Public Art Project Manager

Public Art Project Manager Job Description 9 month maternity cover contract

Post Title: Public Art Project Manager

Responsible to: Director

Based at: Willis Newson, Utility House, 3 York Court, Upper York Street, Bristol, BS2 8QF

Salary: Up to £30,000, depending on experience

Contract: 9 month contract

Annual Leave 25 days per annum

Hours of Work: Full time (Part time considered)

We operate a flexible working policy. The expectation is to work a 37.5 hour week, usually between the hours of 8.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday. However, the post holder is free to vary these hours to suit projects and personal commitments. We will also consider part time hours for the right candidate.

Equal Opportunities All applicants will be afforded equal opportunities irrespective of their sex, marital status, colour, race, ethnic or national origin and religion. Willis Newson’s offices are not wheelchair accessible. The building operates a non-smoking policy.

Context

Willis Newson is one of the UK’s leading arts and health consultancies. We use art to create positive, welcoming and engaging health & social care environments. Established in 2001, we are based in Bristol and work across the UK.

Willis Newson comprises a small team led by Director Jane Willis, with whom the post holder will work closely, and includes a wide range of artists, freelance public art associates, a marketing and communications manager and financial assistant.

We manage projects from conception to installation, integrating art into the design of large capital developments as well as smaller refurbishment projects in hospitals, care homes and health centres. We are committed to delivering projects of the highest calibre and have an excellent track record in collaborating with architects, developers, contractors, and local stakeholders.

We have particular expertise in the field of public art commissioning, along with experience of using art to create caring environments for; children and young people, older patients, cancer care, mental health, residential dementia care and more. We build creative approaches to engagement through workshops, drop-in sessions, open days and other events, in order to ensure the art and design has relevance and meaning for staff, patients and local communities.

Purpose of the job

The post holder will be responsible for sensitively, appropriately and creatively curating and project managing a range of large-scale public art programmes and individual public art commissions within a range of healthcare environments. This might include:

 Public art strategies for large-scale new build hospitals  Smaller socially engaged programmes and individual commissions within healthcare settings, such as care homes or cancer support centres  Participatory or community engagement programmes linked to public art programmes

Further information about our project portfolio can be found on our website.

The post holder will be responsible for their own portfolio of projects but may also be expected to work on all aspects of the Willis Newson portfolio, as directed by the Director.

The post holder will both curate and manage the delivery of projects and commissions. They will have a wide knowledge of artists and designers, and will be able to articulate and shape briefs appropriate to each project and context.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and be able to manage the needs and requirements of all stakeholders in delivering commissions that are an integrated part of a capital build programme in a healthcare context.

The successful applicant will be an experienced project manager with excellent attention to detail who is able to manage complex scheduling of multiple projects.

They will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of a project are delivered on time and in budget, while paying close attention to the quality and appropriateness of the work being delivered.

Sensitive, confident and articulate, they will use their presentation, negotiation and facilitation skills to steer projects of the highest quality through to completion.

The role is primarily client / outward facing, and the post holder plays a crucial role in representing and promoting Willis Newson and advocating the benefits of arts, wellbeing and place making. The post holder is building and managing relationships with NHS clients, architects, developers, artists and key stakeholders.

The post holder will be expected to provide advice and expertise on best practice in the field, and therefore to maintain and develop an informed knowledge of all aspects of the sector. Healthcare environments present a distinct set of opportunities and challenges for public art projects, so experience of working in these settings would be an advantage.

The post holder will adhere to Willis Newson’s approaches to project management and commissioning, and apply best practice wherever possible.

The post holder will also be expected to contribute to development opportunities relating to Willis Newson’s core operation and its client work, for example:  New business development  Marketing  The development and implementation of office policies and ways of working

Main Tasks & Duties

Curatorial and Strategic Development of Public Art Commissions and Programmes  To work with clients, architects, developers and other stakeholders to devise and curate public art commissions and programmes for healthcare settings.

