BRIEF/CALLOUT FOR PROJECT SUPPORT (FREELANCE) MIF TRANSFORMATION PROJECT PLAN FIXED TERM: JAN – END MARCH 2021 CLOSING DATE: SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 PROJECT SUPPORT (FREELANCE) MIF TRANSFORMATION PROJECT PLAN Image courtesy of OMA Manchester International Festival (MIF) is looking for an experienced project management professional with expertise in project planning to work with us to review and re-scope MIF’s Transformation Project Plan. This plan is designed to facilitate MIF’s transition from a biennial festival into the operator of a new year-round venue – The Factory. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THE CANDIDATE WILL WORK WITH THE WHO BRINGS: EXISTING TEAM TO: Project planning and project support office Review the project scope and workstreams expertise (Microsoft Project) Create a planning framework focusing on Project management experience high-level milestones, key interdependencies, significant risks and the critical path An ability to quickly develop effective relationships with workstream leads and Review and amend project plans and task other stakeholders, advising them as required timelines to accommodate: − New workstreams − Changes to existing workstreams − The capital project timeline, especially around beneficial occupancy, practical completion and the needs of MIF’s opening-season programme − The venue fit-out, and the onboarding of venue operations staff and services such as Facilities Management (FM) MIF TRANSFORMATION PLAN A USABLE ROUTE MAP The MIF Transformation Project has been The MIF Transformation Project Plan should established to help MIF, a biennial festival, identify and highlight: transition to The Factory, a year-round venue. The MIF Transformation Project Plan must Key phases and milestones for each workstream provide MIF staff and consultants with a clear, usable route map for this transition, helping them to: Key decision-making points for each workstream and the overall project Gain and maintain an in-depth understanding of their workstreams and an overview of how the Identify key decision-making points for each whole project fits together workstream and the overall project Develop clear, deliverable plans for their Significant interdependencies between workstreams workstreams and within the overall capital project Understand key interdependencies between Key risks workstreams, especially where they are dependent on other workstreams and vice versa Understand the risks associated with these key interdependencies, encouraging them to work collaboratively to mitigate risk (and escalate risks where necessary) Serve as a key resource for MIF’s board, funders and other external partners, demonstrating that the MIF Transformation Project is well planned and executable, supports risk management and will ensure MIF will be ready to operate The Factory when it opens SUPPORTING INFORMATION MIF AND THE FACTORY The Factory is a world-class cultural space in the heart of Manchester. Developed by Manchester City Council, designed by OMA and currently under construction on the former site of Granada Studios in the new St. John’s neighbourhood, it will be a permanent home for MIF, which will take on the long-term lease and management of the building and will use it to present one of Europe’s most ambitious and adventurous year-round creative programmes. MIF has presented a biennial 18-day festival of new work and special events in Manchester since 2007. Over the last four years, the organisation has developed its artistic programming and partnerships, digital work, creative engagement programme and wider organisational capabilities in order to transition into running The Factory as a full-time venue – making and presenting the kind of innovative, ambitious and cross-artform work that has made the Festival’s international name. The idea for The Factory originated in 2015, when the opportunity arose for Manchester to propose a new cultural initiative to the UK government. Ground-breaking on the site took place during MIF17 in a ceremony created and presented by Laurie Anderson, the legendary American multimedia artist, and construction work began soon afterwards. The main contractor is Laing O’Rourke. Image courtesy of OMA SUPPORTING INFORMATION PROJECT TEAM MIF CORE PROJECT TEAM Fiona Gasper Executive Lead & Project Sponsor Paul Moore Head of Production, leading on operations and FM Nadia Balfe Executive Projects Coordinator, leading on visitor experience (including food and beverage (F&B) and interior design) and coordinating the project within MIF WORKSTREAM LEADS Other MIF staff members and specialist consultants serve as workstream leads alongside the Core Project Team. These workstream leads meet regularly to review progress and identify key issues and risks. PROJECT STEERING GROUP The Project Steering Group consists of the MIF Executive team, including the Project Sponsor, and meets regularly to review progress and any items deemed worthy for escalation. Invisible Cities © Tristram Kenton SUPPORTING INFORMATION MIF TRANSFORMATION PROJECT The MIF Transformation Project is designed to ensure that MIF is organisationally and operationally ready to open The Factory. 1. A FULL SCOPE REVIEW TO IDENTIFY ANY STRANDS OF WORK THAT SHOULD BE ADDED Current work strands include: Additional work strands will include: − Hard FM and soft FM (cleaning, waste, − Procurement for any outsourced services security, porterage) and FF&E − Information technology (IT) − Business planning review timelines − Technical operations − Brand development − F&B operations − Technology systems − Visitor services operations and overall − Review of MIF governance systems approach to visitor experience − Others TBC − Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) − People (staffing structure, onboarding of operations staff, training, organisational culture, etc) − The Factory’s first-year artistic programme 2. DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-LEVEL WORKSTREAM PROGRAMME PLANS WITH TIMELINES − Revising existing workstream plans and − Identifying workstream interdependencies timelines − Continuously updating and highlighting − Developing programme plans and timelines key items on the RAID log for new work strands − Identify key milestones for the workstream plans and the wider project HOW TO APPLY PROJECT SUPPORT (FREELANCE) 10000 Gestures © Tarnish Vision This is a freelance role, reporting to the Director If you’re interested in being part of MIF and The of Organizational Change and Project Sponsor. Factory, please email a covering letter and CV to [email protected]. The covering letter should be We anticipate the role will be full time (five days no more than two sides of A4, and should tell us: a week) from January until the end of March 2021, but we will consider applicants who are − why you’re interested in working with MIF only able to commit to a part-time position. and The Factory; At the point of contract, we will negotiate a fair − the skills and experience you could contribute; and equitable rate with the successful candidate based on the agreed brief. − your availability between now and the end of March 2021; and MIF is currently undergoing a significant period of organisational change as we grow to operate − your daily rate. The Factory, and the successful candidate will Please also complete our online Equal Opportunities be required to take a flexible approach to this Monitoring form, which will help us to continue process – which may involve revisions to the building diversity and opportunity into everything scope of the role and/or the focus of the project. we do. The closing date for applications is Sunday 3 January 2021. Interviews will take place in the week commencing Monday 4 January 2021. mif.co.uk Manchester International Festival 0161 817 4500 Blackfriars House, Parsonage, Manchester M3 2JA Front cover image courtesy of OMA.