JOB INFORMATION - COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000 pro rata, full-time position
Contract: Initial 12-month contract
Immediate start
ABOUT ARTICHOKE
Artichoke is one of the UK's leading creative companies and a registered charity, funded by Arts Council England. We work with the best creative minds to produce extraordinary shows that live in the memory forever.
Our past productions have included Royal de Luxe's The Sultan's Elephant, which filled the streets of London for four days in 2006; La Machine's 50-foot high mechanical spider for Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008; One & Other, Antony Gormley's 100-day long invasion of the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in London; Peace Camp, a sound and light installation created by Deborah Warner for the London 2012 Festival; and, most recently, Lumiere, the UK's largest light festival that transformed Durham in 2009 and 2011, and Durham and Derry-Londonderry in 2013 as the finale event for the UK City of Culture Programme.
We have a small core team and many more project staff and consultants. Together we produce large and complex projects supported by a wide range of stakeholders and
funders. The mission statement that drives the organisation is to transform peopleʼs lives and change the world through extraordinary art.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
ʻArtichoke are pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through the effect that culture can have on the pride and attraction of a city. Hugely ambitious, hugely
successful, Artichoke are leading the artform, taking it in directions that is getting attention worldwide. The press attention for Lumiere was impressive, with photos and a review in the Observer, interview on CNN and other outlets.
Artichoke boldly state that they want to transform cities for a period of time, where residents and visitors alike play in their city, in a way they will never forget. A wildly bold ambition, and on this second viewing in two weeks, one I would say they have to all intents and purposes, achieved.ʼ
Arts Council England Artistic Assessment, Lumiere Derry-Londonderry 2013 THE ROLE
We are seeking a Communications Manager to join Artichokeʼs communications team. Reporting to the Head of Communications, but working closely with the development team, the role will give particular emphasis to Lumiere in Durham in November 2015, the fourth edition of what has become the UKʼs largest light festival with visitors in their hundreds of thousands. Key responsibilities will include developing and strengthening relationships with festival sponsors, promoting their involvement at a national and regional level; building positive connections across Durham with businesses, finding creative ways to engage them with promotional activity; and supporting the delivery and promotion of the festivalʼs international arts conference and other talks and events. The role will suit a communications professional looking to build their skills in sponsor, funder and stakeholder relationship management from a communications perspective. You may already have a strong track record managing arts marketing and press campaigns, and public audience engagement, but would like to expand and strengthen your broader communications experience with a view to eventually progressing to a senior management role.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
All of Artichokeʼs work is free and takes place in the public domain. We aim to reach the broadest possible audience, partly through the scale of and free access to our work; but also through participation opportunities, and building and nurturing specific groups who may not ordinarily engage with or have access to the arts. Our projects disrupt the very DNA of the environments in which we work and by doing so some of our audience encounter our work by chance, alongside those who have chosen to be there. We like to maintain an element of surprise in what we do. A successful communications plan carefully balances the need to attract large audiences and the needs of sponsors and other stakeholders to ensure the return on their objectives, without revealing the full depth of a project in advance.
To achieve this, Artichoke is looking for a creative, highly motivated and committed communications professional, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and demands. With a minimum of five years experience working in a communications role at an arts, charity or similar organisation, you may already have an awareness of the complexities of working on live events in the public realm, and can demonstrate your passion for Artichokeʼs ambition to transform communities and landscapes through its work.
HOW TO APPLY
Application forms may be downloaded from:
http://www.artichoke.uk.com/about/job_vacancies
Please send your completed application by email to [email protected]
addressed to Emily Bromfield, Head of Communications, with ʻCommunications Managerʼ in the subject heading.
Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 2nd February 2014
FURTHER INFORMATION
A detailed background information pack is available on request, further outlining the role of the Communications department and the background to the organisation.
Please email [email protected] to request a copy of this pack.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held at Toynbee Studios, London E1 on Monday 9th February with second interviews on Wednesday 11th February. Shortlisted candidates will be
contacted by phone or e-mail by Thursday 5th February. If you have not heard from us by then, please assume that you have not been successful in your application.
START DATE
We are seeking a Communications Manager for an immediate start, subject to notice periods and availability.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Communications Manager
Based: London. Currently E1. Some travel around the UK will be required.
Reports To: Head of Communications
Key Relationships: Artichoke Head of Communications, Communications Officer and Press Agent; Artistic, Production and
Development teams as well as other core staff; project stakeholders, sponsors and funders; audiences; designers and other service providers.
Job Summary
The Communications Manager will work as part of a small team to implement Artichoke communications campaigns - across projects and core – taking specific responsibility for the delivery of Lumiere 2015 sponsor communications, corporate communications and business management, creating engaging promotional opportunities to reach target audiences. Together with the Head of Communications, the Communications Manager will create attractive sponsor PR and brand benefit packages, feeding into sponsor partnership development, pitches and delivery.
