Schools and Young People Associate

Northampton, Northamptonshire
Royal & Derngate

Are you enthusiastic about involving young people in the arts? Do you aspire to manage and implement exciting youth theatre programs and workshops? This is your chance to make a difference! Join us as the Schools and Young People Associate.

You will collaborate with creative colleagues across the arts team to plan and manage all youth theatre and other activities for children and young people. You will be in charge of the day-to-day administration of all youth theatre programs, lead workshops for schools and young people, and oversee CYP productions in accordance with strategic and artistic priorities.

If you have experience devising and conducting drama-based workshops, the ability to motivate individuals from diverse communities and a deep passion for the arts, we would like to hear from you! Apply now and become a part of our team at Royal & Derngate.

Job Purpose

• The Schools and Young People Associate will work with the Associate Director (Engagement and New Work), Artistic Director, and Community Associate to develop the education participatory programmes for Royal & Derngate.
• Deliver and manage all Youth Theatre & Young Company programmes and wider children and young people (CYP) activities.

Key Duties

• Oversee the day-to-day administration and management of all Youth Theatre & Young Company and wider children and young people (CYP) activities, including the NT Connections Festival and NextGen projects – supported by the Creative Engagement Assistant
• Deliver Schools and Young People’s Activities and Workshops, including regular weekly groups, visiting schools and external workshops
• Manage or direct CYP productions in line with Creative Engagement strategic and artistic priorities
• Where required, manage freelance artists delivering CYP activities, including artist support, induction, monitoring and evaluation, DBS checks, contracts, and invoices
• Work with the wider Arts and Production teams to develop NextGen: Creative’s opportunities in line with our industry pipeline strategy
• Work with the Communities Associate on the Beyond the Stage programme for CYP and Schools
• Oversee the administration of all CYP activity data collection, databases, registers, bursaries, waiting lists and enquiries, reporting quarterly on their progress, feeding into local, national and funder reporting, as required
• Develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation methods for all CYP projects, overseeing the effective collection of data and qualitative evidence

For the full job description, please see our website.

Essential Skills

Experience

• Experience planning and leading drama-based workshops and activities
• Experience directing plays with children and young people
• Experience managing projects of different scales
• Experience in co-production and/or arts-based collaborations

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of the arts in education and community creative learning contexts
• Knowledge of current safeguarding policies & procedures
• Understanding of participatory arts landscape and Arts Council priorities

Skills/Abilities

• Practical experience, through education or training, of drama-related teaching and directing
• Proven ability to direct drama-based projects and plays
• Able to prioritise, manage own workload and meet tight deadlines
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with the ability to plan and deliver multiple projects in a timely and efficient manner
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and engage with people from a wide range of communities, ages, and backgrounds
• Creative and innovative, able to generate and adapt ideas to the needs of situations, participants, and partners
• Ability to process information effectively
• Good IT skills, including proficient use of Word, Excel, databases and other technology

Desirable Skills

Experience

• Experience working within an arts organisation
• Experience working with individuals with differing needs
• Experience in networking and forming partnerships
• Experience in identifying sources of funding, writing successful applications and reporting to funders
• Experience in creating digital resources and/or social media campaigns to effectively enhance and promote arts activity

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Knowledge of local communities – needs, challenges, and cultural ecology
• Arts-related qualification
• Academic qualification to degree level or equivalent vocational experience in an arts-related subject
• Familiar with Health & Safety policies and procedures
• Knowledge of current Child Performance legislation and licensing
• Arts Award training/awareness
• Database and finance systems – TESS, Artifax, Exchequer
• Knowledge of GDPR
• Understanding of evaluation and its role in project development

How to Apply

Please submit a covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) stating your relevant experience, knowledge, and skills for this role along with your CV.

Closing Date: Monday 24th June 2024Interviews: Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th July 2024

About Company

Royal & Derngate Northampton is the main venue for arts and entertainment in Northamptonshire and one of the major regional producing theatres in the country, with its acclaimed Made in Northampton work touring nationally and internationally.