General Manager
You will be a key part of our team, the first point of contact for many of our enquiries. You will be methodical and organised, working closely with our Admin Support post, keeping on top of our evaluation and monitoring, supporting report writing, and writing supporting funding bids. You'll have an eye on HR and work closely with our Treasurer to manage budgets and oversee purchasing and contracting. You will work closely with our board of enthusiastic Trustees, keep our policies shipshape, and be on the lookout for allies and collaborators within our community. You'll help develop our brand as we transition into a new era.
Overview
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) is an exciting, professionally led arts charity formed in 2012. Our mission is to bring people together to have shared magical experiences by providing arts events that transform places, hearts, and minds.
DOCA is run by a dedicated team of trustees and supported by a large family of volunteers who generously give many hours of their time to make Devizes the exciting cultural life it is known for.
We deliver our work with local and national partners and are supported by Devizes Town Council, Wiltshire County Council and Arts Council England, among others. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are dependent on donations from visitors, ticket income, and revenue from traders.
Our team consists of a General Manager, Admin and Event Support, and Creative Producer, along with occasional freelance supporting roles. Our short-term contracts reflect our funding model, all of which are dependent on successful fundraising. Management is done through our board of Trustees. You will be expected to attend Trustee meetings, be available for our events and attend meetings with partners and stakeholders when needed.
Our core events include but are not limited to…
Devizes Street Festival (under review) hosts a wide variety of Street performances, a street food market with bars, a music stage, a makers' market and more.
The Magic Garden is a day of music, food, performance and creative workshops.
Carnival Parade (under review) with artist-led participatory workshops.
Confetti Battle and Colour Rush is a large confetti-throwing evening with runners and walkers arriving from a 5km colour run, with a shorter accessible route, covered in coloured powder.
Festival of Winter Ales - a fundraiser with bands and cabaret
Winter Festival and Lantern Parade participatory lantern-making workshops, which contribute to a spectacular parade with lighting installations and a two-day indoor and outdoor market. Window Wanderland encourages local communities to dress their windows for the weekend.
Occasional indoor performances and events of all descriptions.
Role and responsibilities:
You will:
* Keep our Office and systems on track: You will be responsible for ensuring our office and all its related systems are working to their full potential. You will work closely with our Admin support. You will be responsible for managing our data and its compliance, keeping an eye on our mailing lists and communications. You will have an eye on our policies, ensuring they are up to date and implemented by our team.You will maintain an overview of our budgets, working with the team to ensure we are working within our financial limitations and all financial records are maintained and communicated with our Treasurer.
* Governance and relationship building:You will have a close relationship with our Trustees, keeping them informed of all our work progress, sharing updates and feedback, ensuring a perfect circle of communication. You will work with community partners and stakeholders to manage and build positive and collaborative relationships, attending meetings where necessary. You will have a strong understanding of the evaluation requirements of funders such as Arts Council England, and you will work with our team and volunteers to ensure data is collected and recorded appropriately. You will be required to work with the Arts Council's Illuminate platform.
* Team Management:
You will ensure our team is supported when needed and will oversee all time-keeping and HR related systems. You will be actively involved with recruitment and interview processes. You will ensure all volunteer procedures and policies are up to date and implemented appropriately. You'll have an eye on safeguarding and equal opportunities, ensuring accessibility is at the heart of our delivery and is managed appropriately.
* Brand management and Development: You will ensure our messaging is appropriate, professional and on brand by having an overview of all projects and the related comms. You will work with the team to ensure all information for effective marketing is created promptly.
* Resource Management: You will support the development and delivery of our Sustainability Strategy, which you will integrate through all our systems. Working with our Treasurer and team to ensure we have all the appropriate materials for our workshops and events in line with our budgets and sustainability targets, for all our events.
* Roll up your sleeves: Get involved in our events, ensuring seamless delivery. Support with the preparation and delivery of events where needed.
* Sponsorship and Advertising: You will drive initiatives to attract sponsorship and to maximise income for DOCA and ensure the needs of sponsors and funders are met. You will have an eye out for funding opportunities and support the development of bids with the wider team and trustees.
* Be part of the family: Welcome our volunteers, be kind and flexible, get involved, come with ideas, inspire us and help us grow. You'll be fair and inclusive, happy to work with all people without distinction.
* Be proud: Act as an ambassador for the organisation when representing DOCA at all times.
* And of course: Any other duties as required from time to time
Essential
Desirable
You will have your own laptop, which you will use for your role. You will have a good working knowledge of Google Workplace and an organised and informed approach to record-keeping and
information sharing. We work using live documents on Google Docs.
You will have a good understanding of Ticketsource, Canva, WordPress, Mailchimp, Google Forms, Meta Business or other social media scheduling software.
You will have a systems-minded, details-driven, methodical and thorough approach to work and problem
Solving. With an understanding of policy and governance procedures
An understanding of brand management and continuity, and a good understanding of
customer and client needs.
You will be an enthusiastic networker, keen to nurture partnerships and collaborative working. You'll have an understanding of HR procedures, Health and Safety, and equal opportunities policy.
A people person with the ability to work with a range of community groups, volunteers, artists, schools and the public, and to encourage participation in DOCA's events.
You'll love a spreadsheet, using them in a wide variety of ways, enabling our team to manage a wide range of projects and tasks on time.
Previous experience or an enthusiasm for arts-based work would be beneficial
An organised approach to record-keeping and information sharing.
Resource management skills.
You'll be calm and adaptable, responding positively to a fast-changing environment.
Good analytical and communication skills, with an understanding of evaluating and reporting methodologies.
You'll have a driving license and your own transport, and the ability to move around the local area quickly at short notice.
You'll have an eye out for funds that we could apply for and be able to pull an application together with the support of the rest of the team.
Have experience of working with a voluntary board of Trustees or similar. An understanding of Charity Commission requirements.
You'll be flexible, available for our events and work flexibly to fit around the demands of the role and with the rest of the team. Additional days will be available when appropriate.
Contract details
Job Title: General Manager
Hours: 22.5 hours per week
Salary: £12,480 Over an 8-month period (full-time equivalent £28,080).
You may be expected to work extra days around each event for which overtime will be paid at the standard rate.
There will be a two-month probationary period. Your contract will be reviewed on a six-monthly basis, subject to funding. You will be employed on a self-employed basis.
We are an equal opportunities employer and as such welcome applications from those who are under-represented in the sector.
Location: This is a hybrid role; you will be in Devizes, Wiltshire, when required, combined with remote working
Time line:
Deadline: 18th September
Interviews to be held on: 23rd September in Devizes or online if preferred
Apply by sending an email to with the subject line 'General Manager' and a CV and covering letter (maximum one page)
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: Up to £28,080.00 per year
Expected hours: 22.5 per week
Benefits:
* Flexitime
* Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Devizes SN10 1JQ