Communications Manager - Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom - Creative Playground Crawley

Description

About Creative Crawley

Creative Crawley is an arts charity championing creative people and making surprising arts events happen in the town. We do this through collaboration, innovation, and co-creation. We produce an annual programme of arts activities that happen in many spaces and places involving local, national and international creative workers.

Our vision is for Crawley and the people who are there to be fulfilled, vibrant and thrive through creativity. With gentle tenacity and kind energy we champion creative people and their creativity as a catalyst for positive social change in their lives. Find out more about Creative Crawley:

Creative Crawley is managing two major projects: Creative Playground Crawley aims to engage more local people in arts and culture, led by Manor Royal Business Improvement District and a consortium of local organisations: Crawley LGBTQU+, The Hawth, Caridon Housing Trust and Crawley Community Action. It is funded by Arts Council England's Creative People and Places Programme.

Creative Playground puts residents at the heart of decision making. Through boundless thinking, energy and commitment, the project aims to improve people's lives by increasing Crawley people's engagement in arts and culture.

Find out more about Creative Playground:

Creative Village Crawley is a skills exchange and cultural infrastructure development programme for the creative industries based in Crawley , for people in West Sussex and Surrey. The programme includes a paid creative and business skills exchange programme for 16–30 year olds, testing two new creative hubs in Crawley through local and national showcasing of high quality creative professionals and exploring the economic potential of the creative industries in Crawley.

The programme runs from September 2024 to December 2025 and is funded by a National Lottery Place Based Partnership grant from Arts Council England

The Role

The Communications Manager is responsible for implementing effective marketing and PR strategies and campaigns to promote the Creative Crawley programme and activities. They will create, plan and drive audience development objectives and related strategies that meet the needs of existing and potential audiences.

They will manage, coach and provide leadership to the Digital Content Coordinator and freelance communication steams. They will ensure the Creative Crawley and associated brands are represented appropriately in all areas of activity and our partners are represented correctly in relation to the partnership.

All the work the company does has community engagement at its heart. The whole staff team are involved in talking to,collaborating with and listening to local people to helps shape the programme.

Role: Communications Manager, CreativeCrawley

Responsible to: Creative Director

Salary: £18,000 (£30,000prorata)

Contract: Part time(3 days a week), fixed term, freelance

Hours: Office hours are 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Evening and Holiday: weekend work will be required. No overtime is offered; a Time Off In Lieu system operates.

Some home working is possible but the intention is for this post to be office based. 28 days per annum pro rata (including bank holidays)

Probation Period: 3 Months

Notice Period: 3 months

This is offered as a part time, fixed term freelance post and is a new position for Creative Crawley which has been a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO) since July 2021.

Creative Crawley has a dedicated team of nine volunteer Trustees, a team of freelancers and PAYE staff including: Creative Director (4 days a week), Project Co-Director, Creative Playground (3.5 days a week), Head of Learning and Production (full time), Producer (full time), Finance and Admin Coordinator (1/2 day per week), Digital Marketing & Content Coordinator (3 days a week) and other project based freelancers.

Creative Playground is additionally governed by a Core Consortium of volunteers from Manor Royal BID, The Hawth, Crawley Community Action, Caridon Housing Trust and Crawley LGBT. Key Responsibilities- Marketing, Communications & PR.

Strategy

● Working with the Creative Crawley team, develop and deliver bold and imaginative marketing and PR campaigns across the programme that deepen and develop audience engagement in Crawley and beyond and target new people to maximise appeal and revenue.

● Develop brand guidelines and an effective communications strategy for the company to communicate to all partners and the Creative Crawley team.

● Be the company communications lead, working closely with the Co-Directors to advance Creative Crawley's brand and profile, ensuring correct accreditation, quality, accuracy, and consistency of all external communications and developing copy for projects that are imaginative and tonally appropriate.

● Pitch creative comms ideas, and provide communications, marketing, and digital advice to Creative Crawley inline with current marketing trends in support of the overall vision and objectives of each project.

● Lead on the digital content strategies for projects and Creative Crawley as whole, including development of project websites, lead images and promotional copy, managing filmmakers and photographers.

● Develop relationships with external partners for cross marketing opportunities, coordinate comms for projects with partner comms teams ensuring quality, brand and profile for Creative Crawley and the projects.

● Generate regular engagement/sales reports against marketing plans to demonstrate return on investment against activities, key findings, learnings and recommendations (in tandem with our evaluation processes and with support from evaluation consultants Flying Geese).

● Produce comprehensive final campaign reports to be circulated at Trustee and Core Consortium meetings and debriefs to partners.

● Work with the Creative Crawley team to ensure a CRM approach is taken with marketing campaigns and email marketing activity is fully integrated into campaigns.

● Promote and implement an exceptional customer service approach and execute approaches to maximise audience development and ticket sales.

● Develop plans for loyalty schemes to enhance audience development and increase engagement with the programme.

● Be a brand ambassador for Creative Crawley.

Delivery

● Work with the Digital Content Coordinator to create bold and innovative marketing assets including print, digital, films and other promotional material.

● Work with our Web Designer, LMNOP Studios, to ensure the company and project websites are up to date, dynamic, relevant and functional.

● In collaboration with the Co-Directors and Producers, appoint and manage PR agencies, photographers and filmmakers.

● Develop and manage Creative Crawley's press lists and press relationships and plan, organise and manage launch and press events in line with the biannual season launches.

● Write and circulate regular e-newsletters and promotional emails, managing databases and invite lists.

● Manage all company social media channels ensuring content is both brand-consistent and creative.

● Manage the Season print process from design brief to distribution.

● Set and lead marketing meetings for all projects.

● Oversee the development of all public company documents (e.g welcome packs, presentations, annual reports etc) and ensure they are created and developed in line with the brand guidelines.

