Community Engagement Coordinator - Derby Theatre

University of Derby; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

Derby Theatre, part of the University of Derby, seeks a part‑time Community Engagement Coordinator to coordinate learning, participation and community programmes. You will build strong partnerships with schools, clubs and artists, ensuring activities run smoothly, safely and inclusively, while gathering evidence of impact.

You will support safeguarding, GDPR and ensure clear communications for partners and participants, with flexibility for evenings and weekends as required.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and administration skills.
• Ability to learn new reporting platforms and data capture methods.
• Ability to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles and their practical application.
• Ability to gather and communicate impact stories effectively.
• Strong written communication and copywriting skills.
• Good digital skills including Microsoft Office and content management systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support Derby Theatre's core learning, participation and community programmes, ensuring effective planning, communication and delivery.
• Act as the principal point of contact for designated projects and partnerships.
• Coordinate activity involving schools, community groups, libraries, artists and practitioners.
• Manage project schedules, bookings, logistics and communications to ensure activity runs smoothly and safely.
• Support the delivery of community events, including workshops, performances and partnership programmes.
• Lead on agreed project strands and work independently within agreed project frameworks.
• Coordinate the use of theatre and community spaces for project activity.
• Gather stories, testimonials, case studies and evaluation data to communicate impact.

Skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Administration

Relationship building

Safeguarding knowledge

Impact storytelling

Copywriting

MS Office & CMS

Job description

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

At Derby Theatre, we are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.

Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby and are a home for higher education students. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and offer training for young people too, with opportunities for learners of all ages. It’s all about empowering people to tap into their potential and achieve.

As Community Engagement Coordinator, you will help connect people across Derby with Derby Theatre’s creative learning, participation and community programmes. You will make sure projects are well organised, effectively communicated and delivered to a high standard, creating a positive and welcoming experience for young people, partners, students, artists and communities.

This is a varied, people-focused role combining project coordination, relationship building, communications and administration. You will act as a key point of contact for designated projects and partnerships, working with schools, community groups, libraries, students, cultural organisations, artists and practitioners. From coordinating schedules, bookings and venues to supporting workshops, performances, training sessions, partnership programmes and events such as the Eagle Awards, you will help ensure activity runs smoothly, safely and inclusively.

You will also help us demonstrate and celebrate the difference our work makes. Working with colleagues, you will gather participant stories, testimonials, images, evaluation information and case studies; create accessible content for digital channels, presentations and reports; and ensure that the voices of communities, participants and artists are represented authentically. You will maintain accurate project records, contribute to reports for funders and stakeholders, and support consultation that enables local people to influence future programmes.

Your key priorities will include:

• Coordinating high-quality community, learning and participation activity from planning through to bringing together the team to deliver
• Building trusted relationships with existing partners while helping us reach new groups and communities
• Supporting participant and audience development through consultation, advocacy and ambassador initiatives
• Gathering reliable evidence of activity and impact for organisational, partner and funder reporting
• Creating clear and engaging communications that bring our projects and their impact to life, in partnership with colleagues in Creative Learning and the Marketing Department
• Supporting safeguarding, GDPR and other organisational requirements across all allocated activity
• Contributing to the continued development of Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre model

The position has no direct reports, although you will have opportunities to take ownership of agreed programme strands, working independently within established frameworks. In post, you will develop valuable specialist experience in community engagement, cultural education, arts participation, partnership working, safeguarding, evaluation and impact storytelling.

This is a part‑time position of 21 hours per week, normally worked over three days, with some flexibility required; precise working pattern will be discussed at interview. There is no stated on‑call commitment, but occasional evening, weekend and public holiday work will be necessary to support activities and events.

The anticipated interview date is 11th December 2026.

You will be an organised, approachable and proactive person who enjoys bringing people and projects together. You will be comfortable communicating with a wide range of people and committed to creating inclusive opportunities for communities to participate in arts, culture and learning.

You will have experience of coordinating projects, programmes or events and of managing the practical details needed to make activity happen successfully. This could include schedules, bookings, communications, records, events, financial administration or evaluation information. You will be able to manage several priorities at once, work independently when required and collaborate positively with colleagues and external partners.

Strong communication skills are essential. You will be able to build good relationships with people from different backgrounds and communicate clearly with participants, schools, community organisations, artists and cultural partners. You will also be a confident writer who can turn project information, participant experiences and evaluation evidence into engaging copy, reports and case studies. You will be able to capture content from diverse voices to help tell our story.

No specific professional qualification or registration is required. Experience of Arts Council or other grant‑funded programmes, digital content creation, cultural education, community arts or participatory practice would be an advantage, but we also welcome candidates with relevant transferable experience. Most importantly, you will be collaborative, dependable and motivated by the opportunity to help communities shape, experience and champion the work of Derby Theatre.

What should I expect if I am invited to an interview?

