Head of Events

About The Music Works and why we need this role

The Music Works (TMW) is a Gloucestershire charity that transforms young lives through music. We’re specialists in working with young people in challenging circumstances to help them reach their full potential in music, in learning and in life. We work with over 3,000 young people a year in schools, community spaces and our two music Hubs in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. Our approach is youth-led, with young people involved at every stage of planning and delivery.

Here is an introduction to our work:

We recently consulted with over 500 young people across the county and they told us that they feel there is not enough going on in the county. This was particularly so in Gloucester and in the Forest of Dean. This role is about changing that.

We are looking for an ambitious events manager/senior producer to join our team at an exciting time. The role is primarily to grow our youth-led events programme, developing an exciting and inspiring annual programme of events, focused on Gloucester and Cinderford but also linking with partners across the county. In total, we want our events programme to reach 5,000 diverse young people a year.

This is a new role with considerable opportunity to set the vision for our events programme and work with partners and young people to make it happen. We are seeking an experienced and confident events manager/producer who is creative, approachable, and professional but also detail orientated, fast paced and a multitasker. And someone, who “gets” young people and can help bring the best out of them.

Key responsibilities

• Work with the artistic director and youth advisory group to set the artistic vision for TMW’s events programme
• Work with our youth advisory group and the events team to plan an annual programme of events for young people at The Gloucester and Cinderford Hubs as well as within the community. Some of these will be small and some will be large signature events such as Kings Jam Festival – the south west’s largest black music and diverse genres festival
• Overall project management and delivery of events (with support from the wider team) and coordinate all operations
• The management and organising of Health and safety and safeguarding for events
• Management of events team and organising of volunteers
• Train and develop the events team which includes an apprentice and interns
• Create partnership opportunities with local and national organisations such as Strike A Light, Cheltenham Festivals, Roundhouse etc to put on shared events where relevant and to provide platform opportunities for TMW artists
• Create and build relationships with our events advisory group, utilising them to help shape and deliver our events vision and plan
• Create and implement an events business model that reduces dependency wherever possible on grants and brings in income from events
• Budget management of all events
• Leading on event evaluation, developing event feedback forms and providing post-event reports
• Working with the marketing team on branding and communication for events
• Handling any event logistics, pre and post event
• Source and negotiate with vendors and suppliers, including the hiring of personnal (i.e DJs, performers, etc..)
• If needed, produce detailed proposals for events (including timelines, venues, suppliers, legal obligations, staffing and budgets)

General

• Maintain records of feedback & evaluation from young people through our data capture system
• Be committed to putting young people at the heart of everything we do.
• Promote and comply with all of our policies and practices
• Be responsible for identifying and undertaking training and personal development
• Undertake any other reasonable duties, and to support the organisation

Person specification

• Several years’ experience in producing high quality & high-profile events
• Knowledge of health and safety and safeguarding requirements for event
• Experience of managing an events team
• Experience working with volunteers
• Highly organised and able to multi-task
• Excellent organisation with strong administrative and recording skills as well as attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills and proven experience of working with a range of partners to produce events
• Experience of putting together and managing an events budget up to at least £50K
• Experience of generating income from events
• Confidence to speak with a broad range of stakeholders
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Fundraising experience
• Good problem-solving skills
• The ability to remain calm when faced with competing demands on time, adjusting to changing schedules and delivering results
• A passion for music and the difference it makes to the lives of young people
• A clean driving licence with access to a vehicle

Ideally we’d also love it if you: 

• Have a credible understanding of the music scene and what young people are into
• Experience in various event software
• Good track record of income generation experience

Details of the role

This is a part-time role (22 hours per week), subject to normal probation period of 6 months. It is a permanent role. We will consider job shares, reduced hours and flexible working with the right candidate.

The salary is £30-£35K dependent on experience. There will be weekend and evening work as required by the events.

The role will be based at our Gloucester studio but some travel to other venues across the county will also be expected. We’re flexible about some homeworking where it doesn’t affect the job.

Benefits of working for TMW include

• Pension is 3% of basic salary
• Flexible working
• Lots of staff training and development opportunities
• Enhanced Maternity policy: 6 weeks full pay, 6 weeks half pay, 27 weeks statutory
• Cycle to work scheme and a shower at work so we encourage you to be active
• Wellbeing and social programme for staff
• Flexible holidays, although we have a set number of days holiday we also allow you to take as much unpaid leave as you want
• A really amazing staff team and culture