Job Title: National Criminal Justice Arts AllianceManager

Responsible to: Richard Nicholls, Head of Operations (Clinks)

Salary:Salary - £34,538 pro-rata, plus 6% pension contribution

Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata

Office Base: London based (occasional national travel)

Working Hours: 30 hours/week (4 days)

Details:Maternity cover, fixed term contract, 9 months

Clinks and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA)

Clinks is a membership body that supports voluntary sector organisations that work with offenders and their families. We promote the work that voluntary sector organisations undertake within the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in England and Wales and believe that a strong voluntary sector is crucial to reducing offending and building safer communities. The NCJAA is the leading national network for arts in criminal justice and is currently managed by Clinks.

The NCJAA’s mission is to ensure that everyone in the criminal justice system has access to arts and culture as a springboard to positive change. We are a unique and respected national network bringing people together in arts and criminal justice. Our purpose is to promote effective practice, undertake and showcase specialist research and activity, provide opportunities for skills, knowledge and network development, raise the profile of the sector, inform policy related to arts and criminal justice, and build the sector’s sustainability and resilience.

Job Summary

The Manager is responsible for leading all the work and development of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance - working with a range of different high level stakeholders to improve policy and practice in relation to arts-based work within the criminal justice system. This includesmaintaining and strengthening theNCJAA as the leadingdevelopment network for arts organisations that work in the criminal justice system.

Main tasks and responsibilities

  1. To work closely with members of the National Criminal Justice Arts Allianceto develop a range of activities that will raise the profile and promote the work of the arts sector in the CJS.
  2. To support the membership and oversee all communications and strategy for the NCJAA including resources/publications,website, social mediaand other on-line communication tools that are usedto showcase work, provide information for members, policy makers and academics.
  1. To influence national policy and promote communication between Government and the artsin the criminaljustice sector e.g. through policy roundtables and the meetings of the Reducing Re-Offending Arts Forum organised by the Ministry of Justice.
  1. Foster strong working relationships with relevant government departments and agencies (including the Arts Council England) that develop and deliver policy and practice affecting artists and arts organisations working in the criminal justice system.
  2. To arrange, report to and support the Steering Group, of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, who meet 5 times a year.
  3. To project manage ongoing activity that supports the aim and objectives of the NCJAA including specific policy and research projects.
  4. To deliver an effective events programme to raise the profile of arts in criminal justice and meet the needs of members.
  1. To identify and promote good practice in arts and criminal justice settings, through programed events and resources and to oversee the Professional Mentoring scheme, which connects emerging artists with experts in the field.
  2. To identify and promote research and evidence in the field of arts and criminal justice and to help fundraise specifically for a large scale research and delivery programme into arts in criminal justice to further advance knowledge, credibility and reach of the work.
  3. To identify funding sources and submit funding applications and monitoring reports, both for specific projects under the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance work-plan, and when required for the future funding of the work as a whole to ensure the sustainability of the Alliance.
  1. To line manage and supervise the Communication Officer as well as consultants and freelancers, and be responsible for the overall budget.
  1. To attend regular supervision with the line manager, participate in team meetings plus regular liaison meetings with the chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance.

Person Specification

Essential experience

  • Experience of line management and demonstrable management skills essential.
  • Proven experience informing workingrelationships with opinion formers and key stakeholders to influence policy and practice.
  • Proven negotiation and communication skills.
  • Experience of working independently to assess and manage risk.
  • Knowledge and experience of national policy, practice and membership organisations relating to arts and/or criminal justice sector
  • Experience and good understanding of developing relationships with key stakeholders and working collaboratively with partners.
  • Proven experience of problem solving and strategic thinking in a complex and rapidly changing environment.
  • Experience of supporting and developing best practice.

Essential abilities and skills

  • The ability to lead, inspire and co-ordinate a complex network of organisations working and supporting arts in criminal justice settings
  • Highly developed analytical skills in relation to strategic policy issues and their implications for practice
  • Ability to influence decision makers at a national level
  • Ability to lead and facilitate meetings at all levels of the organisations engagement – nationally, regionally, locally
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and spoken
  • Proven experience of project planning and delivering to deadlinesusing own initiative
  • Experience of working independently and as part of a team
  • Experience of successful fundraising
  • Experience of analysing information from diverse sources and producing external communications, including policy briefings and consultations
  • Experience of monitoring and evaluating information on need, and using this to influence and inform future planning
  • Experience and knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and/or the arts and related policy issues, including equal opportunities and anti-discrimination
  • Understanding of social research methodologies
  • Budget management and reporting skills
  • I.T literate; MS Word, Excel, Outlook
  • Good administrative skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to liaise with a wide range of people, including voluntary sector agencies, arts organisations,government, private sector, service users and media
  • Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination
  • Able to travel nationally (a driving licence is not essential as we encourage use of public transport)

Desirable:

  • Experience of the Criminal Justice System, whether as a service user, a practitioner, or volunteer
  • Event organisation
  • Website and content management experience
  • Network or membership coordination

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