METAL CULTURE LIMITED

Director, Peterborough andCambridgeshireRecruitment PackDreamspace, 2025. Image credit: Metal PeterboroughContentsAbout MetalAbout the roleWhat it's like to work with usOur organisational structure Job descriptionPerson specificationTerms & ConditionsEquality, Diversity & InclusionAccessRecruitment348101116182021221Image credit: Joe & Charlotte paint The Water Replies for Estuary 2021Our workMetal champions the right for artists, creatives and curiouspeople to follow hunches, explore dreams and probeproblems through creativity to inspire positive change.  In the last ten years, we’ve supported over 11,000 artists,hosted over 110,000 participants and welcomed over 8million audience members. Metal’s artist alumni includeAssemble, Beverley Bennett, Delaine La Bas, Elsa James,Kate Marsh, Khaleb Brooks, Lucy + Jorge Orta, Steve Reich,Tim Burrows and many more.  As well as nationally and internationally, we currently workin Liverpool, Peterborough and Southend-on-Sea. We wereinvited to these places by local authorities, Arts CouncilEngland and other partners. All our work is underpinned bypractice-based research themes related to the specificand necessary concerns of each place, from urbanbiodiversity in Liverpool to food and farming inPeterborough, and creative education in Essex. Our current programme includes: The Unlonely City,disrupting loneliness over 10 years by nurturing moments ofsolidarity, surprise and laughter in UK cities; Shift, Liverpool’snetwork of 60+ cultural organisations addressing theclimate crisis; Creative Break Time, supporting Southendteachers’ creativity with TOMA and Focal Point Gallery;Positive Notes, reshaping perceptions of Peterborough; andmembership of the Citizens in Power Network. About Metal3About the roleAbout the role Metal is seeking a senior, creative and strategic Director tolead Metal Peterborough and our work acrossCambridgeshire, inspiring positive change through art andcreativity.You will be energised by working at the intersection of arts,civic life, community building, place-making, and policy.Bringing a deep belief in the role of art in society, you willhave experience of working with artists, communities andpartners to convene, enable and steward surprising,impactful programmes that connect people to themselves,each other, where they live, and the wider world. This role is a key leadership position within Metal’s seniormanagement team, combining strategic direction anddelivery. It includes leadership of socially-engaged creativeprogrammes, fundraising and partnership development,operational and financial oversight, team leadership, andadvocacy and leadership across Peterborough,Cambridgeshire and the wider East of England region.You will bring strong knowledge of socially engaged andcitizen-led artistic practice, alongside experience ofattracting and stewarding diverse and blended incomethrough trusts and foundations, public sectorcommissioning, strategic partnerships, place-basedinvestment and earned income.4About the roleThis is an exciting time to join Metal. Our new strategylaunched in 2024, and the Director (Peterborough &Cambridgeshire) will play an active leadership rolebuilding cross-sector partnerships in health, education,local government, environment and housing, andadvocating for culture during local government reform anddevolution. It involves working deeply In Peterborough andCambridgeshire while contributing to national andinternational conversations, helping to shape how artistic,civic and policy-led practice is developed and sharedacross Meal’s work in Peterborough, Liverpool andSouthend.5Photo: Metal PeterboroughCurrent Programme ContextMetal Peterborough’s current programme includes:Positive Notes, an outdoor photographic installation by JoelRodriguez and Peterborough residents, sharing overlookedstories of our city; Where We Are, a collaboration withyoung Peterborough residents, the Kite Trust and the BritishMuseum; artist engagement for Cambridge’s new culturalstrategy; In Other Words, involving artist residencies,congresses and a collective work, responding to what it isto make art in 2025; and The Unlonely City, a 10-yearprogramme to disrupt loneliness in the city. Metal is alsopart of the Citizens in Power Network.Metal Peterborough is currently operating without apermanent building. This presents a significant opportunityto reimagine models of cultural leadership and presenceacross Peterborough and Cambridgeshire: embeddingartistic practice within communities, civic spaces andpartner organisations, while exploring future approaches tophysical infrastructure, with the Director (Peterborough &Cambridgeshire) playing a key role in leading and shapingthis work.You will lead Metal’s next chapter in Peterborough andCambridgeshire, bringing vision, energy and collaborativeleadership to realise what is possible when creativity isrooted in partnerships, place and shared civic purpose.6Image credit: Harvest (2015), photo: Chris PorszAbout our team Metal's work is brought to life by local creatives andproducers who understand the complexities of each place.Many of us have community roles and artistic practicesoutside of our day jobs (spoken word, youth work, painting,writing and more). Celebrating difference is important toMetal and global