The role: Permanent, full time, starting as soon as possible.
Flexible and hybrid working available.
Salary: £31-33,000 depending on experience
Apply by: Monday 5th January 2026 at 12:00 midday
Interviews: Thursday 13th January 2026
We are recruiting for an experienced arts Producer to lead on Outdoor Arts, Festivals and Touring. Working as part of our Producing team, you’ll be our lead Producer for our international outdoor festival: Inside Out Dorset and our other outdoor events. You will have a key role with our core team on talent development and artist support, including being the lead producer for our touring work.
We’re looking for someone who has experience working in outdoor arts, has excellent communication skills and is a great project manager. You’ll be able to deliver events on time and to budget, working with – and managing – a wide range of people. You’ll also have experience of fundraising from various sources, the ability to support creatives, plus good knowledge of Dorset and the arts sector here.
You will have:
Knowledge/ Skills
* Experience of producing in an outdoor/festival context
* Enthusiasm and understanding of outdoor arts, festivals and site‑specific work
* Relevant art form knowledge
* Experience of successful fundraising from national, regional, international and local sources
* Excellent organisational, project management and administrative skills
* Friendly and confident communication ability
* Enthusiasm for delivering professional development opportunities
* Ability to self‑organise and take initiative, prioritise workload and manage multiple deadlines
* Ability to remain calm in busy periods
* Flexibility and readiness to contribute to team tasks as required
* Strong people management skills and good team working
* Ability to liaise with technical staff and artists
* Understanding and proven commitment to the arts in supporting social and economic benefit
* Broad knowledge/understanding of contemporary arts industry and funding and the wider public sector.
Management
* Proven ability to develop practical projects to deliver strategic priorities
* Experience of line managing freelance contractors
* Experience managing complex partnerships and stakeholder relationships
* Financial and budget management experience
* Lead on reporting to funders
* Proven commitment to partnership and collaborative working.
General
* Dynamic and enthusiastic approach to work
* Understanding and commitment to best practice in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
* Ability to work unsocial hours when needed
* Digital fluency: good working knowledge of MS Office and social media
* Driving licence.
You will need to live in Dorset/Bournemouth/Christchurch/Poole, or very near and will need a vehicle due to the limited rural transport infrastructure in the county.
Desirable
* Experience in delivering a professional development programme for artists
* Knowledge of evaluation principles and techniques
* Experience of working in a voluntary/charitable organisation
* Understanding of the needs of working across an urban and rural region
* Understanding of the local area.
We particularly welcome applications from people who have experienced barriers or prejudice relating to their age, gender identity, ethnicity and/or having a disability or long‑term health condition, their sexuality, or being from a working class/ low‑income background.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Main Duties
* Plan and deliver the biennial festival programme and signature events, including engagement, participation and inclusion with the Artistic Directors, the Theatre, Education and Engagement Producer and Activate Team,
* Act as touring Producer for a small cohort of companies Activate represents, pitching shows to promoters and booking touring calendars
* Play a role in creatives’ development with the team
* Lead on resource development for the outdoor programme
* Liaise with key partners
* Act as an excellent advocate for Activate.
Producing
* Take a lead role in the producing of outdoor projects with the Artistic Directors
* Nurture partner relationships with multiple venue and programme partners
* Work closely with the Artistic Directors to identify project needs
* Manage day to day relationships with artists and co‑ordinate relationships with other team members such as administration (visas and invoices), production and marketing
* Plan the delivery of professional development for creatives
* Work with the team to draw together the overall and individual project budgets.
Organisational
* Facilitate communication between all programme and local event partners
* Contribute to audience facing communications
* Liaise with advisors and partnership groups in project development and delivery
* Line manage Assistant Producer and be responsible for freelance Head of Health & Safety/Production Manager and staff, such as Access lead, Volunteer Co‑ordinator/s
* Identify sub‑contractors and suppliers to deliver programming activities where relevant
* Oversee bookkeeping, budget management and financial reporting
* Oversee contracting, license applications, permissions, work permits and insurances
* Oversee booking of accommodation and travel
* Manage relevant volunteer co‑ordination
* Oversee access audits
* Work closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager and Executive Producer on the preparation and planning of evaluation and advocacy
* Ensure effective and safe working practices at all times in line with Activate core policies, safeguarding children, equal opportunities, health and safety, environmental and diversity policies
* Report to stakeholders and ensure effective communication within the team including various partnerships
* Contribute to ongoing reporting expected as a publicly funded organisation
* General administrative support and event planning work.
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