Candidate information pack

Medway – UK City of Culture 2025 Bid Manager

• Full Time two year contract from January 2020 to December 2021 with potential for extension if is successful.

• Willing to consider alternative methods of delivery including freelance, secondments and four-day contracts for this full-time role.

Closing date for applications: 1 November 2019 Introduction

Medway is on an exciting journey Created into a unitary area just Our cultural offer is already bidding to be UK City of Culture 21 years ago, we are hugely strong - from the second proud that in that short time, oldest cathedral in the country, 2025 to follow in the footsteps of a massive development the tallest Norman keep, the , Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017 programme has seen Medway world famous Historic Dockyard become one of the most Chatham and rich links to Charles and 2021. promising growth areas in the Dickens, to a lively independent UK, laying the foundations for cultural sector, vibrant festival a strong future for its residents programme and our stunning and communities. natural environment. With a growing reputation for the four universities based in attracting innovative businesses Medway, the Medway Place such as Dovetail Games, Board and our many cultural Fountain Workshop and the organisations. Copper Rivet Distillery, Medway is definitely on the move. All we need now is the right person who can lead our We still have some way to go bid, bringing communities and we have some big plans and partners together to for Medway and winning City deliver a bid that would be of Culture would unlock the transformative for Medway and great potential that exists here. its people. If you’ve got a passion The City of Culture title for for the arts and culture, the our community would help vision, creative streak, drive and engender greater self-belief and determination to help us make allow a greater appreciation of our ambition reality, we’d like to Medway’s unique offer amongst hear from you. residents and visitors and create a legacy for the residents of Medway.

The bid has the full backing of Amanda Cottrell and a wide Patron, Medway’s range of partners including City of Culture Bid Medway is a great place to live, work, learn and visit. About Medway

With a population of environment and the villages on the peninsula, Medway is a city 280,000, Medway is in all but name. the largest conurbation in the south east Medway is home to more than 14,000 businesses and is outside London. becoming a hub for creative industries, fast developing a Medway has excellent transport reputation for innovation. We links to London and Europe have four universities with a including the high speed student population of over service to St Pancras and 12,000, a new university technical Eurostar services from Ebbsfleet college and the largest further International. education college in the county. Stansted

Chatham is Medway’s city Medway is fast attracting new City Ebbseet London International centre, and is home to Chatham Heathrow residents and businesses - we MEDWAY Ramsgate Historic Dockyard. Rochester expect to have a population of is famous for its cathedral, A228 320,000 by 2035. Canterbury the finest and tallest Norman Maidstone Dover castle in England, and rich Ashford Gatwick International Folkstone Tonbridge Channel connections with Dickens. To Brighton Tunnel Calais Taking all our towns, together with our stunning natural An ambitious regeneration programme will see the creation of up to 30,000 new homes by 2035 including major develpments in Rochester, Strood and on the Hoo Peninsula.

Medway is renowned for its varied cultural programme. As the home of Charles Dickens, our two Dickens festivals attract thousands every year. Our summer concert series in the splendour of Rochester Castle gardens attracts big name acts. Medway Park is our regional centre of sporting excellence which hosts major international events. space Well connected for larger Medway’s five year business growth rate • 34 minutes by high speed train to Medway from London industrial units 12% higher than south east average • mid-point between the capital and continent & Gateway to 6% higher than national average the county • five stations (£37m upgrades) Growing employment spaces • excellent links to motorways AND airports to suit all businesses • Innovation Centre medway of waterfront 11km development Work • Innovation studios medway 14,000+ businesses • North Enterprise Zone at • an entrepreneurial hub for hi-tech innovation park medway will

