Bradford Producing Hub

Arts Council England; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Arts Council England in Bradford seeks a freelance Strategic Development Lead for seven months to drive strategic review, sector mapping and stakeholder engagement. You will shape options for the future and work closely with Trustees, blending strategic thinking with practical delivery.

Applicants should have leadership experience, funders exposure, and strong budgeting, reporting and relationship-building skills to support Bradford's creative community.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Bradford's artistic community and understanding of Bradford Producing Hub.
• Experience of organisational leadership or strategic development.
• Experience of managing organisational change.
• Experience of research, mapping, consultation, evaluation or evidence-based planning.
• Successful experience of fundraising, budget planning and developing funding applications.
• Experience of developing partnerships across different sectors.
• Strong financial planning and budgeting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including producing clear reports, recommendations and updates.
• Ability to work independently while supporting and reporting to a Board.
• Understanding of opportunities and challenges facing artists and cultural organisations.
• Bonus: existing relationships across West Yorkshire's creative sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead organisations, projects, or development work through change with a practical, strategic approach.
• Know Bradford's creative community and represent BPH thoughtfully within the city and wider sector.
• Balance funders and budgets with engagement of artists and communities.
• Write compelling funding applications and manage expenditure plans, turning evidence into clear recommendations.
• Prioritise relationships, trust and listening as the foundation of strong cultural organisations.

Skills

Bradford knowledge

Leadership/Strategy

Change management

Research & mapping

Fundraising & budgeting

Partnership development

Financial planning

Reporting & communication

Board liaison

Arts sector understanding

West Yorkshire connections

Job description

Job Summary

Freelance, 7-month fixed term (October 2026 – April 2027), 8 days per month, £350 per 8 hour day. Bradford, with hybrid working. Closing date: Wednesday 16 September 2026, 12 noon

Job Description

Bradford Producing Hub (BPH) is entering an important new phase and we're looking for a freelance Strategic Development Lead. Working closely with our Trustees, you'll lead a focused period of strategic review, sector mapping and stakeholder engagement to build a clear picture of where support for Bradford's creative talent is most needed, and set out realistic, ambitious options for the future.

You'll combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, and you'll have led organisations or development work through change before. You know Bradford's creative community, you're as comfortable with funders and budgets as with artists and communities, and you understand that strong cultural organisations are built on relationships, trust and listening as much as on programmes and funding.

Full details and the recruitment pack are on our website.

Interviews will be held in Bradford on Wednesday 23 September.

Job Requirements

• Knowledge of Bradford's artistic community, and a clear understanding of Bradford Producing Hub
• Experience of organisational leadership or strategic development
• Experience of managing organisational change
• Experience of research, mapping, consultation, evaluation or evidence-based planning
• Successful experience of fundraising, budget planning and developing funding applications
• Experience of developing partnerships across different sectors
• Strong financial planning and budgeting skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to produce clear reports, recommendations and stakeholder updates
• The ability to work independently while supporting and reporting to a Board
• An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing artists and cultural organisations

Though not essential, it would also help if you had existing relationships across West Yorkshire's creative sector, experience of community-led or artist-led practice.

Job Responsibilities

We're looking for a practical strategic thinker with experience leading organisations, projects, or development work through change before, and comfortable holding both the big picture and the practical detail.

You know Bradford and understand its creative community, its challenges and its ambitions. You'll bring existing relationships, or the confidence to build them quickly, and you'll come with enthusiasm to represent BPH thoughtfully across the city and wider sector.

You're comfortable with both funders and budgets as well as with artists and creative communities. You can write a compelling funding application, manage an expenditure plan, and turn evidence into clear recommendations, while keeping sight of the people all of this is ultimately for.

Above all, you understand that strong cultural organisations are built on relationships, trust and listening as much as on programmes and funding.

• Job Title: Strategic Development Lead (freelance)

Interview date: Wednesday 23 September in Bradford