Project Manager

Required for Tees Valley based Public Art Programme

Fixed term contract

£31,000 - £35,000 (pro rata) at 2 days per week until March 2026

Please be aware that the applicant will be expected to work from our offices in the Tees Valley.

The closing date for applications is 21st August.

Download PDF of application here.

About the project

Middlesbrough Art Week and Navigator North are working with Tees Valley Combined Authority and its five boroughs on a three year Public Art Programme project. This programme is guided by the TVCA’s Growth Programme for the Creative and Visitor economy, creating the conditions in which the sector can thrive by building a critical mass of talent, networks and ideas, thereby growing a mature and sustainable creative ecosystem which reaches wider and more impactfully - locally, nationally and internationally.

The programme will expand on the cultural placemaking already at work from navigator North and Middlesbrough Art Weekender, such as the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) and Middlesbrough Council Public Art Commissions. It will work across the boroughs on upcoming events and opportunities, including the Stockton

and Darlington railway bicentenary, harnessing the imaginations of audiences through a re-imagined branding of the Tees Valley, while working closely with the marketing and cultural strategies of the boroughs to make Tees Valley a place where we are ‘Public Art ready,’ and where these products are developed to be exported.

The programme will strengthen organisational resilience & bolster the Tees Valley Creative sector through the creation of an innovative Public Art Action Plan, Programme and Business Model. It will be supported through an active partnership from all five Local Authorities across the Tees Valley.

The Role

We are seeking a motivated, experienced project manager to work across three years on this innovative and exciting programme. The role include overseeing and maintaining the project, budgeting, reporting and evaluation.

The role is well suited to someone reliable, organised and self-motivated, who works well both independently and as part of a team. You will have a unique understanding of working with artists, as well as with a wide range of people in different manufacturing and production industries. The role would suit someone with specific expertise in touring medium to large scale art work and with knowledge of developing corporate sponsorship packages. This also requires working with

community groups across the Tees Valley. The first year will focus on building the network in the Tees Valley and making partnerships regionally. Year two and three will focus on production of work and developing a sustainable touring model of the work.

The successful candidate will work closely with Navigator North’s co-directors, and MAW’s co-directors and marketing co-ordinator. They will be line managed by MAW’s artistic director. They will be employed in a freelance capacity by MAW. They would be responsible for their own NI contributions. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The key elements of the role are:

l Working in partnership to develop toolkits, directories and community engagement/co-creation

l Developing a shared vision/standards for enabling public art to be commissioned/happen within the Tees Valley

l Commissioning new public realm art works with a view to touring them in the Tees Valley and exporting them outside of the region

l Developing a sustainable business model, beyond the three year project.

Main responsibilities / key tasks:

- Oversee the project, including admin duties and artist liaison

- Ensure timescales are met

- Oversee the development and production of art works

- Build a regional and national network of organisations, festivals and events to promote and facilitate the export of these products

- Build a regional directory of manufacturers and industry specialists for use by the artists community

- Develop and oversee logistics, including touring of artwork

- Lead on developing corporate sponsorship, in line with the Public Art Strategy framework in place

- Liaise with community coordinator to develop relationships with community groups and participation

- Develop a co-ordinated approach to the local arts ecology to develop existing and new partnerships.

- Develop links between the creative/artist sector with the manufacturing/ fabrication industry in Tees Valley, to foster mutually beneficial working relationships and connectivity.

- Manage and monitor budgets and cashflow of the project

- Support the work of the marketing co-ordinator and data manager to capture data on audiences and participants and generate evaluation including audience data, case studies, toolkits

- Report to the board on the project

- Develop and maintain all risk assessments and health and safety requirements

General:

Represent the project when on Go See’s and when developing relationships and partnerships

Person specification

Essential:

- Demonstrable experience of delivering complex and/or multiple events

- Experience of creating systems and processes to support project work and event management, including managing and monitoring budgets

- Demonstrable knowledge of the national visual arts and outdoor arts sector

- Strong communication, good interpersonal and team-working skills

- Good attention to detail, combined with first-class organisation and time management skills

- Ability to remain flexible and proactive under pressure, demonstrating persistence, reliability and resilience.

Desirable:

- At least five years’ experience working within an arts organisation or events management role

- Demonstrable experience of managing touring artwork

- An up to date knowledge of the arts structures and their ecosystems in the UK and internationally

- An entrepreneurial approach - someone confident in showcasing and getting the public works commissioned

Other Relevant Information:

- Weekend and evening work will be required as appropriate to our event schedule, so being available during these times, and having a flexible approach to short-term and unexpected working is critical

- l Holding a current UK driving license and own transport is a prerequisite for this position, occasional driving will be required (milage expenses are reimbursed).

- l This is a freelance position. The successful candidate will be responsible for their own NI contributions. The project manager will be reimbursed for any travel expenses incurred.

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Please send all applications as a CV and cover letter to anna@theauxiliary.co.uk with the heading Project Manager - Creative Cluster in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is 28th August, with in-person interviews taking place on the 7th September.

The successful applicant will begin work early October.

Download PDF of application here.

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