At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative cultural projects and partnerships in Gloucester.
- Company: Gloucester City Council and University of Gloucestershire collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, job share options, and a chance to shape local culture.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for growth in a dynamic cultural environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on Gloucester's vibrant arts and heritage scene.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership and communication skills with a passion for culture.
The predicted salary is between 69392 - 84154 £ per year.
This is a Gloucester City Council job.
Salary: £69,392- £84,154 per annum
Hours per Week: 37.00
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration: Two Years
Closing Date: 27/09/26
This post is open to job share.
We are looking for a special person to take on this exciting role which is a new and innovative partnership between Gloucester City Council and the University of Gloucestershire. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead Gloucester City Council's in-house cultural service, managing relationships with funders and stakeholders and leading on several transformative projects for the city's arts, culture and heritage sectors:
- Be Project Champion for a new mixed art form venue, the Greyfriars Cultural Centre and Performance Centre, due to open in April 2028
- Lead a cross-city partnership delivering a major culture and heritage programme to commemorate the bicentenary of the opening of Gloucester Docks
- Implement the short-term recommendations of a roadmap to transform the Museum of Gloucester
- Working with Gloucester Culture Trust and the University of Gloucestershire, create the action plan and implement the city's new Cultural Strategy
- Developing this exciting partnership between the City Council and the University to build the cultural system locally.
Gloucester is an important small city in the SW of England with a fast-developing cultural offer that is in the process of significant regeneration and investment. This role presents a unique opportunity for the right person to lead Gloucester through a period of growth within its cultural offer. Identified as a Priority Place by Arts Council England, Gloucester has attracted both capital and revenue cultural investment into the city's cultural venues and the city has a number of organisations that are part of the Arts Council's National Portfolio (NPO) scheme for 2023-2026. The ambition around culture remains high and this is demonstrated by its Cultural Strategy and the strength of the ongoing investment into its culture and services. Levelling Up funding has been received for Greyfriars Quarter, which will unlock the development of a new cultural venue in the heart of the city.
The Head of Service for Culture and Leisure is a key role in the strategic development and delivery of the city's cultural offer for the city of Gloucester. The post-holder will work with Gloucester Culture Trust and others to deliver the strategy and cultural vision for the city. In addition, you will lead the delivery of the city's vibrant programme across its venues and public spaces, parks and squares. The scope includes overall responsibility for the Museum of Gloucester and its collections, Gloucester Guildhall and the award-winning Blackfriars Priory. It includes the outdoor festivals and events programme and delivery of key events, as well as film and site permissions and the marketing of Gloucester through the Visit Gloucester channels. You'll also have line management responsibility for the areas of Cultural Development, Visitor Experience and Tourism and Destination Marketing and be the commissioner for Leisure services contract. You'll be a great communicator, able to inspire and successfully deliver change and improvements.
For an informal discussion please contact Ruth Saunders, Corporate Director at Gloucester City Council, ruth.saunders@gloucester.gov.uk, or Professor Angus Pryor, Head of School for Creative Arts at the University of Gloucestershire, aprory@glos.ac.uk.
Additional Information: Applications from any Gloucester City Council's employees who are currently on the redeployment register or at risk of redundancy will be considered first at shortlisting stage. The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have right to work that enables them to commit to at least 6 months employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer. Gloucester City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Equality and Diversity: We recognise the positive value of equality and diversity and pride ourselves on growing a high-performing workforce that is diverse, skilled and talented; that represents the community it serves. We aim to recruit a diverse pool of talent and will recruit the person who is most suited to the job without regard to their race, colour, religion or belief, age, nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, caring responsibilities or disability. We are a disability confident employer committed to removing barriers to employment to those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure to ensure that no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. Please contact the recruitment team if you require support or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process recruitment@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
If you wish to apply for this position on a secondment basis, please obtain approval from your current line manager that you may be released on a secondment before submitting an application form. It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.
Head of Culture and Creative Economy in Gloucester employer: Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With flexible hybrid working options and opportunities for professional growth, staff are encouraged to develop their skills in a collaborative environment dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people in care.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Culture and Creative Economy in Gloucester
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Culture and Creative Economy in Gloucester
Some tips for your application 🫡
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How to prepare for a job interview at Gloucestershire County Council
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Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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