Job Summary
Early Childhood Music in South Yorkshire, a new Arts Council England Place Partnership led by SYMCA with Concerteenies, is looking for a Project Director to lead and help shape region-wide music-making for young children and their carers from 2027.
Job Description
ECMiSY Project Director
Hours: 40 pw - Salary: £48k - Contract: fixed term to 31 Aug 2029 - Location: Sheffield/South Yorkshire
Reports to: Concerteenies chair
About ECMiSY
Early Childhood Music in South Yorkshire (ECMiSY) is an Arts Council England Place Partnership led by SYMCA, with Concerteenies as lead delivery organisation. A consortium of around 16 partners across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield is working together to grow a brilliant partnership delivering high-quality, joined-up music-making for babies, young children and the adults who care for them.
The role
You will lead day-to-day delivery of the partnership, turning a shared vision into a well-run, collaborative programme across South Yorkshire.
Key responsibilities
- Coordinate the consortium, keeping partners connected, informed and moving together
- Manage the programme plan, budget and risks
- Oversee partner grant agreements, monitoring and reporting
- Lead reporting to Arts Council England and SYMCA as accountable body
- Work with the Independent Evaluator to embed reflection and learning throughout delivery
- Build relationships with early years settings, Family Hubs, local authorities and music organisations
- Champion inclusion, environmental responsibility and open sharing of learning
- Advocate for early childhood music across the region
About you
- Proven experience managing multi-partner projects
- Strong budget, contract and reporting skills
- Excellent communicator, confident with partners at every level
- Organised, adaptable and comfortable holding complexity
- Understanding of early years, music education or the cultural sector
- Committed to equity and to children's and families' voices
Desirable: experience of ACE-funded programmes; knowledge of South Yorkshire.
Job Requirements
- Proven experience managing multi-partner projects or programmes
- Confident managing budgets, contracts, grant agreements and funder reporting
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with partners at every level
- Highly organised, able to juggle priorities and hold complexity calmly
- Understanding of early years, music education or the wider cultural sector
- Commitment to equity, inclusion and centring children's and families' voices
- Comfortable working with evaluation and using learning to shape delivery
- Able to travel across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield
- Experience of Arts Council England-funded programmes or Place Partnerships
- Knowledge of the South Yorkshire early years and cultural landscape
- Experience of working with local authorities, Family Hubs or early years settings
- Interest in environmental responsibility and open sharing of learning
Job Responsibilities
Key responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day delivery of the ECMiSY partnership across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield
- Coordinate the consortium, convening meetings and keeping partners connected and aligned
- Manage the programme plan, budget, timeline and risks
- Oversee partner grant agreements, monitoring and compliance
- Lead reporting to Arts Council England and SYMCA as accountable body
- Work with the Independent Evaluator to embed reflection and learning in delivery
- Build relationships with early years settings, Family Hubs, local authorities and music organisations
- Champion inclusion, environmental responsibility and open sharing of learning
- Advocate for early childhood music across the region and nationally
- Report to and work closely with the Director of Early Childhood Music
- Job Title: Project Director - Early Childhood Music in South Yorkshire
Closing date for applications: Friday 20 November at midday
Interviews: Monday 7 December in Sheffield.
Start date: By agreement - as early in 2027 as possible.
Creating musical connections for children aged 0-7 and their communities
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Project Director - Early Childhood Music in South Yorkshire in Sheffield 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.