● Box Office: Oversee the box office operation via Eventbrite where necessary. Audience Development

● In conjunction with Creative Crawley's 5-year business plan KPI's, develop and implement a highly effective audience development and engagement strategy and action plan that connects Creative Playground and Creative Village aims and ambitions.

● Develop existing audience development and engagement strategy and action plan linking with business plan SMART targets.

● With the team, ensure evaluation and data collection is embedded in the project from the start, working with in-house team and partners to ensure best practice, and managing audience databases to assist the company in business planning, communications and funder reporting.

● Ensure that all projects meet statutory GDPR requirements on data collection and lead on data sharing agreements with partners.

● Be accountable for the delivery of the actions set out in successful funding applications and prompt delivery of the evaluation reports.

● Work with the Head of Learning and Production and Producers to maximise the reach of the Creative Crawley offer, locally, regionally and nationally.

● Attend Arts Council England and other audience development meetings such as Without Walls Touring Network Partnerships as required.

Access

● Ensure all communications are accessible to all including translations, easy read, large print and BSL interpreted/captioned versions of information where possible . Keep up to date with the latest advice for print, digital and other media in terms of accessibility particularly in relation to the communities we are reaching in Crawley. Management

● Line manage, coach and provide leadership for the Digital Content Coordinator, ensuring an innovative and 'can do' work culture.

● Manage Freelancers and Placements as required. Financial & Fundraising

● Contribute to the annual budget forecast and preparation process; monitor specific budgets and expenditure throughout the year and report to the Directors on a regular basis.

● With the wider team, collaborate and contribute to the company's fundraising strategy.

● Identify opportunities for fundraising and income generation.

General

● To play an active part in the development, promotion, and implementation of company policies (including sustainability, safeguarding, health & safety, equality, and staff handbook).

● Inspire the company's staff and promote best practice and equality of opportunity.

● Champion mentoring and training, as part of the wider team.

● Full participation in company activity, meetings, and processes.

● Attendance at regular Creative Crawley and industry events.

● To act at all times in the best interests of the Creative Crawley, and be an enthusiastic advocate of Creative Crawley with a thorough understanding of the company's mission, vision and aims.

● Any other duties as required by the company in order to fulfil its objective.

Person Specification

You will be a pro-active and creative Communications Manager, a brilliant copy writer and communicator, thrive when working collaboratively with others and have a keen eye for detail. You will enjoy creating engaging campaigns and developing audiences and participants.

You will get a buzz from engaging with different members of the community in Crawley, listening to and learning from them to find the best ways to engage them in Creative Crawley's work.

Essential Knowledge & Experience

● Atleast3years' experience as a marketing practitioner, developing and implementing content strategies in live events and/or theatre.

● Experience of managing marketing budgets.

● Experience of managing PR agencies.

● Excellent copywriting, copyediting and proofreading skills

● Experience of developing written content and managing social media.

● Able to devise and implement marketing strategies using the full marketing mix.

● Proven track record in achieving campaign targets & audience numbers across live and digital.

● IT skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, InDesign, Illustrator and Canva.

● Good understanding of getting the best out of Eventbrite, Mailchimp and other ticketing and CRMsoftware.

● Good working knowledge of WordPress website package.

● Strong knowledge of digital marketing.

● Data driven and have numerate approach with the ability to gather and present information, compile reports and make recommendations.

● Experience of analysing data and using data to refine marketing and sales techniques.

● Strong experience of working with designers and media agencies; briefing, providing constructive feedback, and getting the best out of them.

● First class project manager, able to set the necessary plans and framework in place, implement and see the project through to completion on time and within budget.

● Managing a team, agree task allocations, priorities and workload; provide advice to the team on problems encountered.

Desirable

● Experience of working in outdoor arts.

● Awareness of making marketing material accessible to and inclusive of a wider audience.

● Understanding of evaluation methodologies, data collection and reporting within a charitable context.

● Full driving licence and access to a car. Essential Attributes

● A creative thinker, strong at initiating new ideas and concepts.

● A key team player with the aptitude to work on their own.

● Experience of budget monitoring and contributing to financial forecasting.

● Ability to analyse issues and identify solutions.

● Great interpersonal and communication skills.

● Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

● Excellent time management and the ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines.

● Ability to work collaboratively across different teams and proactively manage stakeholder relationships.

● Ability to work proactively in an agile, face-paced environment.

● The willingness and dedication to learn new skills as required.

● Keen interest in the arts and creativity

● Knowledge of Crawley and the wider region's creative ecology.

How to apply

Creative Crawley are committed to equality of opportunity and access for all. We recognise the positive value of diversity and promote equality. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, irrespective of their age, gender, class, marital status, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, religious belief or sexual orientation or any other protected characteristics listed under the Equality Act.

To apply, please email with the below:

• Aletter of application setting out why you are applying, your interest in the position, and how your skills and experience match the Job Description and ideal candidate specification (maximum 1,000 words)

• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) with contact details of 2 referees, one being your current or most recent employer Please also complete the Equality Monitoring Form with your application: All applications must be submitted to Creative Crawley by 12 noon on Wednesday 15 May.

Access

Creative Crawley is committed to making its roles as accessible as possible. If there are any adjustments you would need to be able to carry out this role that you wish to discuss at the time of expression of interest, please contact for details. Applications can be submitted in alternative formats on request.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Friday 24 May and invited for interview on Tuesday 4 June. Interviews will be held online or at an address to be confirmed in Crawley. An offer will be made to the successful candidate shortly after this. Candidates should note that any offer of employment made by Creative Crawley will be subject to satisfactory written references and possibly a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate that they have the right to work in the UK and that they have the qualifications listed in their application. You are always advised not to resign from your present employment until any offer of employment has been confirmed