Job description

Organisation: Barbican Centre

Role: External Affairs Manager (Hybrid)

Salary: Grade D, £42,750 - £47,620 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting

Attachments

attachment External Affairs Manager - Job Information Pack.pdf

The Barbican is an international arts, conference and education centre in the heart of the City of London. We are London’s Creative Catalyst for arts, curiosity and enterprise. Across our theatres, concert halls, cinemas, galleries, business venues and public and community spaces, we spark creative possibilities and transformation for artists, audiences, and communities – to inspire, connect and provoke debate. We are the place to be and a place where everyone is welcome. Our impact is felt far outside our walls and ripples beyond the experiences we offer – locally, nationally and internationally.

The Role

As External Affairs Manager, you’ll play a key role in driving advocacy, engagement, and communications strategies that showcase the Barbican’s vision and secure support for its ambitious programmes. You’ll build relationships that amplify our impact, with key stakeholders such as politicians (local and national) as well as the wider culture sector and key arts media.

This role will immerse you in ground breaking projects, including the Barbican Renewal Programme, as well as campaigns in sustainability, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Person

We’re looking for a motivated and experienced External Affairs professional who thrives on creating meaningful connections. The ideal candidate will have:

• Strategic expertise: Proven ability to devise and implement impactful advocacy and communications campaigns.

• Strong relationship-building skills: Confident working with a range of stakeholders, including local and national politicians, donors, the media, and the wider cultural sector.

• Exceptional communication skills: From writing high-quality, engaging content to handling sensitive media inquiries and reputational challenges with diplomacy and precision.

• Sector knowledge: A good understanding of the cultural and creative industries, as well as the political and social landscape affecting them. • Adaptability and resilience: Able to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment while working collaboratively across teams.

A passion for the arts and experience within a public benefit or non-profit organisation would be advantageous.

A friendly and inclusive team, deeply committed to creativity and collaboration, we pride ourselves on creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, empowered, and inspired to bring their best.

Barbican Benefits

We offer a wide range of staff benefits including a great pension scheme, season ticket, cycle to work scheme, free access to museums and galleries, discounts on retail, healthcare and on-site cafes and restaurants. You will have access to Employee Assistance Programme, trained Mental Health First aiders and City of London staff networks.

You’ll be based 3 or more days a week in our office (2 at home) located within the awe-inspiring Barbican Centre which is known around the world for its unique Brutalist architecture.

Annual leave starts at 28 days plus bank holidays, with increases based on length of service.

How to Apply

To view the Job Information Pack for this role, please go to the attachments section.

To apply, please click the apply button at the bottom of your screen.

If there are any issues with the application process, please contact the Barbican Careers team at careers@barbican.org.uk.

Deadline for applications is 23:55 on Tuesday 19 January 2024.

Please note that we are unable to accept late applications.

Please note, the advert may close prior to the date stated if a large volume of applications are received. Please do submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing out.

As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority* and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. Please contact us if you require reasonable adjustments as part of the application process.

*Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'.

The City of London Corporation want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do. The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation – and is committed to regularly benchmarking and reviewing pay against external sectors.