Music Theatre Wales is changing.
We are reviewing the way we work and re-structuring the company. We are looking for a new Digital Content and Audiences Manager to communicate this change and help us connect with and inspire new audiences, through the creation of a programme of engaging digital content.
This post is part time, with the post-holder working 3 days per week.
Salary: £27,000 per annum pro-rata
ABOUT MUSIC THEATRE WALES
Based in Cardiff, Music Theatre Wales is a portfolio company of the Arts Council of Wales. Co-founded in 1988 by our Director, Michael McCarthy, Music Theatre Wales (MTW) has been a driving force for change in opera in Wales, the UK and internationally. Making new opera that has toured to venues far and wide, using small scale forces to pack a big punch and frequently working in collaboration, we have commissioned new work and produced the contemporary classics from a wide range of musical and theatrical styles. MTW’s work has been widely and consistently acclaimed and has won major awards. However, as a creative organisation we cannot stand still, and as a company committed to contemporary work, we must reflect contemporary society. We are excited by the possibilities for the future:
Our Vision is to be an opera company which sees the opportunity to engage with new and different artists and audiences as the way to develop the artform.
Our Aim is to create a stronger and healthier future for the performance of new opera and music theatre.
Our Mission is to work with the most exciting artists from the widest possible backgrounds, who want to explore what opera can offer them and who have the vision to re-imagine and re-make opera. We will reach out to and support the development of new talent, working with young people across Wales to break down the barriers that exist around opera. To achieve this, we are developing the diversity of the company, the artists we work with and the audiences we aim to reach. We will re-think what opera can be, who it is for and who makes it. Think Opera – Think Again.
Our new vision for MTW has been created in direct response to the changing cultural climate and the problems that MTW and the wider operatic sector need to face, especially with regards to diversity across the workforce and audience. MTW has had its own problems in this area with The Golden Dragon and this has made us acutely aware that the only way to make radical change is through the creation of new work with new artists and reaching out to a new audience.
MTW is changing. We now plan to place engagement and artist development at the very centre of our work, focussing on who makes new opera and how. This is how MTW will continue to be a force for change and development for opera in Wales and the wider world. Through this new activity, we aim to create new performance work that is grounded in the communities from which it emerges, and which speaks directly to new and increasingly diverse audiences. We already have one new programme in place: New Directions, led by Artistic Associate, Elayce Ismail https://www.musictheatre.wales/news/new-directions.html, and we will soon be launching a newly created programme for young people in Wales called Future Directions.
These programmes aim to engage with groups who are currently under-represented in opera, including Black, Asian and ethnically diverse artists, disabled artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and those for whom opera has historically been a no-go area. And coming at a time when we are unable to present live performance, the initial focus will be on producing digital work.
EQUALITY AND INCLUSION
We recognise that Music Theatre Wales has much ground to cover to achieve equality across our work: the people who make up the company, the artists we work with and the audiences we reach.
We are working to bring about real change within the company and the work we produce. The changes we make will be for the benefit of audiences, including those who do not yet know us; for the benefit of the artists we will work with; and for Music Theatre Wales and the wider opera sector.
We want to work with people from all cultural and social backgrounds and we will work with the successful applicant to ensure they are connected and supported. We will assess all applications against the Essential Criteria laid out in the Person Specification. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Digital Content and Audiences Manager will develop MTW’s digital content, including social media, website and email communications, managing the launch of new online productions, and devising and producing supplementary material (for example interviews with artists, clips from archived performances etc) that maintains a rich programme of regular content and enhances audience engagement with MTW. They will collaborate with our website consultants, Core, to keep MTW’s website up to date, work with our branding consultants, Departures, to create new material that helps communicate MTW’s value and liaise with the Artistic Director and General Manager on content ideas and schedule. They will manage the marketing of live events, in collaboration with venues and co-producers. The Digital Content and Audiences Manager will work with MTW’s newly appointed PR Consultant to help with the delivery of an audience-centred PR strategy. We also intend to create a Digital Content and Audiences Committee to help generate ideas for MTW’s ongoing communications strategy and to help increase the reach of our digital output.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are looking for a highly creative person who is brimming with ideas, is a keen social media user and is experienced at communicating with arts audiences in engaging and accessible ways across multiple channels. You will have a keen eye for detail, an analytical mind and be comfortable using data and numbers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Digital Content and Audiences Manager will:
• Generate new ideas and devise a digital content strategy that engages and excites our current audience and seeks to connect with and inspire new audiences.
• Produce, edit and publish new digital content and content from MTW’s digital archives, for distribution on our website, social media and digital channels.
• Manage MTW’s social media channels.