Main Duties and Responsibilities Project Campaigns
• Contribute to the delivery of Artichokeʼs Lumiere communications campaign working closely with the Head of Communications, Communications Officer and Press Agent
• Ensure strategic objectives are met, agreed messaging is adhered to and Artichoke, as the festival producer, is strongly positioned across all publicity assets
• Build key relationships with service delivery and other project partners, including sponsors and Durham businesses, but also producers and the production team, crowd management consultants and other contractors
• Produce comprehensive documentation of activity, monitoring and reporting on its effectiveness, against strategic objectives and agreed success measures Sponsor and Funder Communications
• Together with the Head of Communications and Development Director, devise a robust approach to the delivery of sponsor benefits and communications,
ensuring a positive experience for sponsors, encouraging sustained engagement and renewal for future years
• Working with the Head of Communications and Press Agent, support the delivery of the Lumiere Press and PR campaign, with a particular emphasis on sponsor PR in trade, business and regional media, but also arts and culture • Develop and deliver a business engagement plan for Lumiere 2015, offering
inspired and exciting ways for Durham businesses to participate in and benefit from the four-day festival, working with key local partners in Durham and across the region
• Working with the Head of Communications and Development Director,
redevelop and re-launch Artichoke Hearts, the organisationʼs supporters club • Attend sponsor cultural events and presentations where appropriate
Event Management
• Working with Artichokeʼs Artistic Director and Head of Communications, develop a communications campaign to promote the Lumiere arts conference, attracting audiences from across the sector and members of the public, liaising with Artichokeʼs Press Agent to secure media interest and coverage, and managing the smooth delivery of the event
• Overseeing and coordinating the delivery and promotion of Artichoke talks and events – during 2015 and preparations for Artichokeʼs 10th anniversary in 2016 Advocacy
• To act as an ambassador for Artichoke at company events, both public and funder cultivation, industry talks and conferences
• To maintain and develop positive relationships across the arts sector, attending relevant seminars and keeping up-to-date on trends in arts communications Operational Delivery
• Copywriting
• Print design and distribution, including but not limited to event invites and programmes, and development print
• Press and PR liaison and pitching • Photography and documentation
• Working with the Head of Communications, developing sponsor
communications benefits for applications; and assisting the Development team in creating sponsor presentations
• Supporting the delivery of cultivation events and sponsorship development, working closely with the Head of Communications and Development team • Supporting the development and delivery of audience and participant research,
monitoring and evaluation Budgeting
• To monitor all project and core spend ensuring set budgets are adhered to • To ensure allocated sponsor benefit delivery spend is accounted for and
reported on
General requirements of all staff
• To ensure adherence to the organisationʼs policies and procedures with particular reference to Equal Opportunities, Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults, and Health and Safety.
• To work in a flexible manner in line with the organisationʼs corporate objectives and role.
• To provide excellent customer care in dealings with the public. • To develop Artichokeʼs network of contacts.
• To work for the benefit of Artichoke.
• To have a professional attitude with a commitment to delivering the highest quality of work and engendering high standards from others.
• The ability and willingness to work flexible hours and to travel as required.
This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other such duties from time to time.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Knowledge and Skills required
• A minimum of five years experience as a Communications Officer, equivalent or higher level, with a track record in delivering creative arts or charity
communications campaigns – brand management and profiling, marketing, advertising, corporate communications, print production, digital, press and pr • Demonstrable knowledge of sponsor cultivation and partnerships from a
communications perspective, and delivery of communications benefits • Demonstrable knowledge of a patron scheme in an arts organisation • Excellent copywriting skills
• Experience of website management, digital content development and social media management and campaigns
• Proven experience of managing budgets for communications campaigns • An ability to work flexibly and proactively in a high pressure and fast-paced
environment
• An understanding of the barriers to attendance at arts events, and a desire to overcome these to reach new audiences, with an awareness of diversity issues
• An awareness of key issues and cultural policy affecting the arts sector with a solid network of contacts across arts communications
Desirable
• An understanding of working on live events in the public realm • Some spoken and written French or Spanish would be beneficial
Summary of Terms and Conditions
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000 per annum paid in monthly installments in arrears. Contract: Initially, this is a 12-month temporary contract.
Annual leave: 25 days per annum. You will also be entitled to Bank Holidays. Probationary period: 3 months.
Notice period: 3 months (1 month during probationary period) Line Manager: Head of Communications.
Location: The post is based in Artichokeʼs offices, currently in London E1. UK travel and short periods of stay at project locations will be required.
Hours of work: Hours of work will inevitably vary according to the nature of the workload, but generally will be 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm. Additional hours may be required as necessary for the successful performance of the job, but overtime or time off in lieu will not be given.
Full details of conditions of service will be provided on appointment. Artichoke is an equal opportunities employer.