Marketing & Communications Lead/ Associate
We are seeking a Marketing & Comms Lead to lead the promotion and engagement of our work. This is a new role for Ensemble ‘84 as we start to develop our offer in Co Durham -and establish our new company. This role is advertised alongside the further role of Company Administrator.
The Basics
Reporting to: Executive Producer & Director
Location: Working from our base in Horden, Co Durham, with meeting across the County
Key working relationships: Executive Producer, CEO, Administrator, Company
Salary: £25,000 - £30,000 per annum, pro rata
Term: Freelance or Fixed-term to April 2025
Hours: 15 hours per week
Holiday: 20 days pro rata (plus bank holidays)
Pension: Statutory enrolment
Timeline
Application Deadline: 10 July 2024, 5pm
Interviews: 18 and 19 July 2025, Horden Methodist Church, Co Durham
Start Date: August/ September 2024
About us - Ensemble ‘84
We are Ensemble ’84 - a new Theatre Company based in Horden Methodist Church, County Durham. Formed with the pioneering and transformation model of co-creation from Cape Town’s Isango Ensemble, Ensemble ’84 will work exclusively with County Durham communities to form bold new theatre works for national audiences. From its home in Horden, Ensemble ’84 will offer a core programme of skills development, training and mentoring, and above all a platform for hope, expression and positive change, amplifying unheard voices and harnessing untapped potential within our communities.
How we are approaching recruitment
Our work starts with bringing together our new team and form what will be Ensemble ’84 a company formed of people from across Co.Durham. Over the coming months, we’ll start this journey – through offering workshops and learning opportunities. Our recruitment of our core team will take place across the next 6 months and ultimately will include both salaried staff employed on fixed-term contracts specifically for this project, freelance artists, writers, community organisers and advisors contracted on the project, and also individuals representing the partner organisations who are either seconded to work on the project, or who are delivering specific aspects.
What working with us will be like
We are a growing team who work from Co Durham, committed to flexible and inclusive working practices. We will meet at our base in Horden, but also online and across the County as necessary.. Travel expenses will be provided for all project team members to attend face-to-face meetings or site visits. Meetings will be scheduled to account for flexible working and caring responsibilities, and we pledge to avoid Zoom fatigue, building regular breaks and Zoom-free periods into the working day.
We commit to engaging, learning, implementing actions and collaborating to ensure the project is inclusive at every level - from the way in which we work as a team, to the stories represented by our project, to the people who make, shape and experience the project. We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from people with diverse lived experiences, bringing fresh perspectives and ways of working. Our team encourages everyone to bring the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us bring distinctive knowledge, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. We are actively encouraging applications from a wide range of lived experience - including disabled, Deaf and neurodiverse-identifying individuals and individuals who identify with a range of protected characteristics.
What we are looking for
As Marketing & Comms Lead you will be passionate about engaging others in big, bold ideas that seek to make a positive difference. You will create and deliver comprehensive communications and audience engagement strategies for our project and oversee internal external communications working closely with our artistic team. You will manage our stakeholder and partner relationships carefully and confidently. You will be committed to inclusive and innovative ways of encouraging engagement and participation in cultural experiences.
Our team and Board are here to support you, and we’ll take into account your talents, interests and personal development objectives to shape the role and help you succeed. We will help you build your skills in areas you’re less confident in.
About You
Perhaps you have worked in music, film, in the public or corporate sector, – these are all very transferable contexts to working with us. You are passionate about culture and its role in contemporary life and might be looking for a new challenge in a strategic and leadership role – working closely with the Director and Exec Producer. You’ll be confident about connecting with a range of stakeholders and funding bodies and leading communications internally and externally. You might be thinking of applying with the support of your current organisation as a secondment, please do! We welcome secondment proposals for this role; or you might be freelance looking for a longer-term contract over the next 18 months.
