Creative Community Builder

Job details

Department

Learning and Teaching

Responsible to

Creative Producer

Location

Markeaton Street, Derby Campus

Salary

£30,950 to £34,027 per annum, pro rata (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £39,131 per annum).

Closing date

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Contract type

Fixed term contract Until 31/03/2025

Post type

Part-time

Adaptive working type

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework .

Reference

0217-24

About the role

We’re looking for a part time Creative Community Builder to join the Make/Shift team.

We want to work with someone who enjoys collaborating across difference and is comfortable with and excited by change.

This is a new role in the team, working alongside our current Creative Community Builder, with a specific focus on participation and networks. As the lead on our new Movers, Shakers and Community Makers work strand, we’re on the lookout for someone who is excited about testing new ways of shifting more power and resources to communities, facilitating citizen-led decision making, and helping to weave together equitable, inclusive networks.

As Creative Community Builder you will play an essential convening role, helping to grow a network of makers, doers and connectors who have access to the resources and platforms they need to make things happen together in the places they live and to invite their neighbours along to join them.

To thrive in this role you will be passionate about the power of peer-to-peer networks, committed to strengths based community development and curious about working proactively with communities to self-organise, solicit resources and make decisions for themselves about the cultural and creative experiences they want to grow in the places where they live.

We are hosted and employed by the University of Derby as part of their CivicLab.

Please note this role is 3 days (22.5 hours) per week.

Interviews for this role will be held on 10/7/24.

You can find out a bit more about our approach here and on our website www.wearemakeshift.co.uk .

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Rachel Smith, Make/Shift Creative Producer via [email protected]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Principal accountabilities
Convening & Connecting

Weave together a network of relationships with different community groups across Amber Valley including (but not limited to) community networks, local interest groups, resident groups, children and family groups, faith groups, voluntary sector and local businesses etc.

Build strong relationships with colleagues, consortium members, artists, collaborators, public sector agencies and funders, creating space for people to connect with the insights, ideas and expertise of communities in Amber Valley.

Encourage and facilitate learning and information exchange between people, communities, neighbourhoods and collaborators.

Identifying key people, neighbourhoods, organisations and public sector agencies to work with as ideas and programs emerge.

Activating agency and facilitating co-creation

Develop and facilitate methods of co-creation through which community members can take part in decision-making around commissioning and co-designing of funds, activities and programs.

Work with Make/Shift collaborators to manage and deliver activities and events that engage Amber Valley residents and communities in making and shaping creative and cultural experience in the places they live.

Listen to the needs and interests of local community groups and work responsively to shape activities and programs together in ways that meet needs, and create opportunities that are welcoming, relevant, inclusive and accessible. 

 Learning and evaluation

Support the design and implementation of dynamic and forward-thinking models of evaluation and research methodologies relative to community engagement and creative practice.

Contribute actively to sharing learning, insights, data, stories, research and evaluation with and between colleagues, peers, community networks, funders and public sector agencies.

Develop creative and robust methods of collecting and sharing data from and with communities and participants, alongside monitoring and evaluating processes, practices and outputs.

General

Manage programme budgets attached to this work and report back to Creative Producer.

Be self-managing in terms of administrative support and delivery e.g. creating event plans or risk assessments, distributing and collating monitoring and evaluation materials.

Carry out any other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post as agreed with Line Manager.

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• Relevant degree (or equivalent qualification) or comparable knowledge gained through professional experience

Experience

• Experience of working with a diverse range of communities, ideally in cultural, community or charity contexts
• Experience of delivering community participation or co-creation projects, or other projects that are shaped and informed by community participants
• Good working knowledge of the Amber Valley, its cultural and/or social landscape, and its geography and/or working with similar communities
• Experience of working with communities to reduce barriers and build trust with people who are often excluded or ignored by dominant culture
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating processes including effective data collection, analysis and reporting
• Experience of facilitating conversations, workshops and participatory processes
• Experience of working across multiple art forms
• Experience of working with volunteers or with volunteer development programmes
• Experience of and commitment to robust safeguarding principles

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Interest for working with people, and thrive on personable, inspiring exchanges
• Commitment to social impact and the civic role of arts and culture
• Generous collaboration and listening skills and an interest for working with others to make interesting things happen
• Firm belief that everyone’s contribution matters, and that we should invest in, nurture, celebrate, encourage and support everyone to make and share their cultures and creativity in a breadth of ways
• Commitment to racial, social, economic justice and to developing your learning in this space
• Comfortable tackling prejudice and stereotypes in order to cultivate deeper understanding and connection between people
• Happy holding conversations with anyone, making people feel confident they are being listened to and that their words matter
• Ability to bring new skills, insights, and perspectives to our team and/or have lived experience that allows us to examine our work from new perspectives
• Comfortable with and excited by change
• Able to reflect on how projects and activities have gone, gather and synthesis viewpoints and fold that learning into working out what happens next

Business requirements

• Willingness and ability to work flexibly (will be required, with prior notice, to work evenings and weekends)
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work at different locations in Amber Valley in a cost effective and timely manner

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about pay and rewardsFind out more about pay and rewards

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

• Apply online Apply online
• Continue application Continue application
• Advice on completing your applicationAdvice on completing your application

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit Applying from Overseas for more information.

What is Adaptive Working?

Adaptive working is about enabling a high-performing, flexible, and responsive work culture where the place, time, and manner of working are tailored to the specific work activity. This approach ensures that the working environment, including both physical and social surroundings, supports employees to perform at their best and meet the university's evolving needs.

In addition, adaptive working involves intentionally designing workspaces to support a range of activities and disciplines, providing the right environment for meaningful in-person connections and effective collaboration. This includes ensuring that employees have access to the necessary equipment and resources from their first day at the university.

Adaptive working encompasses different modes of working such as site-based, remote or hybrid working. It is a broad framework within which all staff can operate effectively according to their role.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

A university that celebrates youA university that celebrates you

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2040.

Environment and sustainabilityEnvironment and sustainability

Further details

Download Creative Community Builder job descriptionDownload Creative Community Builder job description Download About the Team and the ProgramDownload About the Team and the Program

Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

Find out more about working at the UniversityFind out more about working at the University

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.