Job Opportunity: Culture Counts Engagement and Communications Manager

On this page: 1) purpose of role, 2) application process and schedule, 3) about Culture Counts, 4) job specification, 5) person specification, 6) role terms and conditions

1) Main Purpose of this Role

Culture Counts are recruiting for a new Engagement and Communications Manager (0.6FTE). This role is a vital part of our small team. They will lead communications and engagement with the Culture Counts network (which spans arts, heritage and creative industries organisations), and with wider stakeholders, which includes members of the public, Scottish Government, elected representatives and parter organisations. The postholder will be knowledgable and active in gathering, assessing and sharing knowledge across the network, consulting widely on key issues and advocacy priorities, and ensuring that a wide range of voices are heard in informing and influencing cultural policy. 

Please see below for a the job description and person specification. This can also be downloaded here.

2) Application process and schedule:

To apply for this role, please email joseph@culturecounts.scot, with a copy of your CV, plus a document (max two A4 pages in length) setting out how you meet the person specification for this role. If you prefer, you may send a short video or audio file instead of the written document.

Key dates:

  • 5pm, Fri 20. June - deadline for applications

  • w/c 23. June - all candidates notified whether their application will progress to interview

  • Tues 01. July - Expected date for interviews (online) - please hold this date where possible

We will notify all applicants of the outcome of their application, and offer feedback where helpful. When you apply, please let us know if you are not able to make the scheduled interview date, or if you have any access needs that would help you participate fully and comfortably in an online interview. 

3) About Culture Counts

Culture Counts is a network of 70 representative bodies from across the arts, heritage, and creative industries. Culture Counts is a project hosted by the Federation of Scottish Theatre. Our mission is to work with members to:

  • Promote the public benefit of the arts, heritage and creative industries.

  • Protect the eco-system of the arts, heritage and creative industries for our common future; through administration and policy change.

  • Demystify the operations of Government and Parliament; allowing more people from the arts, heritage and creative industries to influence policies that impact on them.

You can explore more about our work at https://culturecounts.scot

4) Key roles and responsibilities:

  • Supporting the Director: Policy and Public Affairs by horizon-scanning and monitoring policy and political developments for updates (for example - reports, inquiries or calls for evidence), to share with the network, and to identify opportunities for Culture Counts policy and influencing priorities. Analyse and re-present key policy updates for the sector in accessible and digestible formats.

  • Supporting the Director: Networks, projects and partnerships to support and develop our events and engagement activities, including supporting the delivery of regular events and meetings (including operational matters such as managing bookings, venue liaison, online hosting, note-taking etc).

  • Plan and deliver a programme of regular communication with the sector and our network. This includes blogs, social media posts, the monthly Journal (newsletter), drafting media releases and managing website content (including management of both content and visual design). 

  • Support the management our network, processing membership renewals and new sign ups, leading the development of our CRM system and responding to enquiries from the network. 

  • Support the delivery of written outputs including consultation responses, policy positions, engagement letters, op-eds, articles and reports. This may include gathering evidence, analysing input from the network, summarising data and drafting content.  

This is a part time role, and we are conscious of the broad remit of this role. Not all of these responsibilities will be a priority at all times (some tasks occur sporadically or at certain times of the year, others can be scheduled to fit into quieter periods). We will work with the successful candidate to manage priorities and workload.

5) Person specification:

We think the following skills and areas of experience are needed to carry out this role effectively. We recognise that people bring experience from different areas of work and life, and everyone is likely to align with some of the below criteria more strongly than others. We are keen to support the successful candidate to grow into some aspects of the role, and will be encouraging applicants to critically reflect with us on the aspects of this person specification that align most strongly with their experience, as well as to identify areas for development. 

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills across a range of channels and formats. Specific experience of designing, structuring and writing reports, writing for influence with a range of stakeholders, managing social media channels and managing CRM systems. Experience of working with the Scottish and UK press would be an advantage. 

  • Experience of carrying out desk research, critically appraising and summarising complex information, and acting on the results.This experience may have been gained in the political and / or cultural environment, or may have been developed in another context. 

  • Politically astute with good knowledge of the Scottish political system at national and local government levels and awareness of the workings of Westminster and Whitehall.This may come, for example, from relevant experience in a related area such as public affairs, advocacy, public relations, communications or Government affairs.

  • Experience of a membership or public facing role, with experience of thoughtful stakeholder engagement, managing a range of relationships, and confidence in holding space for dialogue and discussion. An understanding of working with a professional membership body or professional network would be an advantage. 

  • Track record in developing campaigns designed to meet objectives and generate genuine change. This may come from managing advocacy, lobbying or awareness-raising campaigns, or you may have transferable skills gained from other kinds of media, communications or other experience. 

  • Ability to work independently and to manage varying and complex workloads, sometimes in rapidly-moving environments. 

  • A passion for the culture sector, with experience in one or more areas of the arts, heritage or creative industries. 

6) Limits and purpose of this job description:

This document offers a snapshot of the job. The tasks outlined are not an exhaustive list. The post holder will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by their changing role within the organisation and its objectives. It will be used to communicate initial expectations about performance and to monitor effective performance, and will be adjusted as required in consultation with the postholder.

7) Practicalities and key terms:

Salary: £34,300 (FTE)

Hours: 0.6 FTE, we operate on a 35 hours per week basis. This equates to an adjusted annual salary of £19,200. Occasional evening, weekend work and overnight stays are required. Appropriate TOIL and travel expenses will be offered on these occasions.

Location: Home based, anywhere in Scotland (must have legal right to work in the UK). Occasional travel across Scotland required. 

Contract: This role is being offered initially on a 12 month basis. Subject to continued funding, we would look to extend the role on an annual basis. Culture Counts is constituted as a project of Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST). As such, whilst it operates relatively autonomously and behalf of the network as a whole, this post is contracted and paid via FST, and is subject to FST’s terms of employment and working policies. 

Flexible working: We support and promote flexible working. We welcome job-share applications and proposals for other approaches to the role including alternative part-time hours, or secondment. We’re more interested in finding someone with the right skills and dedication to the sector than in ensuring the postholder works specified hours.

Pension: 3% employer’s contribution into a group personal pension plan where the employee contributes 5%. 

Holidays: 24 days holiday and 10 public holidays to full time staff. Allowance adjusted in line with part-time hours. 

Notice and probation: The notice period will be two months from either party. There will be a probationary period of two months, during which time the notice period will be one month from either party. 

Reporting to: Director - Public Affairs and Policy

Line Management responsibility: None

Culture Counts