Project Manager

Cultivator is an innovative project providing an integrated programme of skills and business development support for Small to Medium Enterprises in Cornwall's Creative Industries.

It is funded by the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, Arts Council England and Cornwall Council.

The lead partner and the employer for this post is Creative Kernow http://www.creativekernow.org.uk/ one of Cornwall's leading creative sector organisations; the project will be managed as part of the work of Creative Kernow's well-respected and long-established Creative Skills initiative.

Creative Kernow runs a number of projects in Cornwall apart from Creative Skills, with the key ones being Krowji, the creative workspace cluster in Redruth; the Carn to Cove rural touring scheme; the Cornwall 365 cultural tourism project and the FEAST community arts programme. The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. 

Cultivator partner organisations are Cornwall College, Real Ideas Organisation (RIO), Business West, the Cornwall Museums Partnership (CMP) and Plymouth University.

The project will deliver or support Creative Industries specific Information, Advice and Guidance; mentoring; sector relevant training; a co-investment grants programme; internships and other activities with SMEs that enable students, graduates and non-graduates to gain industry relevant experience and skills. It will work alongside the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (C&IoS) Growth Hub and generic business support provision to deliver bespoke and highly specialist coaching, mentoring and targeted investment needed to build capacity and maximise the growth potential of the Creative Industries.

Key areas of responsibility for the Project Manager will be:

• Working with the Creative Skills Director to develop the Cultivator programme strands
• Managing the overall Cultivator programme delivery plan ensuring all milestones are met
• Liaising with and supporting delivery partner organisations (Cornwall College, RIO, Business West, CMP and Plymouth University) to ensure they deliver agreed milestones and outputs of the Cultivator Activity Plan
• Line managing the Creative Business Advisors
• Leading on the marketing of the Cultivator programme, including marketing for delivery partner activities and the Cultivator website and social media
• Internal communications including co-ordinating project advisory group meetings
• Co-ordinating production of reports to the advisory group, Board and funders.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will also be required to carry out any other duties which may reasonably be required of you in accordance with the needs of the project. You will also be required to be flexible and adaptable with respect to your role.

Job Description

• Produce a detailed project delivery plan and monitor progress to ensure all milestones are met
• Line manage the Creative Business Advisors
• Second line manage the Senior Administrator and 2 Administrators
• Coordinate the implementation of all Cultivator projects including timetabling and ensuring good communication between different project strands
• Work with partnership staff and Cultivator core staff to ensure regular reports on activities and progress towards project outputs are produced for Board of Trustees, Project Advisory Group and funders
• Co-ordinate Project Advisory Group, ensuring reports and information are available as required, minutes of meetings are recorded and disseminated and actions are followed up
• Liaise with Creative Kernow finance team to ensure that funding is allocated appropriately, providing regular reports
• Ensure Cultivator adheres to all applicable rules, regulations, legislation and procedures required by ESF and ERDF, ACE and Cornwall Council e.g. procurement, eligibility criteria, Health and Safety, Data Protection etc and that all appropriate policies and monitoring procedures are in place
• Advise the Creative Skills Director on the need to take action to address issues related to the scheduling, staff and financial resources to ensure smooth project implementation
• Co-ordinate the drafting of narrative and financial reports to funders, in coordination with project team
• Contribute to the assessment of applications from Cultivator participants to the following strands: Internships, Mentoring, Business Start Up packages and Creative Industries Co-investment grants
• Devise, in conjunction with the Creative Skills Director, an effective marketing and communication strategy for the programme and take lead responsibility for ensuring that this strategy is effectively delivered
• Promote the services and reputation of the Cultivator project by active and positive internal and external communication including website development, co-ordinating social media and supporting Press and PR opportunities.

Person Specification

We are looking for an experienced and efficient project manager to work as part of the small team within Creative Skills which will be responsible for managing and delivering the Cultivator project.

We are looking for a motivated self-starter with great communication and people management skills.

You will have an eye for detail and an awareness of best practice in our sector. You will be a skilled negotiator who is able to work with a wide range of organisations. You will have experience of working with creative and cultural sector organisations and experience of working with a wide range of organisations alongside a proven track record in project management. 

A working knowledge of Agile project management would be advantageous.

In carrying out these tasks the post holder will be supported by the administrative team and will be expected to work closely with the Creative Skills Director, core staff team and partner staff in delivery of project strands.

Skills and experience

Essential

• At least three years' experience of planning and delivering projects including the ability to manage and track multiple projects, often with competing deadlines
• Experience of preparing and writing reports on project progress
• Experience of building and maintaining good relationships with project partners, and other stakeholders
• Experience of programme monitoring
• Proven experience of managing small teams effectively

• Willingness to travel and work some unsociable hours
• The ability to work unaided with limited supervision and as part of a team and be a highly organised, motivated individual
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good numeracy and budgeting skills
• IT and digital media competent and confident
• The ability to prioritise, work under pressure and deliver against set targets to agreed deadline
• Good time management skills and experience of planning and prioritising heavy workloads
• Full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use
• Experience of the Creative Industries
• Demonstrable skills in project budgeting and financial reporting
• Understanding of fundraising processes and knowledge of managing a grant funded project
• Experience of working in a voluntary sector organisation
• Experience of working on a European funded project

Personal Attributes

• An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
• Sensitivity and discretion in the workplace
• Good interpersonal and ‘brokerage' skills such as negotiation, persuasion, flexibility and problem solving

Organisational structure

The Project Manager reports to the Director of Creative Skills

Key conditions of work

Contract Permanent contract (please note that the funding for this project is expected to run until the end of September 2019)

Pay £35k-37k per year, depending on experience

Pensions Creative Kernow will automatically enrol you into The People's Pension on 1st November 2016 if, on that date, you are: aged at least 22 but you are under State Pension age earning more than £10,000 a year (£833 per month).

If you don't meet these criteria on 1st November but you do meet them at a later date, we will automatically enrol you into the scheme then.

If you are eligible to join, Creative Kernow will contribute 1% of your salary until 30th September 2017, 2% for the next 12 months and 3% from 1st October 2018.  More details about the scheme are available on request.

Holidays 4 weeks a year rising to 5 weeks over 5 years plus bank holidays

Hours 37.5 hours per week

There is some degree of flexitime, but the post-holder will normally be required to work 5 days per week from 10am - 4pm as core hours. 

From time to time staff will be required to work unsociable hours. 

A TOIL system operates rather than payment of overtime.

Place of work  The Cultivator office at Krowji, West Park, Redruth TR15 3AJ. The role will involve attendance at meetings or events elsewhere.

Probationary period There will be a standard six month probationary period

Equality and Diversity 

Creative Kernow is committed to equality of opportunity in employment practices and the provision of services and expects that its policy will be supported by everyone in the organisation.

In line with our Flexible Working Policy, this post is open for applicants who wish to apply as a job-share partnership.  Both candidates should complete an application form and state that they wish to be considered together.

This post is funded by European Union Structural and Investment Funds

Download the application pack at www.creativekernow.org.uk/creative-skills