Deputy Director, Arts; Maternity Cover

Locations:
London, Manchester

Advertised working pattern:
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share

We are looking for a high performing and motivated individual to lead the Arts Team as a maternity leave cover for up to one year.

Responsibilities for the role include:

• Leadership of a c20 person team and a visible leadership role in the wider Culture Directorate as part of its Senior Management Team;
• Develop close and strong relationships with stakeholders across the arts sector, understanding their businesses and art forms and representing their interests across central government to improve the arts offering for citizens.
• Senior sponsorship of Arts Council England (ACE) – one of DCMS’s largest Arm’s Length Bodies. Sponsorship includes managing senior relationships and working closely with ACE on their strategic objectives and design and deliver of some of their core programmes. Sponsorship also includes oversight and assurance of their governance, budgets and representing theirs and the wider arts sectors’ interests at Spending Reviews and Fiscal events.
• Along with ACE, implementing the findings of the independent Review of the Arts Council.
• Developing future funding models and policy to ensure the sustainability of the arts sector – including acting as SRO at DCMS for a number of ACE delivered programmes, such as the £425m Creative Foundations Fund.
• Developing and delivering policy across government on core issues affecting the arts sector – including working with Department for Education on cultural education and skills policy, and on other core issues such as philanthropy, devolution, cultural taxation, among others.

• Leadership: a track record of visible, inclusive, and empowering leadership and a proven ability to build, engagement, and coach high-performing, diverse teams while actively contributing to broader directorate and departmental corporate leadership.
• Seeing the Big Picture: proven ability to lead strategic policy development and navigate complex political environments, and credibility to act as a trusted adviser to ministers and senior officials and stakeholders
• Innovation: demonstrated ability to foster a culture of creative thinking and continuous improvement, identifying emerging opportunities to reform policy approaches, tackle complex structural challenges, and deliver high-value outcomes in a changing environment.
• Making Effective Decisions: excellent evidence-based strategic and analytical skills, with experience of formulating, leading and implementing strategies, policies and programmes, including when under pressure. Experience of driving value for money and representing strategic interests during fiscal events.
• Communicating and Influencing:
  Highly-developed written and oral communication skills, with the ability to brief on complex and often sensitive issues with a track record of building collaborative, trusting relationships to build consensus and drive outcomes.

An understanding of the UK arts and creative economy landscape, including the operational, financial, and regulatory drivers affecting major cultural institutions and Arm's Length Bodies.