Job Description
Job Title: Head of Partnerships & Engagement
Department: UK Business Unit – National
Centre for Arts Education (DfE)
Hours:
37.5 hours per week (Flexible)
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: UK Remote-Flexible (Based in
the UK – Must have the right to work in the UK with no restrictions)
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 GBP pa
Travel Requirements: Some national travel, with
occasional overnight stays
If you would like to include a cover letter (this is not mandatory), please combine your CV and cover letter into a single PDF document and upload them as one file, as the system only allows one document upload.
Overview of the Role
The Head of Partnerships & Engagement
is a strategic role for the National Centre for Arts Education (NCAE) Programme, responsible for
developing the partnerships and engagement approaches that
strengthen arts education nationally and reporting
directly into the Executive Director.
As
a key member of the Centre’s leadership team, you will connect schools,
cultural organisations, Music Hubs, funders, philanthropists, creative
industries, local authorities and regional partners, translating evidence and
need into coordinated action, sustainable delivery and improved access to
high-quality arts education.
This
role combines strategic partnership development, stakeholder engagement,
philanthropy and investment development and place-based programme delivery. You
will ensure national ambitions for the Centre translate into practical
partnerships, investable opportunities and sustainable networks that support
schools, communities and the wider arts education ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Your core responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Lead the development and delivery
of a strategic partnership and engagement approach that shapes the Centre’s
national role in arts education.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of
national, regional and local stakeholders, including education, cultural, philanthropic
and delivery partners.
- Lead landscape mapping to understand sector activity,
partnership opportunities, areas of strength and potential gaps in provision
across arts education.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, improve
alignment across the sector and support sustainable delivery in priority areas.
- Work with colleagues across the Centre to ensure partnership
activity is informed by evidence, stakeholder insight and the needs of schools
and communities.
- Support the development of investment, philanthropic and
sponsorship opportunities that align with the Centre’s strategic priorities and
long-term sustainability.
- Produce high-quality partnership and investment intelligence
working closely with Art Form Directors and Senior Advisors gathering data from
new and existing sources
- Represent the Centre externally, promoting its aims, building
confidence among partners and supporting collaborative approaches across the
arts education system.
- Develop approaches, resources and ways of working that help
partners collaborate effectively and build local capacity.
- Contribute to planning, reporting and continuous improvement by
producing high-quality partnership intelligence, engagement insight and
evidence of impact.
Expected Behaviours and Working Style
- Make every day count – Focus on creating meaningful partnerships
and engagement opportunities that delivers measurable value for stakeholders,
partners, and the organisation.
- Lead the way – Build credibility through expertise, demonstrate strategic
leadership, influence positively, and champion initiatives that strengthen
relationships and elevate Etio's presence within the education sector.
- Deliver with empathy – Build trusted relationships through active listening,
collaboration, inclusivity, and a genuine understanding of stakeholder needs
and perspectives.
Role Deliverables
- Deliver a coherent national
partnership and engagement strategy for the Centre that strengthens
collaboration across schools, cultural organisations, Music Hubs, funders,
local authorities and regional partners.
- Produce high-quality partnership and investment intelligence,
including clear mapping of strengths, gaps, priority places and investable
opportunities.
- Increase the quality, breadth and sustainability of national and
regional partnerships that support arts and music education.
- Develop funding propositions and investment opportunity packs
that help secure or influence philanthropic, public, corporate and social
investment.
- Support growth of effective partnerships and local delivery
networks in priority places, including through Lead Arts Schools and
communities of practice.
- Provide evidence-led insights that inform Centre planning, CPD
commissioning, regional engagement and continuous improvement.
- Track and report success measures including the quality and
breadth of the Centre’s partnership network, value of investment opportunities
developed, external funding secured or influenced, stakeholder satisfaction,
and evidence of increased collaboration between schools, cultural
organisations, funders and hubs.
Skills, Experience, and Qualifications
Essential
- Significant experience in
strategic partnership development, stakeholder engagement, investment
development, philanthropy, business development or strategic relationship
management.
- Proven track record of building strategic high-value
partnerships that deliver measurable impact across complex systems or sectors.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the ecology/landscape of education,
cultural and philanthropic and public funding network
- Experience working with funders, delivery partners, public
bodies, education organisations, cultural organisations or place-based
networks.
- Ability to use evidence, stakeholder intelligence and investment
data to identify priorities, shape propositions and inform decision-making.
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation, facilitation and
influencing skills, with experience engaging senior leaders and external
stakeholders by building partnership models
- Experience designing or leading engagement frameworks,
partnership models, communities of practice, roundtables or brokerage
approaches.
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with the
ability to represent the Centre confidently across national and regional
forums.
- Strong strategic leadership experience, including leading,
coaching and developing high-performing teams or cross-sector collaborations.
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience
in education, arts, culture, public policy, business development, philanthropy,
communications or a related field.
Desirable
- Experience of working within arts education with experience of
cultural education partnerships
- Experience supporting bids, tenders, grant funding applications,
philanthropic proposals or investment cases.
- Professional qualification in stakeholder engagement,
fundraising, philanthropy, business development, communications, account
management or leadership.
- Experience developing partnership tools, guidance, templates,
case studies or capacity-building resources for local delivery partners.
- An established network across arts, music, education,
philanthropy, local government, creative industries or related sectors.
What
We Offer
At Etio, we believe
our people are fundamental to our success.
In return, we offer:
- 25
days + BH annual leave (with the option buy more leave)
- Flexible
Working culture
- Health
and Wellbeing perks (Healthcare Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance, Employee
Assistance Programme, Life Assurance)
- 3%
employer, 5% employee contribution pension
- Enhanced
family friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, or shared parental
leave)
- Work
from anywhere globally (up to 8weeks)
- Paid
volunteer day
- Electric
Car Scheme and Cycle to work scheme
Our
Values
Make
Every day Count:
We focus on delivering meaningful outcomes, taking ownership and making a
positive impact.
Lead
the Way:
We share expertise, embrace continuous learning and help each other succeed.
Deliver
with Empathy:
We collaborate openly, communicate clearly and place people at the heart of
everything we do.
Diversity
and Inclusion
Etio is committed to
creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and able
to thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and actively encourage
applications from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
Interested?
If you're looking for
a role where you can develop your digital skills, support colleagues and
contribute to improving education around the world, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help
us Elevate Education, Everywhere.
Note to all applicants - Etio reserve the right to close an advertisement
to applications ahead of the advertised closure date. For this reason,
shortlisting may take place prior to the closing date on some occasions.
Therefore, please do not hesitate to apply early.