Job Summary
Responsible to: The Board of Trustees Hours: 5 days per week Contract type: Full-time Location: 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3, some remote working potential Salary: £65,000 annual salary Responsible to: The Board of Trustees Hours: 5 days per week The organisation is at a strategic turning point,
Job Description
Do you want to help more people get access to music and arts education?
Are you a keen supporter of the arts? (You don't have to be a musician or artist yourself.)
Do you want to make a difference to a local community?
Do you love growing and developing organisations?
We, at the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts, aim to nurture creativity and be accessible to all communities, centred around our heritage base in the heart of SE London.
We are looking for an experienced Executive Director to lead the Conservatoire team through updating our listed building and growing the Conservatoire, including expanding our services and audience. This role is full time and will lead the Conservatoire team. We are a learning organisation and hope you will learn and grow in the role too.
About you:
You are something of an entrepreneur in that you have tried out new ways, even though some of them haven't worked, you've learned from the experience
You have grown an organisation and customer base
You have worked with creatives and freelancers
You have worked with others and set up new systems and improved old ones
You believe it is very important to treat everyone with care and respect, doing your best to understand their needs
You have managed teams and are skilled at delegation
You have turned departments and organisations round and been involved with / have experience of big capital projects
You have led a small business (or a larger one!)
You have experience in the not-for-profit sector
We are not just looking for someone who likes to improve things, but also measures the results of what they have done
You have experience with risk management and governance within an organisation.
You have good IT literacy skills, some understanding of current cyber-security issues, experience of Health & Safety.
Job Requirements
As Executive Director, you will lead and run the Conservatoire and work alongside the Board to develop and deliver the organisation's strategic goals. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, your main duties will include:
Work with the Board to provide good visibility of issues and implement the Conservatoire's short-term and long-term strategic goals including planning for the long-term restoration of the Estate.
Manage and run all aspects of the charity, leading the Senior Management Team and taking all key operational decisions
Ensure the organisation fulfils its charitable objects, its regulatory, legal and compliance obligations and that all policies follow latest legislation or guidance
Improve financial resilience, in particular through fundraising, supported by a Fundraising Director
Be one of the principal public ambassadors for the organisation, engage with stakeholders in the local and wider community to build strong relationships and partnerships.
Job Responsibilities
In addition to the duties already listed:
Any other duties required to ensure the smooth running of Conservatoire operations.
Blackheath Conservatoire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share and demonstrate this commitment. We require all staff and freelance tutors to hold an Enhanced DBS and undertake Safeguarding Level One and Prevent training - we can process a DBS for those who do not already hold one.
If you are invited for an interview for a role at the Conservatoire, please review the Safer Recruitment Self Declaration which we will ask you to complete on your arrival. We will also ask you to bring various ID documents. For full details please refer to the Safeguarding section on the Blackheath Conservatoire website.
Job Overview
- Job Title: Executive Director of Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts
We’re an organisation passionately committed to equality and inclusion in music and arts we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We are committed to becoming more representative of our local community, so we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups. Currently, we especially encourage global majority people who might be interested to apply.
The Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts is a registered charity, with 140 years’ history of delivering high-quality experiences and learning in music and art. We deliver music and arts education to around 2,000 people each week across all ages, with a strong commitment to access and community participation in Greenwich and Lewisham.
Blackheath Conservatoire employer: Arts Council England
Arts Council England is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values flexibility and employee well-being. With a focus on professional growth, employees benefit from generous annual leave, a final salary pension scheme, and opportunities to lead innovative digital projects in a collaborative environment. Located in Manchester, the role allows for hybrid working, ensuring a balanced approach to work and life while contributing to meaningful organisational change.
