Overall Purpose of the role

Arts Council England delivers a range of capital investment programmes which contribute to the outcomes of Let’s Create, our 10-year strategy. Capital Investment Programmes are programmes that invest in assets or infrastructure to support the long sustainability of creative and cultural organisations across England.

Led by the Director, Capital, the Capital team is made up of 3 sub-teams:

·       Investment – focused on the design of investment programmes and associated assessment and advice giving.

·       Relationships and Monitoring – focused on stakeholder engagement and monitoring of risk, compliance and overall delivery of our Capital investment.

·       Cultural Development Fund – focused on the delivery of this specific fund in partnership with Area based colleagues.

As a grant-making specialist, the Senior Officer, Capital Investment will work collaboratively as a member of the Capital Investment Team to support the Senior Managers to deliver capital investment programme/s effectively, ensuring compliance with Government Grant standards and Arts Council’s policies and procedures.

Main day to day responsibilities

As part of your role, you will do the following:

·       Work collaboratively with the other Senior Officers in the Capital Investment Team and the Senior Managers in the effective development of allocated capital investment programmes, balancing user priorities with our governance needs and direction from Central Government to ensure consistency and clarity across our Capital Investment Programmes.

·       Deliver the end-to-end grant-making processes for Capital Investment Programmes, maintaining compliance with Arts Council policies and procedures and ensuring staff working on these programmes have appropriate guidance and documentation to fulfil their roles at each stage of the grant-making lifecycle. 

·       Ensure that our funding programmes are accessible to all by removing barriers and ensuring the implementation of user-centred design principles, adapting programmes based on user feedback, data, and requirements.

·       Carry out the assessment of capital grants as required, effectively analysing application material to reach balanced and objective recommendations against the published criteria and inform decision-making.

·       Act as a point of contact for funded organisations, external stakeholders, relationship and monitoring Senior Officers and Senior Managers, and directors providing expert advice on capital grant making. You will ensure any risks to our investment are managed and reported to the Senior Managers.

·       Work closely with legal services to ensure our investment complies with any relevant legal frameworks, and the capital security policy and you will be accountable for maintaining accurate records to support a clear audit trail.

·        Working with the Senior Officer, Capital (Training and Advice), you will develop and deliver appropriate support (such as training or mentoring) for staff across the organisation to develop their skills and experience in capital investment.

·       Line manage any appropriately allocated role to a high standard as required, enabling the postholder to deliver their objectives successfully.

·       Be accountable for maintaining accurate records and working within our regulatory, policy, systems and procedural framework governing information use.  

To deliver your role you will:

• Maintain an awareness of best practice in grant making and deliver funding programmes in line with the relevant government standards including accurate record keeping and best practice in public service delivery to ensure continuous improvement. 

• Use digital and data tools effectively to track impact and identify trends. You will manage data in line with data protection regulations and internal policies. 

·       You will be required to travel on occasion to other Arts Council locations across England.

·       Contribute to a positive working culture in the organisation by taking a proactive approach to learning, responding to change, inclusive practice, and environmental responsibility.

·       You will reflect the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the Arts Council's values with a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Key relationships

·        The Capital Director, Senior Managers and colleagues in across the capital team to provide sector and specialist knowledge

·        Directors, Senior Relationship Managers, Relationship Managers Communications and Operations colleagues in area teams to maintain an understand of place-based capital needs. 

• The Investment Centre, Data, IT, Legal and other teams to collaborate on the delivery of investment programmes. You may also liaise with professional advisors.

• Museum, Libraries and specialist staff to inform a user focused and consistent approach to the delivery of capital programmes.

• External partners including creative and cultural organisations, local authorities, stakeholders in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. other funders and stakeholders.

Essential (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

·       You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of what is needed to design and deliver funding programmes.

·       You will have good interpersonal and communication skills – both speaking and in writing – and the ability to communicate in a confident and engaging manner with people from different backgrounds.

·       You will be highly organised, with good analytical skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities and exercise effective judgement when organising, planning and managing complex tasks, and you will have the ability to initiate work and perform according to self-imposed timetables.

·       You will have experience of relationship management and the forging of successful partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including central government departments.

·       You will have experience of supervising, supporting and/or mentoring colleagues.

• You will have an understanding of organisational dynamics – business planning, financial reporting, performance management and governance.

·       You will be able to contribute to the organisation’s understanding of diversity and its implications for the arts and culture, promoting a diversity perspective in all aspects of the organisation’s objectives and activities

Desirable (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

·       Able to demonstrate knowledge of the creativity and culture sector, for example, by having worked in a cultural organisation or within cultural services in a local authority

·        Experience in one or more of the following areas: project/programme management; construction; architecture; sustainability; risk management

We are a Disability Confident Employer and we participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme, which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme.

Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk

1st Interview: 13-15 April

2nd interview: 23-27 April