Marketing & Communications Lead: Job Description
Role Profile
The role will have operational and strategic concern for:
PR and External and Stakeholder Relations
Brand
Press and Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
Audience Development and Data
Advocacy
Social Media
Strategy
Act as Communications and Brand Lead with DCC and Redhills Communications Teams
Lead on the development and delivery of an ambitious and effective communications and marketing strategies for the project which interface with the engagement strategy and creative programme strands to deliver against the Project’s objectives
Champion inclusivity and access across all communications strategies
Set attendance and engagement targets for all strands of the project with the Director, and adapt and revise strategies as the project progresses
Lead on the delivery and analysis of audience research and engagement feedback to inform marketing strategy and support operational decision-making.
Marketing & Brand
Lead on the implementation of an overall Project brand – including engaging and facilitating processes for team and Board and stakeholder involvement
Determine an effective approvals process for all print, online and communications activity – ensuring that key stakeholders are appraised in good time.
Proactively manage, develop and monitor the project’s online presence, including leading on the development of imaginative and engaging content – and overseeing development and archiving of digital assets
Devise, manage and monitor all aspects of effective communications campaigns together with any external agency support
Finances & budget
Set and manage the marketing and communications budget reporting to the Director
Set and manage the data collection budget
Press & Media
Drive and develop targeted PR and media strategy raising the local, national, sector and international profile of the Project, audiences and performers and increasing media coverage across all platforms – and across all phases of the project.
Oversee a social media approach - commissioning assets and developing content as required.
Legacy and Evaluation
Lead on data management and analysis in line with the data management plan
Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing, communications and digital activity
General
Actively engage in the project’s vision and policies regarding equal opportunities and diversity, artistic ambition, participation and engagement, inclusion, sustainability, health and safety, evaluation and monitoring.
Undertake proactive work as a member of the Project Executive to support emerging talent across the project’s team and creative workforce and partners.
Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required in pursuit of the overall job purpose.
Future flexibility
As this project is currently under development, this contract will be required to show a flexible approach to working within our team – which may involve revisions around specific responsibilities and services.
Person Specification
Desirable skills
Experience of working in a Comms or PR role within a community, commercial, cultural or broadcast sector
Strong experience within strategic planning for creative sector communications
Experience of managing relationships with stakeholders across sectors including local government
Wide and active relationships with UK media
Strong experience of developing marketing strategies, budget forecasting, planning and campaign management
Strong experience in digital marketing, website maintenance and social media channel management.
Excellent oral and written communication, time-management and presentation skills.
Experience of innovation in accessible communications formats
Personal Attributes
Ability to operate with diplomacy, tact and empathy
Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate to multiple audiences and stakeholders
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines and a track record of delivery
Creative enthusiasm for creating dynamic, engaging strategies and campaigns within budget
A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across both operational and creative processes. Open to developing new approaches that consider access and equity at all stages of design and delivery.
Ambitious, enthusiastic, energetic and committed with a drive to define clear goals and inspire people to achieve them
Resilient, with the ability to cope with pressure and high expectations as well as unpredictable situations
How to Apply
If you think you are a good fit for this contract, please send us
A letter of no more than two sides or a maximum 3-minute recording* explaining why you are a good fit for this contract and how you would approach the role—you can record this on a phone or similar device. We want to listen to you, so don’t worry about high production values!
A current CV or 3min recording* telling us about your work experience to date - this should give us a sense of how your previous experience make you a good fit for this role.
The names and contact details for two referees including one from a current or prior employer - if you do not have a recent employer, please give us a referee who can offer to give an independent assessment of your skills
Responses (written or recorded) should be submitted via email to info@ensemble84.com by 5pm on 10th July 2024* For emailing large files such as a film, please use We Transfer or Hightail.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 15 July. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held in person on 18/19 July 2024. Please inform us if you need any additional support for the interview if selected
Privacy
The information you supply on the application form will be kept securely and will remain confidential. We will not retain this or any other personal information beyond the duration of the application process.