Job Summary
Lead a high-performing Music Service delivering outstanding music education which inspires children to flourish, reaching hundreds of thousands of participants each year.
Job Description
Reporting directly to an Assistant Director in Children's Services, the Head of Service provides visionary, forward-thinking leadership to meet the National Plan for Music Education.
This role has financial accountability for £4.5 million annually and is accountable for the Arts Council England (ACE) funding agreement, business planning and financial sustainability across grant-funded and traded income. The time split is approximately 30% in schools and 70% in the wider partnership and community delivery.
Job Requirements
- Educational Credibility: A degree or equivalent qualification, with senior leadership experience in music education, schools, culture or the music industry. QTS or post-Grade 8 qualifications are desirable.
- Strategic & Financial Track Record: Experience leading music services or complex hubs at scale, including work with national funders such as Arts Council England.
- Political & Stakeholder Skills: Experience working in a complex local authority, building relationships with senior leaders, elected members and schools.
- Collaborative Leadership: An open, supportive style that values engagement, delegation and a strong bottom-up culture.
- Inclusion & Youth Focus: A deep belief in music education's power to enrich the lives of all children, particularly marginalised groups, rural communities and pupils with SEND.
- Safeguarding: Strong commitment to safeguarding and child welfare. Enhanced DBS required.
Regular travel across Norfolk & Suffolk and some out-of-hours work will be required.
Job Responsibilities
- Strategic & Financial Oversight: Lead business and financial planning, managing £1m in traded income and c.£2m in ACE grant funding, alongside additional grants, while ensuring compliance with purchasing, procurement and contract policies.
- Partnership Evolution: Manage and strengthen relationships with around 70 local, regional and national partners, balancing competing priorities and delivering outcome-focused commissioning.
- Workforce Leadership: Lead a team of 35 teachers, middle managers and support staff, driving structural development, colleague engagement, high performance and individual creativity.
- Safeguarding & Governance: Act as safeguarding lead across the service, ensuring compliance with Working Together to Safeguard Children and related legislation across all settings and large-scale public events.
- National Representation: Represent NCC on national forums, including the APPG for Music Education, DfE roundtables and Arts Council national working
Job Overview
- Job Title: Head of Norfolk Music Service and the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub
- Hours: Full time
- Artform: Music
- Role: Creative
- Contract: Permanent
- Location: East
Applications for this job close 9 a.m. Monday 5th October
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Norfolk County Council via Peridot Partners 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.
