Youth and Community Director

Salary: £29,000 to £32,000 per annum

Location: Toxteth TV, Liverpool – relocation support of £500 will be available if needed

Hours of Working: 37.5 Hours – Full Time (with some evening and weekend working hours). Please note: We are open to discussing part time hours also.

Contract: Two-year Fixed Term

Apply by: 9am, Friday 4^th October 2024

The Role

The role of the Youth and Community Director at 20 Stories High is a pivotal and dynamic position focused on fostering creativity and engagement among young people and community groups. As a leader in this role, you will drive the development and execution of youth theatre productions, community outreach initiatives, and other key participatory projects. You will collaborate closely with young people and communities, supporting their creative journeys and ensuring that diverse voices are central to the company’s work. 

This role also involves contributing to the strategic growth of 20 Stories High, including income generation, partnerships, and the overall development of the company’s artistic vision. Working within a small, dedicated team, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of 20 Stories High, advocating for inclusivity, accessibility, and the well-being of all participants. 

It is important to us that the Youth and Community Director shares the company’s values, and is committed to contributing to our developing practice in terms of both wellbeing and EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Activism).  

Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership

• Take an active role in planning, executing and evaluating projects. Working with the team to review the programme, developing programme ideas, assembling creative teams’ and exploring relationships with our partners.
• Collaborate with young people on idea development, supporting and encouraging them throughout the creative processes
• Develop and direct productions and projects as agreed: youth theatre shows, community company and bespoke one-off projects.
• Co-lead with another practitioner on a larger scale community outreach projects
• Lead workshops and projects in a variety of community/educational/social settings, including schools, colleges, youth clubs, pupil referral units, hostels and secure units.
• Collaborate on the creative development and delivery of outreach and community engagement projects with the Artistic Director.
• Creatively support the Artistic Director on other key projects
• Research and engage with external artists and companies’ work – making new connections and staying abreast of contemporary theatre and arts practice in the UK, with a particular focus on intersectional diversity.
• Ensure that culturally diverse, working-class and Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent young people and communities are central to 20SH’s work, vision, and development
• Contribute to the growth and development of 20SH’s digital reach and profile
• Help support emerging artists through professional development programmes

Leadership and Management

• Be a positive advocate for 20SH, representing the Company and its work, in a variety of formal and informal setting
• Contribute to regular internal company meetings at strategic, tactical and operational level
• Deputise for the Artistic Director when appropriate
• Feed into the ongoing development and delivery of the Business Plan and all associated long-term planning for the Company.

Sustainability and Development

• Support the delivery of 20SH’s Income Generation strategy, contributing to funding bids, identifying funding opportunities, building partnerships, raising the Company’s profile
• Support, empower and encourage all participants
• Work with the 20 Stories High Team to:
• Ensure well-being and positive mental health are at the centre of the company’s practice.
• Share processes, practices and work widely, contributing to the development of the sector and the raising of 20SH’s profile
• Advocate for intersectional diversity and young peoples’ voices in theatre
• Ensure 20SH’s work is as accessible and inclusive as possible
• Identify and develop new creative and organisational opportunities
• Ensure 20SH’s projects are comprehensively evaluated
• Ensure the safeguarding of all participants, audiences and young people new to the organisation

General
The Youth and Communities Director will be expected to:

• • Take a hands-on role and work together to successfully deliver the programme, alongside the other members of a small, core staff team
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of the artistic policy, programming, audiences and venues of 20 Stories High
  • Work in line with the current management values, ethos and objectives

Person specification

Essential

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Demonstrable track-record of collaborating, creating and directing excellent theatre with diverse young people and community groups aimed at diverse audiences
• At least two years’ experience of directing and engaging culturally diverse, working class young people and communities in arts activities
• Experience of partnership-working
• Excellent project management skills
• A knowledge of and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• An up-to-date knowledge of the arts sector in the UK

Desirable

• Experience of collaborating with young people and/or artists in contemporary urban art-forms
• Experience of leading new writing, poetry or music-based projects
• Experience of marketing and audience development
• Knowledge of site sensitive projects
• Knowledge and experience of funding systems and fundraising
• Excellent IT skills

Personal Qualities

• A commitment to rigorous artistic processes and, an interest in learning and developing 20SH’s creative processes
• A commitment to creating theatre through engagement with young people, community groups and emerging and experienced professionals
• A demonstrable interest in developing organisational-scale and sectoral-scale leadership skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
• High motivation, with a flexible approach to work
• Thrive from working as part of a team
• High standards of collaboration, initiative and tact
• Good organisational and time management skills with the ability to work to strict deadlines
• The ability to act as an advocate for 20SH, its work and its values

Terms and Conditions

Hours of Working: 37.5 Hours – FT (with some evening and weekend working hours).

Please note: We are open to discussing part time hours also.

Contract: Two-year fixed term contract

Annual Salary: £29,000-£32,000

Annual Holiday: 25 days (pro rata), plus bank holidays

Place of work: Toxteth TV, Liverpool

Probation and Trial Period: All appointments are subject to satisfactory DBS checks, employment and character references. There is a probationary period of 6 months then a review by both parties will be held.

Responsible to: Co-CEO/Artistic Director

Responsible for: Freelance Team members

Relocation support of £500 will be available if needed.

How to apply

• We are committed to inclusive working practices and ensuring equal access. This pack is available in a range of formats including audio, large print, and screen reader compatible versions. If you have a more specific formatting requirement, please let us know and we will try our best to provide this for you. 

  For those interested in applying we will be holding an informal group zoom meeting so you can meet the company and find out a little bit more of what we do, who we are and why we do it.

   

  It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the role or the process. This will take place: Wednesday 11^th September, 5pm-5.45pm.

  Please email recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk if you’d like to attend.

   

  To apply for this role, please send the following:

  1. Application form
  1. An up-to-date CV

   

  Alternatively, we welcome applications in video/audio format and BSL – please send a film/audio file answering the questions within the application form (no longer than 15 minutes).

   

  If you have any additional access requirements to complete the application, please let us know and we will support this.

Please send your application to:

Amy Thompson, Administrator.

20 Stories High, Toxteth TV, 37-45 Windsor St, Liverpool, L8 1XE

recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk
0151 708 9728

Recruitment process timeline

• Application Deadline: Friday 04^th October at 9am
• Shortlisting: Successful applicants will be invited to a recruitment day by Monday 14^th October
• Recruitment days: will be held Tuesday 22nd October

If invited to interview, we will ask you about any access requirements you might have at each stage of the process (e.g. BSL interpreter, wheelchair access, additional breaks, dimmed lights, interview questions in advance). We can also cover any travel expenses.

Thank you, we look forward to receiving your application.

More Information

Informal chat

For those interested in applying we will be holding an informal group zoom meeting so you can meet the company and find out a little bit more of what we do, who we are and why we do it.

It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the role or the process. This will take place: Wednesday 11th September, 5pm-5.45pm.

Please email recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk if you’d like to attend.