Choir Manager - Brighton

Job Purpose

The Choir manager’s role is to oversee and support the safe and inclusive running of our weekly rehearsals and around 6 gigs a year in Brighton.  Rehearsals currently run on a Monday evening each week, and we rely heavily on the support of our wonderful volunteers.  You will need to oversee a volunteer rota and liaise with choir members to ensure that they are aware of timings and plans each week.  You will attend rehearsals and support our members where necessary, sometimes signposting them to specialist services and also supporting them if they are going through crisis or just going through a difficult time.  You will therefore need to be aware of safeguarding procedure and follow accordingly.  You will keep careful records of outcomes so they can be shared with our funders and you will liaise with local partners, venue managers, and work closely with our choir director at Brighton.  Choir with No Name is committed to developing co-produced practices so that we are working with our members not just for them.  It’s a varied and interesting role for someone that can work in a challenging but rewarding setting.

Partnership working

The post holder will be employed by BHT Sussex. Line management of this position is provided by CWNN, with support from BHT Sussex, through a matrix management agreement.

Parameters

Reports to:               Head of Programmes (Choir with No Name) and Involvement Officer (BHT)

Hours:                     20 hours per week, including some weekend and evening work.  Monday night is rehearsal night.

Location:                 Based in Brighton, from the BHT office or from home and from gigs and rehearsals. 

Salary:                     £27,004 (pro rata)

Annual leave:           25 days per year, pro rata, increasing 1 day per year with each year of service (to a maximum of 30 days)

Pension:                  5.5% employer contribution

Contract:                 Fixed term 1 year contract (potential extension if funding allows)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Member support and recruitment

• Support choir members and develop lasting positive relationships.
• Ensure safe, supportive and welcoming rehearsal, workshop and gig environments are maintained.
• Forge and develop contacts throughout the homelessness and support sectors in Brighton, to ensure services are actively encouraging service users to attend
• Ensure that recruitment of choir members and volunteers actively seeks to create a community representative of Brighton’s diversity
• In collaboration with volunteers, provide appropriate pastoral care, assisting choir members to identify and overcome personal challenges and maintain their place in the choir
• Signpost choir members to relevant external services and opportunities and furnish volunteers with appropriate information to do the same
• Act as safeguarding lead for the Brighton choir, facilitating training for the community to encourage members to recognise potential abuse and support each other appropriately

Fundraising and Communications

• Contribute to raising money for the Brighton choir, with support from BHT Sussex & CWNN.  This could include anything from putting on events, to raising money from local individuals to forging relationships with local businesses or helping with local grant applications
• Provide opportunities for choir members to get involved with communications and fundraising, offering support for members to lead their own projects where appropriate
• Be active on social media to communicate and celebrate the Brighton choir’s achievements
• Occasionally contribute to local PR opportunities

Volunteer Management      

• Ensure that all tasks necessary for the smooth running of rehearsals are adequately covered by volunteers from among the choir (e.g. by delegating tasks on a rota basis)
• Offer group and one to one support and supervision to volunteers
• Oversee the recruitment and induction of volunteers when needed.

Event production

• In consultation with the Choir Director and choir members, coordinate a programme of outreach workshops within relevant communities in Brighton as set out in the annual choir plan
• With the Choir Director and choir members, arrange and promote appropriate gigs and events 

Impact measurement

• Maintain up to date and accurate records to in order to support funding applications and provide data to report back to existing funders
• Contribute to quarterly reports for BHT Sussex & CWNN
• Conduct an annual choir members’ survey

Strategic Management

• Follow BHT Sussex & CWNN policies and procedures consistently, and help to keep them relevant and up-to-date
• Develop plans for the choir in partnership with choir members and organisational leads at BHT Sussex & CWNN, reflecting organisational strategies
• Ensure that plans are delivered and operations stay within budget

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Demonstrable alignment with our values of family, fun, integrity and collaboration
• Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of working with people who have experienced complex trauma
• Highly-motivated self-starter with initiative to make things happen
• Organised and methodical approach with experience of project or event management
• Collaborative leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to inspire and bring out the best in people
• Compassion and respect for all members of society, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Ability to act calmly and decisively in emergencies, and to work positively with challenging behaviour

• Common sense
• Digitally literate (e.g. Microsoft Office including Word, PowerPoint and Excel, social media

Highly desirable

• A love of music!
• Experience of co-production and working in a co-produced way
• Previous experience of safeguarding adults at risk of abuse
• Knowledge, experience and networks in the homelessness, support and/or arts sectors in Brighton
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of impact measurement

For more information about our application process and how to apply, visit our website: www.choirwithnoname.org/choir-manager-brighton