Community Engagement and Development Manager

Main Duties

This role will encompass the work of our Community and Learning Producer who will be on maternity leave, as well as some additional responsibilities as described.

OCM will embark on a period of long term strategic planning for the organisation in 2026. The freelancer will support and contribute to this process, and will therefore need to demonstrate relevant experience and an ability to work with senior management to create an ambitious vision and clear aims for OCM’s community engagement and learning activities for 2027-2031.

OCM’s current programme of activity focuses on family learning, music making workshops for teens and pre-teens, skills development for young adults, music programming for community events, one-off workshops tied into the concert/commissioning programme, and co-creation/participatory projects within our commissioning programme. We have a successful programme that currently takes place in the Barton and Blackbird Leys areas of Oxford.

You are free to carry out your work from your own office or place of your choice using your own computer and telephone equipment. The OCM Oxford office facilities will be made available to you.

You will need to have Public Liability Insurance if it is deemed necessary at any stage during your contract in relation to the work undertaken.

Scope of the work:

Planning & Delivery

● Liaising with schools, community groups and promoters to set up workshops, performances and projects for young people and the wider community within an agreed budget.

● Research into where there is a need and desire for music activities in local communities around Oxfordshire, developing new partnerships and relationships where needed in order to reach OCM’s target audiences. Finding key community contacts and nurturing new relationships.

● Planning programme activity and project managing the delivery of workshops and activities.

● Keeping informed about education and outreach work of other organisations in the county and working with these organisations where appropriate.

● Keeping informed about county and city-wide initiatives and working to contribute to such strategies when appropriate e.g. Cultural Education Partnership, Oxfordshire Music Education Partnership.

● Liaising with the Director regarding opportunities for visiting artists to take part in the community and learning programmes.

● In close liaison with the Director and Senior Management Team, undertake strategic planning for the long term direction and content of the community and learning programme, in line with the organisation’s strategic aims.

Fundraising

● Liaising with current funders to keep them informed of the progress of the programme, including invitations to events and workshops where appropriate.

● Working with the Director, Associate Director, and Deputy Director to plan and deliver funding applications for activity in 2026-2027 and beyond.

Administration, policy and procedure

● Creating and managing budgets and the finances for projects.

● Overseeing the running of performances and workshops (in person when required) including prior arrangement of technical equipment.

● Liaising between artists and client organisations regarding detailed arrangements for workshops and performances.

● Contracting artists and workshop facilitators on behalf of OCM and ensuring that where necessary they supply appropriate DBS check details.

● Ensuring compliance with guidelines on the protection of children and vulnerable adults and inputting into safeguarding planning to ensure OCM’s policy is up to date.

Publicity and Press

● Assisting client organisations to publicise events and recruit participants where required.

● Working with the Marketing Coordinator and Deputy Director to ensure press coverage for events where appropriate.

● Promoting OCM’s mailing list at events and encouraging sign up.

Evaluation

● Ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the programme to feed back into planning and future programmes.

● Gathering feedback from partner organisations and participants.

● Documenting events and workshops and collecting data as required for reports to Arts Council England and other funders.

● Contributing to reporting for the OCM Board, partner organisations and funders as required.

To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be required by the Director.

Please note that the successful candidate will need to be in possession of, or be willing to undergo, an Enhanced DBS Check with the Disclosure and Barring Service, regarding their suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Skills and Experience Required

OCM is looking for someone with a significant level of experience in programme planning for activities in community settings, and the successful project management, delivery and embedding of those activities. We also require a proven track record in strategic planning of community engagement and fundraising for this area of work (predominantly with trusts, foundations and public funding).

Equal Opportunities Statement

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and caring responsibility. We are committed to offering a working environment where everyone is valued and feels appreciated.