 To work with commissioned artists to produce innovative, exciting and appropriate commissions and projects of the highest quality

 To devise and deliver effective staff, patient and community consultation and engagement as part of project development and delivery

 To work in partnership with key stakeholders including Project Art Groups, architectural design teams, NHS teams and patient or user groups

 To attend, present at and chair client meetings, including Project Art Groups and Design Team meetings

 To be responsible for researching, recruiting and appointing artists, including writing artists’ briefs and preparing contracts, and developing and delivering appropriate induction programmes

 To manage artists appointed to Willis Newson projects, and acting as a conduit between artist and client

 To contribute to the design of, and to implement, project evaluation

 To contribute to the development and implementation of fundraising strategies as required

 To develop and maintain an informed knowledge of best practice in public art and the arts and health sector as a whole

Public Art Project Management  To effectively plan all of the components that contribute to the successful delivery of a project

 To track actions, milestones, deadlines and deliverables to ensure projects are delivered on time and in budget.

 To maintain productive relationships and effective communication with clients through regular reporting and review meetings

 To write and present reports, strategies, proposals and project plans as required

 To be responsible for project budgets and for financial reporting relating to projects. Marketing and Communications  To work with Willis Newson’s Marketing and Communications Manager to promote both Willis Newson’s projects and the organisation as whole. This could include, but is not limited to: o Providing project information for the development of case studies, website copy, social media and the e-newsletter o Co-ordinating photography of completed projects o Contributing to the production of award entries for completed projects o Contributing to the development of conference materials / presentations

New Business Development  To assist the Director in developing tenders and fee proposals for new business

 To assist the Director in scoping and developing new business opportunities, including presenting to current and potential clients

Common requirements of all posts  To ensure adherence to the company’s policies and procedures with particular reference to race equality, diversity, equal opportunities, sustainability and health and safety policies

 To work in a flexible manner in line with the company’s objectives and be willing to undertake other duties as reasonably requested

 To provide excellent and professional customer care in dealing with clients, potential clients and artists

 To work within the Willis Newson operational office management systems, including appropriate financial and time management systems, databases, filing etc

 To participate in regular team meetings and 1-2-1 meetings with your line manager

 To keep the team informed and up-to-date with project developments Person Specification

Knowledge Essential Desirable  Excellent knowledge of contemporary visual arts and public arts  practice  Broad awareness of architecture / landscape design   Understanding of the planning and architectural design process   Broad knowledge of the arts in healthcare, arts and education and  community arts practice  Awareness of diversity issues  Experience  Public art commissioning / curatorial experience 

 Experience of working in healthcare settings   Extensive Project Management experience   Experience of working across and within partnerships with artists  and a variety of organisations, e.g. health, education, commercial, community groups  Experience of working with architects and contractors  Qualifications / training  An arts degree, equivalent professional qualification or relevant  experience in an arts/architecture/design related discipline Skills Essential Desirable Communications  Excellent written & verbal communication skills   Ability to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences   Excellent presentation skills  Management & Planning  Excellent project management & organisational skills   Experience of using Project Management systems, software or tools   Excellent research and analysis skills   Experience of project planning and problem solving   Experience of leading and facilitating groups and meetings with a  wide range of stakeholders Team working  Ability to relate to and work collaboratively with a wide range of  people Personal Aptitude / working style  Confident, articulate and mature   Focussed and committed to delivering work of the highest calibre   Takes responsibility for own actions and the outcomes that result   Ability to work under pressure   Ability to work effectively on several projects at one time   Ability to work on own initiative, to prioritise a range of tasks  minimal supervision and manage time successfully  Willing to travel since we deliver projects across the UK and,  potentially, abroad  Ability to adapt working styles to people and groups from diverse  backgrounds and cultures Other  Good IT skills including word, excel, powerpoint and outlook   Current driving license   Use of car   Willingness to undergo a DBS check 

How To Apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining why you are interested in the position and highlighting your key skills and experience, in relation to the person specification.

Send to: [email protected]

Deadline: 5pm Mon 13th October 2016 Shortlisting: 20th October 2016 Interviews: 1st November 2016