• Liaise with freelance artists, including composers, directors, graphic designers, filmmakers, photographers, translators and others to produce and distribute content.
• Create a dashboard of data from across MTW’s communication channels and analyse data to understand and report on the reach, engagement and impact of digital content produced. Use this data to build insight into MTW’s audiences and inform future strategy for building our audience.
• Manage and edit the MTW website content, working with our website consultants and hosts, Core.
• Use Mailchimp to create and send email communications to MTW’s mailing list, and keep this mailing list up to date.
• In collaboration with the Director, write copy about new productions and projects.
• Co-ordinate the creation of programmes and marketing print for future MTW productions, and work with the Director and with freelancers to produce content for these.
• Work with the PR Consultant to support PR and media campaigns, with the aim of reaching local and national audiences.
• Undertake other tasks as reasonable in line with the post.
The Digital Content and Audiences Manager will initially work part time, for three days per week. We will review this contract on a regular basis, with the possibility of adjusting this if it is deemed necessary for the good management of the company.
LOCATION
MTW is based in Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. We would expect the Digital Content and Audiences Manager to work from the office on a regular basis, meeting regularly with the Director and General Manager, however we are willing to consider flexible working for the right candidate.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Please ensure your application directly addresses these criteria as our shortlisting panel will assess against these.
Essential Desirable
Experience • A track record of developing • Experience of working on and scheduling creative and marketing and engaging content through communications digital channels, including all campaigns within the arts the major social media including digital marketing. platforms, and the most effective ways of • Knowledge of GDPR and communicating through data protection law. them. • Knowledge of the arts,
• Experience of producing culture and media context digital content, including in Wales. video content and copy, for • Experience of project social media and websites, budget management. and experience of editing photography.
• Ability to work with CRM, content management and email systems.
• Experience and understanding of maximising reach and engagement through organic and paid distribution and targeting.
• Experience of website management with an understanding of SEO and Google Analytics.
• Experience of collating and interpreting data, analysing and responding to this and reporting to colleagues. • Experience of developing messaging for different audience segments and knowledge of the importance of audience segmentation.
• Managing suppliers and agencies including liaising with freelancers.
Skills • A creative thinker able to • Ability to understand deliver brand-led, audience trends in digital content focused content and and social media. communications. • An understanding of • An excellent collaborator and effective Graphic team player with the ability Design. to communicate ideas, keeping everyone involved • Ability to communicate and informed. through the Welsh Language, verbally and • Ability to build strong and in writing. effective relationships.
• Excellent copywriting skills.
• Excellent video and photo editing skills, and knowledge of digital media formats, and HTML.
• High level of computer literacy.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and stakeholders.
• Ability to use own initiative and judgement when needed.
• Ability to remain calm, fair, honest and dependable in the face of conflicting priorities.
• Ability to remain up to date on latest developments and opportunities across digital platforms and to make recommendations based on that knowledge.
• Passion for social media.
• Excellent social listening skills.
Personal Qualities • An energetic, confident decision maker and creative problem solver.
• Appreciation for, and willingness to support MTW’s commitment to Equality and Diversity and sustainability.
• A passionate belief that new opera and music theatre, live and digital, can attract a much wider and more diverse audience and can be made available and enjoyed by everyone.
• A mix of relevant Qualifications qualifications and/or experience.
TERMS
This post is part time, with the post-holder working 3 days per week.
Holiday entitlement: 25 days per year in addition to 8 public and bank holidays (pro rata).
Salary: £27,000 per annum pro rata plus pension.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send the following documents to [email protected]:
• An up-to-date CV • A covering letter detailing your experience and suitability for the post (no more than two pages) • 2 x references and their contact details • A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form Download our Equalities Monitoring Form
Interviews may take place via Zoom. Closing date: mid-day on 7th July 2021. Interviews to be held on 12th / 13th July 2021 tbc.
ACCESS
If you would like to submit your application in a different format, we would be happy to accommodate this. Please contact [email protected]
TIMESCALE OF APPOINTMENT
It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be ready to commence work in late August 2021. We would be happy to discuss starting earlier if this were possible.
DATA PROTECTION
Music Theatre Wales will collect and process personal data from you to manage the recruitment process. Any data MTW holds about you will be stored securely with access restricted to those involved in administering the recruitment process. MTW will hold your data on file for six months after the end of the recruitment process. In order to carry out the recruitment process MTW will share the personal data received from you amongst its administrative team, shortlisting, and interview panel. Access will be restricted to those involved in the recruitment process.
MTW is supported using public funding by Arts Council Wales.
MTW is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applicants from the broadest range of backgrounds, with different skills and experiences to bring into our organisation. All candidates who identify as disabled and demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for an interview, in line with the Equalities Act 2010.