OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

Balancing the twin priorities of external advocacy and maintaining organisational health, the CEO of UK Music will work with the Chair, the Board and its members to develop and implement a corporate strategy that identifies and represents the common agreed wishes of the UK music industry.

The CEO will be responsible for advocating on behalf of UK Music’s members, consolidating the organisation’s position as the go-to source of insight into the sector, and ensuring the voice of the UK music industry is heard where it matters most.

As part of delivering the agreed corporate strategy, the CEO will ensure that the organisation is well led and run across the key domains of resources, professional development, stakeholder relationships and governance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maximise the impact of UK Music as an umbrella organisation working on behalf of the music industry, amplifying the activity of individual member organisations.

• Lead UK Music’s work, ensuring that we engage effectively with government and opposition ministers, regulatory authorities, the media, licensees, special advisers, MPs, thought-leaders and other people of influence across all four nations of the UK in order to influence policy change that promotes the organisation’s strategic objectives.

• Build a culture which enables the achievement of consensus-based objectives and which promotes effective and trusted relationships with and between the members of UK Music.

• Manage stakeholder relationships with care and attention to detail, actively seeking guidance and input and leading constructive discussions to produce agreed positions which advance the overall position of the music industry.

• Act as an advocate and ambassador for the organisation, both internally and externally, to maintain and extend the excellent reputation of UK Music and of the British music industry.

• Own and curate a dynamic and diverse stakeholder map, cultivating a personal and professional network that prioritises high-yield relationships for the organisation, its members and the industry.

• Initiate, develop and deliver highly effective campaigns to support agreed priorities and advance the policy objectives of UK Music.

• Act as an advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity and access principles across the UK music industry and accountable for delivering the organisation’s diversity strategy utilising the industry-endorsed Ten Point Plan and the Five Ps framework.

• Lead and develop a class-leading expert management team to support the delivery of the corporate strategy; ensure that business planning, budgeting and financial management are delivered to the highest level; identify and address transformation and improvement opportunities within UK Music.

• Represent UK Music on the Creative Industries Council and other trade bodies, where appropriate.

• Develop constructive relationships with other relevant creative and tech sectors.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Experience in team leadership and management, with a track record of motivating and developing expert colleagues.

• Proven ability to establish constructive and cross-party working relationships with senior stakeholders in Government, industry, and other relevant sectors across the UK.

• A good understanding of how government and public policy-making processes operate and an understanding of the techniques which can influence policy development.

• A good understanding of the UK music industry landscape, the creative industries and media, and the strategic insight and market awareness to identify and address the challenges of a dynamic and evolving sector.

• Track record of senior management and leading high-performing teams, ensuring that all organisational processes, budgets, strategic plans and governance promote high performance.

• Strong and proven networks, with the personal credibility to represent the organisation at a high level, and comfortable dealing with high levels of public and media scrutiny.

• Experience of engaging with a wide range of stakeholders: excellent communication and listening skills, and a proven ability to communicate an effective strategy to the wider world.

BEHAVIOURS AND COMPETENCIES

Collaborating and Influencing

• Able to lead, engage and manage in a complex environment and willing to be accessible to stakeholders.

• Skilled at facilitating collaborative discussion and shaping a nuanced but ambitious consensus position.

• Able to promote coalition-building between multiple parties; personally inclusive and respectful, confident in advancing own perspective on complex issues.

• Demonstrable high emotional intelligence, empathy and the ability to understand a range of perspectives.

• Understands the importance of articulating and agreeing a shared position which supports a case for change.

Strategic Thinking

• Able to analyse and articulate how the operating environment and emerging issues will affect the sector, the organisation and its members.

• Translate broad corporate strategies into clear, specific objectives and plans.

• Able to draft plans addressing medium-term organisational priorities, with a clear framework for annual review and refocus.

• Innovative, with a track record of introducing new insights; able to think clearly, analytically, and grasp complex issues.

Other attributes

• High standards of personal integrity and demonstrable passion for the mission and aims of UK Music.

• Understanding the place of music in the life of the UK and its potential role in the transition to a more sustainable future.