Head of Place and Partnerships | Peterborough Cultural Alliance

Lead and inspire cultural change in Peterborough - connecting communities, artists and businesses across our diverse and dynamic city as Peterborough Cultural Alliance’s new Head of Place and Partnership. The Head of Place and Partnerships will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and strategic direction of the organisation, and will manage the strategic partnerships and place-focused initiatives that will enhance the inclusive and sustainable cultural development of the city of Peterborough.

The appointment of this role comes at an important time for PCA and provides the opportunity to revisit the key priorities for the alliance. Future programmes will broadly prioritise three core pillars:

• Infrastructure and Space
• Community Engagement and Participation

Responsible for managing a range of strategic partnerships and programmes focused on deep collaboration in order to commission highly visible, high quality, innovative creative and cultural programmes in the city, the Head of Place and Partnerships will bring innovation, creativity and a deep understanding of programme management and partnership development within the cultural sector.

About the role

The Head of Place and Partnerships will lead the small staff team to deliver the work of the alliance. At the heart of transformative change, they will build networks and create collaborative opportunities for communities, artists, and businesses. The role is central to managing a range of strategic partnerships and programmes focused on deep collaboration, which aims to commission highly visible, high-quality, innovative creative and cultural programmes in the city.

Key responsibilities include:

• Organisational leadership: Leading strategic and business planning and the delivery of PCA’s objectives, particularly in relation to growing our key strategic Partnerships. Managing the PCA’s committees and supporting the Chair with strategic development and oversight. Regularly attending and contributing to Board and PCA Council meetings, delivering high-quality reports and management information to the PCA Team, the Board, the Council and sub-committees.
• Partnership Development: Negotiating and managing partnership agreements to ensure mutual benefits and successful outcomes. Identifying, establishing, and managing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including cultural organisations and individuals, local authorities, developers, non-profits, businesses, and community organisations.
• Place-Based Initiatives: Managing the planning, development, and implementation of place-based projects that support high quality creative and cultural engagement and enhance community well-being. Leading and coordinating with partners and communities to encourage local enterprise and initiatives that align with community needs and support a sustainable cultural infrastructure. Monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Peterborough place-based initiative, ensuring delivery of measurable benefits.
• Stakeholder/Community Engagement: Facilitating effective communication and collaboration among partners and community members. Representing and promoting PCA at public meetings, conferences, and other events. Measuring impact and building legacy: design, collect and analyse feedback/evaluations to improve and drive growth of the PCA whilst designing and implementing legacy programmes through our partners. Assembling and presenting high-quality reports on the performance of PCA to the Board, to Arts Council England and other stakeholders as required. Producing Annual Departmental Budgets, Operational Plans and setting yearly KPIs. Harnessing and embracing the power of data-driven programming for cultural innovation and growth, demonstrating this in strategic and programme planning, delivery and reporting.
• Team leadership: Line management, monitoring and evaluation of the PCA team. Leading a performance management culture whereby roles and accountabilities are clear and individual and team performance are regularly monitored. Ensuring all staff are supported through regular feedback, both informal and formal (in line with appropriate policies and procedures), to achieve the greatest potential in delivering agreed outcomes.

Who we are looking for

Our Head of Place and Partnerships will lead and manage strategic partnerships and place-focused initiatives enhancing cultural development, inclusion and sustainability, co-commissioning programmes and building lasting partnerships with multiple stakeholder groups. Passionate about the transformative power of culture, you will:

• Act as an advocate for the arts and culture, promoting their value and importance across all communities, including schools.
• Engage with communities, fostering dialogue, and ensuring that cultural initiatives are accessible to all.
• Build long-term capacity to grow a cultural and creative education programme.
• Initiate and support artistic endeavours, recognising and promoting talent, and creating opportunities for artists to thrive.
• Commit to promoting cultural diversity, inclusivity, and understanding within the communities.
• Secure future funding for the city and programme, together with shared, accessible resources and infrastructure, best practice case studies and frameworks related to partnerships, governance, diversity, equity, justice and advocacy.
• Initiate and support more flexible and open commissions for funding with shorter decision-making cycles.

You will bring a track record of high-quality cultural development, exceptional collaboration and project management skills, and the ability to work closely with stakeholders across multiple sectors to drive initiatives that promote sustainable cultural infrastructure, economic growth, and social inclusion. An advocate for both the city and the power of culture, you will have experience liaising with a range of organisations and individuals including local authorities, the third sector, businesses, investors and funders. As the leader of the PCA you will foster a high-performance environment, supporting the ongoing development of our small team to deliver a joyous and productive working culture.