General Manager

DIFFERENT PLANET ARTS; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 19,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused arts organization in the UK seeks a General Manager to oversee operations, drive fundraising efforts, and ensure compliance with governance. Ideal candidates should possess significant management experience in the arts or charity sectors and have strong financial acumen. The role demands exceptional communication skills and the ability to manage a dedicated team, focusing on providing a thriving environment for creative projects.

Benefits

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' experience in management and administrative roles in an arts or charity organization.
• Experience of financial processes, including budget management.
• Understanding of HR policy and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Support and implement artistic, business, and strategic planning.
• Drive relationships with key stakeholders and funders.
• Manage DPA's financial operations, ensuring accurate budgets.

Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Organised team player

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Job description

The General Manager of DPA will be responsible for supporting the development of DPA, driving the company forward, raising the profile, reach, and impact of the work, and ensuring the viability and effective operations of DPA.

Our General Manager is a key member of Different Planet Arts small staff team. Working closely with the Artistic Director and the Board of Trustees as part of the Senior Management Team, you will manage and organise operational support for Different Planet Arts programme, ensuring we provide an excellent service to our participants, partners and audiences.

This role is suitable for someone building a career in operations. We are looking for someone who can maintain and provide the right systems and structures to enable others to lead and create our arts projects, and provide ongoing, efficient admin, managerial and fundraising support.

You will manage and be responsible for our systems and processes for financial administration, fundraising, governance procedures and processes, monitoring and keeping the Different Planet Arts office running day-to-day as an administrative hub. You will work closely with our treasurer (who is responsible for creating quarterly Management Accounts.)

Role: General Manager

Reports to: Artistic Director & Board of Trustees

Salary: £190 per day, 3 days a week for 48 weeks of the year

Contract: This is a rolling freelance position initially for 6 months to be extended subject to securing future funding

Hours: Preferably 3 days (22.5 hours) a week, 1.5 days at our office in Lewes.

Benefits: Training and development opportunities

Probation Period: 3 months

Deadline for submissions is midday on the 8th October 2025 & interviews will take place on the 9th & 10th October with a view to onboarding around the beginning of November 2025

Management Responsibilities

• Support and implement the artistic, business, and strategic planning of DPA, in consultation with the Artistic Director, Board of Trustees, and stakeholders.
• Drive relationships with key stakeholders and funders
• Cultivate a supportive climate of creativity, innovation, and risk-taking in DPA's work
• Ensure DPA remains solvent and able to meet its commitments as outlined in the Three Year Plan
• Lead the fundraising strategy and portfolio at DPA and develop new and diverse fundraising initiatives
• Lead the processes and procedures of governance of DPA both internally with trustees and with external agencies.
• Manage DPA's financial operations, ensuring accurate budgets and reports for staff, board, auditors and funders
• Develop and operate the most efficient administrative processes and systems to support the smooth delivery of DPA's work.
• Ensure DPA's organisation and activities comply with the requirements of Charities Commission and Companies House. Act as DPA's principal interface to these bodies
• Ensure governance, HR policies, and practices are reviewed and updated to deliver a safe working environment and compliance with employment law

Other

To work within DPA s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety

To support the development of safeguarding policies and practices

Job Requirements

Experience & Knowledge

• A minimum of three years' experience in management and administrative in an arts, or charity organisation or as a company manager in theatre
• Experience of financial processes, including budget management & monitoring
• Understanding of HR policy, processes and best practice
• Experience of securing resources, including making successful funding proposals and grant applications
• Experience of managing office systems, including IT systems.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with a wide range of people
• Understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace
• Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to effectively prioritise
• Ability to develop, maintain and contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes
• Skilful in managing a small and passionate team of employees, freelancers, and volunteers.
• A commitment to access and inclusion within the arts, in alignment with our justice goals.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An organised team player, able to balance competing demands and work collaboratively with a broad range of people
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

To apply, please email us to obtain our application pack and email us the completed application with your CV along with a cover letter. We encourage you to discuss your vision for what you would want to do to make Different Planet Arts a thriving home for our creatives and an innovative space for producing our unique inclusive arts projects, and how you would go about doing it.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team. We re excited to hear from you!