council England, demonstrating a passion for the arts. Key responsibility areas General leadership and management • To position Arts Council England as a national strategic leadership body to facilitate the development of the arts in England, both within the UK and internationally. • To set a clear direction for Arts Council England by establishing organisational strategy and policy within the framework of our Charter. • To provide focused, inspirational leadership and direction for Arts Council England internally and externally. • To establish and deliver national initiatives likely to yield long-term benefit to the arts, playing a key role in the development of partnerships, nationally and internationally. • To lead the full range of Arts Council England’s activities, within the broad strategic framework agreed by our National Council, ensuring maximum delegation of delivery to regional level. • To chair the Executive Board and establish common strategic purpose and direction. • To oversee the servicing of the National Council and its committees. To maintain an overview of the activities and decisions of the Regional Councils, which are serviced by the Regional Executive Directors. • To lead Art Council England’s strategy in expanding the financial resources available to the arts community. • To provide line management and direction to all Executive Directors in their delegated responsibilities and functions, ensuring effective performance management and talent development at an individual and collective level amongst the senior executive team. • To work in partnership with ministers and senior officials at DCMS, ensuring that there is a strong mutual understanding and shared goals in relation to the arts and role of Arts Council England, as outlined in the Funding Agreement, the Public Service Agreement and other formal partnership agreements. • To ensure that internal and external communications are consistent and effectively managed and that the organisation promotes a positive image of the arts in England and Arts Council England in the local, national and international media. • To promote Art Council England’s values and culture, encourage innovation, creativity and good practice across the organisation, recognising and celebrating success. • To ensure Arts Council England meets its statutory obligations and to act as our Accounting Officer, ultimately accountable to Parliament for the proper use of public funds. Relationship management • To generate positive and constructive relationships with government ministries, National Council, Regional Councils and other stakeholders regionally, nationally and internationally. • To lead Art Council England’s relationships with artists, arts organisations and other partners nationally and internationally. • To be the principal executive public spokesperson in support of Arts Council England and the arts nationally to the media and in other external settings. Human resource management • To manage the development of Art Council England’s structure and workforce to ensure the effectiveness of staff in the short, medium and long term. To be ultimately responsible for maintaining our Investors in People recognition. • To ensure that all staff are valued and their potential is maximised, promoting diversity and equality of opportunity. • To lead or oversee any process of internal organisational change as appropriate. • To lead the recruitment process for all Executive Director appointments and to advise the Secretary of State on Regional Arts Council Chair appointments. Compliance and financial management • To manage Art Council England’s resources efficiently and within agreed budgets, delivering good value for money and high performance delivery. • To carry overall responsibility and be the Accounting Officer for Arts Council England as a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) in respect of three separate areas of funds: Grant-in-Aid funding, National Lottery funds and the revenue budgets for the running of Art Council England itself, in line with Government regulations and requirements. External relationships The Chief Executive will have regular contact with: • the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport • the Arts Minister • the Permanent Secretary, DCMS • other senior DCMS officials • Ministers and senior officials of other government departments • Peers and MPs • Chief Executives of major arts organisations (Royal Opera House, South Bank Centre, etc) • Chief Executives of other NDPBs, including other lottery distributors • industry lead bodies in the arts (Equity, Musicians Union) • senior figures from local government • senior figures in the media • leading figures from business and other walks of life Person specification It is essential that in your written application you give evidence of examples of proven experience in each of the following selection criteria listed in part one of the person specification. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview, together with other criteria listed in part two. PART ONE In choosing the Chief Executive, the panel will be looking for an inspiring leader and powerful communicator with strategic vision, good political understanding and a demonstrated interest in the sector. Knowledge and skills An overall knowledge and understanding of the arts and broader cultural sector, with an understanding of significant long-term developments and future opportunities for the arts in England. Experience in a senior leadership role in an organisation of comparable complexity and responsibility: • operating at the most senior levels in a testing multi-agency environment, including government • collaborative working at all levels internally and externally, creating effective relationships based on mutual trust and respect • as an advocate and communicator promoting complex and subtle ideas and policies to a range of national and international audiences, including to the arts community, the government and the media • analysing and evaluating complex information, exercising sound judgement and acting strategically across a broad canvas • delivering targets against business restraints and driving change if appropriate • achieving in a senior management role • negotiating, influencing, and managing key stakeholders • effecting positive change in relation to promoting diversity in the arts or broader cultural sector • leading diverse staff teams, inspiring their members to perform at the highest level and achieve their aims PART TWO Shortlisted candidates will be assessed against the nine elements of Arts Council England’s competencies framework listed below, details of which appear in Appendix A. • Strategic outlook • Relation and influencing • Communication and personal impact • Working in partnership • Drive and initiative • Planning and monitoring • Analysis and evaluation • People management • Project management Terms and conditions Employment contract - ongoing. Salary - circa £150,000 per year plus an annual performance bonus paid as a non-consolidated lump sum. Pension – the Arts Council Retirement Plan is a final salary pension scheme with a current nominal contribution of 3.5% of employee salary. Annual leave - 25 days each year, plus an additional day for each complete leave year, up to a maximum of 30 days. The offices are also closed between Christmas and New Year, which provides an extra three days’ leave. Family leave policies and work-life balance - we offer generous sick pay, paid maternity, paternity and adoptive parental leave provisions, as well as up to five days per year for home life and religious reasons. Travel loan – employees can apply for interest free loans for a season travel ticket. Bicycle and car loans are available to staff who regularly use these forms of transport for work. Employee assistance programme – our free, independent and confidential advice, information and counselling service is available 24 hours a day every day through Corecare. Relocation support – all newly appointed staff on permanent contracts are entitled to relocation support. Comprehensive learning and development programmes – we offer first class learning opportunities and a real commitment to personal and professional advancement, supported by our Investors in People status.
Show latest news, more from June 2007.
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