Senior Relationship Manager (ND4)
Senior Relationship Manager (ND4)
Senior Relationship Manager (ND4)
Contract: Permanent, working 35 hours (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £50,468 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Leeds or Manchester (The role will be based in any of the locations listed; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
Introduction:
We welcome applications to this Senior Relationship Manager role at Arts Council England. In this role, you’ll play a key part in developing and supporting cultural and creative activity in the North.
You’ll be a critical part of our team, helping to initiate, develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships, investments and development programmes that catalyse creative ambition and opportunity.
At Arts Council we know that culture and creativity are essential for healthy, happy and resilient communities. We want to make exciting, high quality cultural opportunities and experiences available to everyone, everywhere and we need your help to make that happen. If you share our passion and ambition, we’d love you to come and work with us!
Role details:
In this role as a Senior Relationship Manager in the North Area, you can expect to:
· Work collaboratively as part of the North Area Management Team to help shape, monitor and manage our grant investments across the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside.
· Lead, line manage and support a team of Relationship Managers working across a range of specialisms with artists, communities, arts organisations, museums, and libraries
· Work frequently with external stakeholders like Local Authorities, Combined Authorities, Universities and other funders to support investment, cultural strategy and development in our places of interest
· Contribute broadly across the North and feed into national Arts Council development activities and major projects in your specialist areas of knowledge
· Work closely with local colleagues from Arts Council and the cultural sector across the North West to support each other and the delivery of Arts Council’s 10 year strategy, Let’s Create.
You will have relevant experience in line management and be passionate about the difference arts, culture, and creativity can make to people’s lives. You will have strong relationship or stakeholder management experience, as well as an understanding of place-based working and how it applies to cultural development.
For this vacancy we particularly welcome applications from candidates with a strong working knowledge and experience of equality, diversity and inclusion within the context of cultural development and the growth of creative and cultural industries in the North.
This is a rewarding and busy role so you’ll need the ability to absorb and analyse complex information quickly and prioritise competing demands. You’ll be a strong collaborator and communicator, and someone who can support, manage and mentor our teams to deliver their objectives.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
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. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
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
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: ND4
Closing date: 5pm, 11 May 2026
1 st Interview: (virtual) 27 May 2026
2 nd Interview: (In person) 10 June 2026
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact