News Archive

Valleys Literature Development Officer

Job Description

Purpose of job:

To develop and manage a three–year pilot project in the local authority areas of Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent, developing literature and creative writing opportunities.  The programme will start in summer 2007.  It comprises the following elements:

• Research and development
• Developing strategies for literature development across the Valleys area
• Developing and co-coordinating a programme of literature activities and sourcing funding
• Increasing participation of key community groups (e.g. Welsh/ other languages, disability, social need, BME communities)
• Setting up new writers groups, with particular regard to skill-building and identifying and encouraging new writing talent in the Valleys

Responsibilities:

1. To liaise, through the Academi, with key officers from the participating local authorities to develop the project.

2. To devise appropriate strategies with and for each of the participating local authorities.

3. To identify and generate funding sources to finance the programme of activities

4. To undertake the marketing of the programme and devise appropriate publicity and networking regimes.

5. To devise and implement monitoring and evaluation systems

6. To work within the budget constraints of the project in consultation with appropriate Academi officers.

7. To work within the Academi’s existing all-Wales literature programme

8. To fulfil all reporting requirements through the Academi to the Project Steering Group

9. To lay the basis for the legacy of the project

Person Specification:

Essential:
• experience of managing literature or arts projects
• knowledge of contemporary writers and writing genres
• event management experience and organisational skills
• communication and teamwork skills
• administration skills, including reporting, IT skills and the ability to handle budgets
• ability to work on more than one project simultaneously
• willingness and availability to travel and to work flexibly in the evenings and at weekends as necessary
• commitment to equal opportunities and language issues
• own transport and current driving license

Desirable:
• experience of using creative writing in community contexts
• experience of working in a range of sensitive contexts
• experience of multi-agency working
• marketing experience

The post-holder will need to undergo a CRB check.

The post-holder will be based in the Academi’s Cardiff offices but will also be expected to work in other spaces within the project area.  The Academi will manage this post on behalf of the participating local authorities.  The Valleys Literature Development Officer will present monthly progress reports (including financial reports).

An advisory group comprising representatives of the Academi, the Arts Council of Wales and representatives from the participating local authorities will be established to guide the project.  Meetings will take place one month after the Project Manager is appointed, and thereafter as appropriate but at least six-monthly. 

The Academi and its partner local authorities are committed bilingual organisations.

Fee: £20,000 per year for a three year contract which will be subject to review after 6 months and again after two years + an attractive package of up to £10,000 travel and subsistence allowances during this period.

Closing date for applications: Friday 1st June 2007
Invitations to interview: dispatched in the week beginning 18th June 2007
Interview date: Thursday 28th June 2007

Commencement date: as soon as possible thereafter.

The successful candidate, however, will be expected to meet representatives of the partner local authorities at a meeting on Wednesday 18th July at 9.30am at the Academi’s Glyn Jones Centre Offices at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Supported by:
Academi, The Arts Council of Wales, The Welsh Assembly Government, The National Lottery (through the Arts Council of Wales) and Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen County Borough Councils.

Academi  (Yr Academi Gymreig / the Welsh Academy)
is the Welsh national Literature promotion Agency & Society for Writers.
Chief Executive: Peter Finch
3rd floor, Mount Stuart House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff CF10 5FQ
www.academi.org  post@academi.org