majority, disabled, LGBTQIA+ andworking-class people are represented in our leadership.We are a collaborative and creative team. There is a senseof fun and openness to working with Metal. Our supportiveBoard, chaired by Andrea Stark, has experience fromacross the cultural sector.Our buildings Our three buildings are deliberately domestic in feel andare usually busy with artists and communities meeting,making work or dropping in. In Liverpool, we work from EdgeHill Station the world’s oldest active passenger station; inPeterborough, our office is a space of creativity; and inSouthend, Chalkwell Hall has stunning views over theThames Estuary.What it's like to work with usImage credit: Phil Striling, Ruth Campbell, Mark McNulty8YouImage credit: Staff team headshotsOur TeamOur Organisational Structure10CEO & ArtisticDirectorHead ofProgrammesPartnershipsSenior Operations ProducerExecutive DirectorBoard of TrusteesDirectorLiverpoolDirectorPeterboroughDirectorSouthendFinance ManagerMarcommsManagerStructuralChangeArtistProducerProgrammes & Operations AdministratorProducerProducerProgrammes & Operations AdministratorProgrammes & Operations AdministratorNational ProducerJob DescriptionLeadership and strategyLead Metal in Peterborough and acrossCambridgeshire, with vision and purpose, contributingto the organisation’s overall strategic direction, andholding the long-term vision for place-based work inthe region. Develop and strengthen partnerships across the arts,local authorities, education, health, environment andcommunity sectors locally, regionally and nationally.Champion diversity, equity and inclusion, amplifying thevoices of marginalised artists and communities, andensuring welcoming, accessible environments acrossall activity.Play a pivotal role in advocating for the value of artsand creativity within Peterborough and Cambridgeshireduring a period of devolution and local governmentreform.Work collaboratively with the senior management teamto ensure strong communication, shared learning andjoined-up planning across Metal’s sites.Represent Metal and Peterborough as a thought leaderand advocate for place-based and socially engagedpractice across the East of England and nationally.Lead strategic thinking around Metal Peterborough’soperating model in the absence of a permanentbuilding.11Job DescriptionProgramme With the Artistic Director/CEO, lead the strategicdevelopment of Metal Peterborough’s socially engagedand citizen-led programme, and oversee its delivery.Act as a convener and enabler within the programmingmanagement team, ensuring a cohesive local andnational programme aligned with Metal’s mission.Develop and manage ambitious partnerships withartists, communities and cross-sector organisations(arts, health, education, environment), prioritising long-term relationships and shared ownership.Fundraising, Income & StakeholdersLead fundraising strategies for Peterborough andCambridgeshire, securing income through trusts,foundations, public sector commissioning, place-basedfunding and strategic partnerships.Build and maintain strong relationships with keystakeholders and funders, including local authorities,national agencies and cross-sector partnerships, toensure sustainable growth and long-term impact.Work closely with the Artistic Director/CEO and ExecutiveDirector and national fundraising team to align regionalpriorities with organisational ambition.Lead evaluation and reporting for Metal Peterborough,and contribute to organisational learning andevidencing long-term impact.12Job Description... ContinuedExplore income-generating opportunities aligned withMetal’s values, including partnerships, events, andenterprise activity.Convene and participate actively in local, regional andnational networks, contributing to wider sectordiscourse.Operations, Team & Budget ManagementLead and support the Peterborough team, creating aninclusive, ambitious and supportive working culture.Ensure effective financial management and operationaldelivery, and oversight of flexible, partner-based andoffsite working models.Manage HR for the Peterborough team, supported bythe Executive Director and Senior Operations Producer.Line manage the Peterborough Producer andProgrammes and Operations Administrator, alongsidefreelancers, working collaboratively with cross-siteteams.13Postive Notes 2025. Photo: Anthony AshleyJob DescriptionAudiences, Advocacy & CommunicationsContribute to organisation marketing andcommunications strategy and oversee its delivery inPeterborough and Cambridgeshire with the MarcommsManager. This will include, for example, oversight ofpress, newsletters, website and social media.Oversee audience development with the MarcommsManager;Act as a persuasive advocate and spokesperson forMetal Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, championingthe creativity and civic potential of these places.Other DutiesEnsure compliance and work actively within Metal’sEqual Opportunities, Child Protection, Safeguarding andHealth and Safety Policies.Undertake any other duties reasonably requested bythe Artistic Director/CEO and Metal Board.14As We Gather Peterborough – photo Jack FlynnImage credit: SILT by Arbonauts, commissioned for Estuary 2021, photo: Nina Photography Person SpecificationEssential Skills and ExperienceDemonstrable senior leadership experience within arts,culture, community, civic or socially engaged contexts.Strong knowledge of socially engaged, place-basedand citizen-led practice, with a belief in the role ofartists within wider social and civic systems. Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholdersincluding artists, communities, funders and publicsector partners, with experience developing cross-sector partnerships.Confidence working without or beyond traditional artsbuildings, and navigating complexity, uncertainty andchange.Entrepreneurial approach to income generation, withexperience securing and stewarding diverse incomestreams.Experience of effective project management, peopleleadership, financial and operational management asenablers of mission-led work.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, withconfidence representing an organisation publicly atsenior level.Knowledge of and passion for Peterborough,Cambridgeshire and the East of England context.Commitment to transparency, reflection, feedback andorganisation learning.A demonstrable commitment to the principles andactions of equity, diversity, and anti-racism.An advocate for hospitality, generosity, access and carefor staff, artists, audiences and the wider public.16Image credit: Courtesy of our residency artists 2022/23 cohortTerms & ConditionsFull Time, Permanent Contract  Reporting to:  Artistic Director/CEO.Responsible for: Peterborough Producer and Programmes andOperations Administrator. Salary: £45,000 p/a. Holidays: 25 days paid holiday per annum (FTE), plus bank holidays.Staff currently have a minimum of one week per year for non-prescriptive research and professional development, in addition toall-staff training.  Pension: Workplace pension plan with 3% company contribution. 4 day working week: At Metal, we operate a 4-day working week.This policy reduces the standard full-time working week from five tofour days, with no loss of pay — and applies proportionally to part-time roles to support flexibility and wellbeing for all staff.Days and Hours of Work: Tuesday to Friday, 9am - 5.30pm.Probation: 6 months. Notice period: 3 months. Location: On Site, Metal Culture, Trinity Suite, Peterborough.Travel: Due to the nature of your job role you may be required totravel. Start date: As soon as possible, subject to notice periods.18Image credit: Decorum (2018), photo: Ruth CampbellEquality, Diversity & InclusionMetal is committed to equal opportunities. We valuedifferent perspectives and experiences and welcomediversity in all its forms. We particularly encourageapplications from global majority, LGBTQIA+, disabledand/or working class people who are underrepresented atMetal - though each of these groups are represented inMetal’s leadership - and in our sector.Image credit: Laura Kate Chapman's visual minutes of Future Station (2022)20AccessIf you have any specific requirements or need additionalsupport during the recruitment process, including anythingyou might need should you get called for interview (e.g.interpreters, information in different formats etc.), or wouldlike to discuss any aspect of the role in confidence, pleasecontact abigail@metalculture.com.Please note, any information you provide around youraccess requirements for interview will not form part of theshortlisting process.Should your application be successful, as part of ourcommitment to making our working environment asaccessible and supportive as we can, we will invite you tocreate an Access Statement to use as a basis to explorereasonable adjustments and flexible arrangements, if thisis relevant to you.22Draw Hope by Bob and Roberta Smith, commissioned for Estuary 2021, photo: Rob Harris21RecruitmentYour experience If you don’t feel you fully meet all the criteria, but think youwould bring a lot to the job, please apply. The interviews willbe a chance to discuss how this role could be shaped. Weknow that brilliant candidates might already be doing aleadership role or might be looking to take on their first roleof this kind.  Applications Please send us a CV, equal opportunities monitoring formand cover letter (of no more than two sides or via video oraudio file at a maximum of 8 minutes) outlining how youmeet the criteria and why you want the job by 9am onMonday 19 January to: recruitment@metalculture.comthIf you would like to apply in a different format that meetsyour access requirements better, please contact us.  If you would like an informal chat about the role, pleasecontact Bobbi Robertson, Executive Director, Parental Coveron bobbi@metalculture.com.22Interviews Interviews will take place on Tuesday 27 January 2026 inPeterborough and candidates will be given questions/tasksin advance. Travel expenses will be covered. There may bea second interview. Panels may be slightly larger thanusual to give you a chance to meet more of the Metal teamand to involve more of the team in recruitment for thisimportant role. th Feedback We know applications take time and energy and we havetried to make the process as simple as we can. You will benotified by email if you’re unsuccessful at the applicationstage. We are a small team and won’t be able to providefeedback on your application. If you attend an interview,you will receive feedback. Recruitment23Dreamspace, 2025. Image credit: Metal PeterboroughImage credit: Greg Hodge