Beautiful green spaces engineering and creative businesses bring 3,000 high quality jobs • equivalent to 13 Hyde Parks • Multinationals (BAE Systems/Delphi) • 7 green flags to Small and medium-sized enterprises Live Business-friendly council and one stop shop for transformational all council services investment • 30,000 new homes by 2035 AFFORDABLE living for all • regeneration programmes • “The London life without the Home to underway in all 5 main towns price tag” - Daily Telegraph sporting excellence • lOW tax economy • gILLINGHAM fc Excellent A great place to... range of • Holcombe Hockey cLUB leisure and supportive, caring communities Attracting nearly 5 million • Avenue Tennis Academy • Medway Park - Regional cultural visitors each year, Tourism centre of sporting excellence facilities supports 6,500 jobs in Medway and • Host to international sports 4 universities, 12,000 students, brings £333m to the local economy Midkent college and events and tournaments university technical college • ski slope and ice rink developing vocational skills More than 85% of RICH HERITAGE our schools have an Ofsted excellent secondary, - OUTSTANDING rating of good or better. grammar and private VISIT TOURIST DESTINATION learn schools 30 days • Second oldest cathedral in the country of free festivals • Historic Dockyard Chatham and events each year • Two ancient castles Productive collaborative • Rich connections with Dickens links between education and and maritime • Home of the Royal Engineers since 1815 including an award winning museum local businesses - developing skills Water access leisure offer for the future City of Culture 2025

Medway has an aspiration Why should we bid for • Support our young people through the provision of creative and to become the next UK City City of Culture? cultural skills through schools, our of Culture in 2025. college and our universities, and • To create a legacy for Medway and new employment opportunities. sense of belonging. Great places are not about buildings and infrastructure but about culture • To support the economic regeneration • Enhance local pride within our and identity. The City of Culture bid that arts and culture bring. communities. will be fundamental in defining 21st century Medway, reflecting • New creative and stakeholder • Support Putting Medway on the and adding enormous value to the partnerships developed. Map agenda. inspirational physical regeneration • Increased business engagement. taking place. • Enhance our cultural and creative offer, raising our creative ambitions and aspirations.

• Improve diversity and inclusion, supporting both the social regeneration and social isolation agendas.

• To recognise the importance of arts and culture in improving health and wellbeing. Why Medway and what is great about Medway?

• We have a significant cultural offer • Great future - four universities, in Medway; the title of City of Culture largest FE provision in the county, for our community will engender MidKent College, UTC, more than greater self-belief, allow a greater 85 per cent of our schools are appreciation of Medway’s unique good or outstanding, fantastic offer amongst our visitors and realise connectivity with HS1 through our our potential for the future. five main towns, new employment opportunities such as Innovation • Our communities are enthusiastic Park Medway. and passionate; our City of Culture bid will support engagement with • Our greenspaces: we have the everyone, promoting Growth for All. equivalent of 13.3 Hyde Parks under the Council’s management, and • Our location; strategically seven Green Flag - accredited parks. positioned mid-point between the capital and the continent, and a • Highly successful and innovative gateway to the county. underground arts scene.

• Rich heritage - finest and tallest Norman castle in the country, second oldest cathedral, Chatham Historic Dockyard and rich connections with Dickens. What does the year of 2025 look like for Medway?

• Activities and proposals are • National and international • Planned, managed and run currently being worked on, but organisations will want to showcase by young people mentored by events such as the , a their offer with Medway as City professionals. Literary Festival, Light Festival and of Culture. a new international festival are • Emphasis on innovation/digital examples of what other cities have • New festivals of national and recognising our heritage but showcased for their year of culture. international significance. celebrating it in a contemporary context. • New commissions by internationally • Medway artists given a platform for renowned artists. their work. The bid team

Our City of Culture bid will be chaired by Liz Moran, Director for Arts and Culture at the University of Kent, with a steering group.

It has the full support of shortlisting process prior to final the Medway Place Board, bids and panel assessment in Medway’s Cultural Partnership, Autumn 2021. Medway Council and a myriad of cultural organisations – The post of Bid Manager will www.wearemedway.co.uk/ be based at Chatham, jointly champion-network/our- hosted by the award-winning champions/ Historic Dockyard Chatham and the University of Kent and Our bid has formally been housed in the award-winning Liz Moran launched and we are now Historic Dockyard Chatham. Chair of the City of Culture Steering Group seeking a Bid Manager as well as a Bid Officer and consultation The post will be managed by and engagement support to Liz Moran. The Bid Manager co-ordinate our collective work will have direct access to Simon Simon Cook Richard Hicks on the bid. Whilst the DCMS Cook, Principal at MidKent Principal, Deputy Chief City of Culture has yet to announce the bid College and Place Board Chair, MidKent College Executive, Bid Manager timetable we anticipate a together with Richard Hicks, Place Board Medway two year bidding period with Deputy Chief Executive at Chair Council initial bids in early 2021 and a Medway Council. The role

This exciting role will lead Medway’s bid for 2025 and create a legacy for Medway’s residents.

You will be working with You will lead a small team, communities to enhance local undertaking a rich programme pride and sense of belonging of engagement, research and across Medway, exploring consultation, culminating in ways to improve inclusion the formulation and promotion and supporting both the of Medway’s Bid through all social regeneration and social the formal stages in 2021. You isolation agendas. will report to the Place Board through a Bid Steering Group, You will be engaging with young ensuring full engagement with people, Medway’s future, to the Medway Cultural Partnership. enhance Medway’s cultural and creative offer, raising creative Medway’s bid will be led by our ambitions and aspirations. You people, and you will be working will be interacting closely with with a number of key stakeholders our Universities and College, who have a passion and keen together with our outstanding interest in Medway’s future, to schools, enhancing cultural and produce a community-led bid creative skills for employment that will take Medway to new opportunities. levels, making it an even a better place to live, work, learn and visit. Key duties

• To develop the exciting vision, • To support and build a wide themes and step changes network of champions and for the bid which reflect the partners locally regionally and history, diversity and future nationally ambitions of Medway • To ensure there is a strong • To engage our local artists and evidence base for the communities ensuring our bid bid, working with cultural has genuine ownership by all organisations to gather this our residents In Medway information

• To work with others to develop • To maximise the benefits of the local, national and international bidding process to promote creative partners Medway and build capacity in the cultural sector • To coordinate work of the bid team members, steering group • To oversee work on public and external contracts engagement and consultation

• To organise all aspects of the competition and be the lead contact for the DCMS on the process of bidding and interpretation of the criteria

• To oversee the submission of written bids to DCMS deadlines

• To work with partners across Medway and Kent • To manage the marketing and • To learn from previous cities of communications post and culture and maintain awareness input to social media activity of other bidding cities

• To ensure effective internal • To support the production of a communications and planning monthly newsletter and other of work communications

• To lead on fundraising, • To manage bid budgets budgeting and development for the bid with external • To organise special events, support workshops and presentations in support of the bid • To maximise the potential of a successful bid and develop • To co-ordinate calls for legacy and plan B for Medway programme ideas linked to a new cultural strategy and other plans • To map all partnerships and track consultation on the bid Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will have Essential skills and experience experience of working across • Demonstrable passion for • Experience of working on sectors. You will have the ability arts, culture and community budgets and fundraising to both lead strategy and address engagement. • An understanding of the the detail in a small team focused • A track record of working with principles of the UK City of on the bid. towns, cities and communities Culture programme

• A commitment to the role of • Ability to work with a wide culture in social and economic range of partners in the public development and private sector

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong leadership and management skills

• Ability to manage and work with a diverse group of stakeholders from business, local government and cultural sectors • Experience of supporting • Ability to deal with multiple steering groups, or non- priorities and a complex set executive boards of tasks

• Strong communication and • Ability to work flexible hours networking skills including including occasional evenings work with the media and weekends

• Evidence of writing skills for • To be based in or within easy similar sized funding or bids commuting distance of Medway

• A strong commitment to equality and diversity.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is well organised and skilled in working with diverse partnerships with an interest in culture and cities. The job will require significant initiative from a ‘self-starter’ but will also be guided by an experienced Chair, the Local Authority lead and external advisers to the project. It will require good IT skills in web, database management, and diary coordination.

The post will work flexible hours.

The post will manage other staff including a bid officer and communications and marketing position.

Flexibility to start January 2020

Employment package

Interested? Timetable Salary: £45,000 per annum Send us your application Closing date: 1 November

Fixed term post until December 2021 Please submit your letter of Interviews and presentations application and CV, telling us will take place on 15 November The post is working primarily Monday why you’re interested in the and will be held at The Chatham to Friday with frequent evening and role and why you’re the best Historic Dockyard. weekend work. person for this exciting role with particular reference to the Medway is committed to equal Flexible working may be agreed person specification. opportunities and will treat all applications fairly on the basis 33 days holiday per annum including • Letter of application of written submissions. public holidays (maximum two sides of A4)

Expenses will be paid for travel. • CV – with address, phone contact and email address

• Name, address and phone number for two referees

Applications should be sent to: cityofculture@medway2025. co.uk by Friday, 1 November 2019 This information can be made available in other formats phone, 01634 333333 If you want to speak to somebody in your own language the Community Interpreting Service can help, phone 01634 335577