We aim to make the interviews as accessible and engaging as possible, and we want you to talk about yourself and your work experience in a relaxed and friendly setting.

We believe an interview is a chance for you to find more information about the role, us as an organisation and for you to get a sense of whether this is the right environment for you.

With this in mind, we have designed an interview process which will enable potential candidates to meet members of the team and partners, see some of the spaces you might be working in, and of course a chance to talk about you and your work experience.

Please note you must be at least 17 years of age to apply for this role.

• Coordinate and support Derby Theatre's core learning, participation and community programmes, ensuring effective planning, communication and delivery.
• Act as the principal point of contact for designated projects, programme strands and partnerships.
• Coordinate activity involving schools, cultural organisations, community groups, libraries, artists and practitioners.
• Manage project schedules, bookings, logistics and communications to ensure activity runs smoothly and safely.
• Support the delivery of community events, including the Eagle Awards, workshops, training sessions, performances and partnership programmes.
• Lead on agreed project strands and work independently within agreed project frameworks.
• Coordinate the use of theatre and community spaces for project activity.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with schools, community partners, artists, participants and stakeholders, including administrating Derby’s Cultural Education Partnership.
• Support consultation activity that ensures community voices contribute to programme development and future planning.
• Research and engage with new community groups and organisations to widen participation and strengthen Derby Theatre's reach.
• Develop and coordinate ambassador, advocate or participant voice initiatives that help communities actively champion Derby Theatre's work, including the theatre’s Creative Ambassador Scheme.
• Attend meetings and events on behalf of Derby Theatre where appropriate.

Communications and Storytelling

• Gather stories, testimonials, case studies, images and other evidence to communicate the impact of Derby Theatre's learning and community work. This may be in partnership with the Development Team.
• Create and coordinate engaging content across a range of platforms including website, digital channels, presentations and reports.
• Support the Marketing Team with copywriting, promotional materials and communications.
• Work with colleagues to translate project outcomes, research findings and impact data into accessible and compelling stories and key messages.
• Ensure community, participant and artist voices are authentically represented throughout communications activity.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Collect, organise and maintain project monitoring, evaluation and reporting information.
• Support the production of reports for funders, partners and stakeholders.
• Maintain project databases and tracking systems including participant, evaluation and activity records.
• Coordinate research and consultation activity linked to programmes and partnerships.
• Contribute to organisational reporting requirements including Arts Council and funding reports.

Safeguarding, Administration and Compliance

• Support safeguarding systems, training and policy implementation across Creative Learning and Community programmes.
• Issue contracts, raise purchase orders and maintain accurate financial records and project documentation.
• Coordinate meetings, prepare documentation and produce minutes where required.
• Ensure all project activity complies with Derby Theatre policies, procedures and GDPR requirements.

General Accountabilities

• To keep up to date with developments within community engagement, participation, safeguarding, cultural education and audience development.
• To contribute to the overall development of Derby Theatre's Learning Theatre model.
• To take an active role within departmental and organisational meetings and activities.
• To contribute to departmental policies and working practices.
• To act in the best interests of Derby Theatre at all times, protecting confidential and sensitive information.
• To carry out any other duties commensurate with the level of the post.
• To work flexibly including occasional evenings, weekends and public holidays as required.
• To actively support Derby Theatre's commitments to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability.
• Safeguarding training or willingness to undertake training

Experience

• Experience of coordinating projects, programmes or events
• Experience of working with community groups, schools, young people or cultural partners
• Experience of administrating multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience of collecting monitoring, evaluation or reporting information
• Experience of writing content, reports, promotional copy or case studies
• Experience of working independently and managing competing priorities
• Experience of supporting funded or partnership‑based activity

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and administration skills
• Ability to learn new reporting platforms and data capture methods
• Ability to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Understanding of community engagement and participation practice
• Understanding of safeguarding principles and their practical application
• Ability to gather and communicate impact stories effectively
• Strong written communication and copywriting skills
• Good digital skills including Microsoft Office and content management systems
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Business requirements

• Completed DBS check with Child Barred check
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Experience

• Experience of Arts Council or grant‑funded programmes.
• Experience of content creation for digital channels.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge of cultural education, community arts or participatory practice.

Please refer to the job description for Derby Theatre benefits.

Please note benefits from University of Derby do not apply.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Caroline Barth, Creative Learning Director via [e-mail].

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

The Theatre is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

At Derby Theatre we aim to actively champion and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all of those we work with and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

We positively encourage disabled people, people of African or Caribbean heritage, South Asian heritage, East Asian heritage, West Asian heritage, Central Asian heritage, South East Asian heritage and people of Middle East and North African heritage and those who have experienced racism. By the term ‘those who have experienced racism’, we are referring to individuals who have experienced discrimination based on the colour of their skin, race and/or their culture.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Start your journey to success by applying today.