Programme Manager, Ark Culture

This is an exciting opportunity to manage and deliver a programme of high quality cultural education across art, dance, drama and design for the 48 schools in the Ark Network. The programme aims to ensure all pupils experience great cultural education, and this role will play a key part in delivering partnership projects across our schools as well as contributing to networkwide initiatives.

We are seeking a highly skilled and organised project manager with experience producing school based curriculum and enrichment arts opportunities and working confidently with a wide range of stakeholders. You will demonstrate an understanding of both school environments and the cultural sector, and be able to communicate effectively with colleagues in each. Strong budget management, timeline oversight, and a commitment to inclusive practice are essential to ensuring all children can access and benefit from our cultural offer.

The Programme Manager, Ark Culture will report into Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office on a fixed term working part time.

Interviews will be taking place virtually w/c 9th November 2026.

• Manage partnerships between cultural organisations, artists and our schools
• Project manage school based projects, mini festivals and workshops in schools across our regions using a place based and school centred approach
• Project manage a pilot project with arts partners working in SEND specialist spaces in three of our schools in West London
• Project manage a programme with three schools and professional writers to develop and write scripts for three new Year Six shows
• Lead the Ark Drama Teachers Network, coordinating CPD opportunities and cross-school events
• Share cultural education opportunities across the wider network
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and logistics to ensure successful delivery
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, teachers, school leaders and cultural organisations
• Lead programme-wide data and evidence collection for evaluation purposes
• Provide accurate and timely information to communications and fundraising colleagues to support storytelling, reporting and funding bids
• Support the programme to ensure its legacy continues beyond this funding period, sharing knowledge and remit

• Right to work in the UK
• Experienced in working in or with schools in the field of cultural education
• Strong knowledge of educational settings and arts landscapes
• Proven experience in project or programme management, ideally within arts, cultural or education settings
• Experience delivering performances or artistic programmes with young people
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work across multiple schools and cultural partners
• Understanding of school environments and awareness of the cultural sector
• Confidence managing budgets, timelines, and logistics
• A clear commitment to inclusion and ensuring that all children can access cultural learning opportunities
• Relational approach able to communicate with children, teachers and artists
• Able to adapt to different settings and be flexible to accommodate different needs in different settings
• Ability to see the larger picture and communality across multiple projects to make a coherent programme
• Willing to support across all areas during delivery

• Our flexible working model offers the best of both worlds, balancing in person collaboration, either in our state of the art West London office or through visits to our schools, with the flexibility of remote working
• In addition to flexible working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years' service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit…