Overview
Breaking Barriers is an evolving creative organisation in Rochdale with big ideas and ambitions for the future. We are growing fast and have established a new General Manager role to help us set up systems and processes that will lay solid foundations for growth; to work closely with the leadership to support all our people and policies and ensure our people are supported in accordance with our ambitions and values.
The General Manager will be the human resources lead for the organisation, taking the lead in ensuring our company policies are innovative, fair and drive best practice in all areas. They will lead on internal communications and information sharing and help us to set up systems that enable us to monitor our data relating to our workforce, impact and environmental goals. The General Manager will help us to set up and manage our financial systems, and take a lead on management of payroll, operational budgets and liaison with contractors connected to running our premises. They will enable the organisation to work efficiently and create a well organised, dynamic and welcoming working environment that spans a wide range of activity.
This is a part time role (3 days per week), and while it is fixed-term, there is potential to extend the contract and continue to work with us as we develop the organisation.
Main Purpose of the job:
- Developing our HR & Workplace Culture
- Supporting Governance & Reporting
- Finance & Office Management
- Health, Safety & Insurance
About us
Thanks for your interest in Breaking Barriers. We’re an ambitious company working out of (and managing) newly renovated artists studios, Richard Street Studios – in Rochdale Town Centre – right across the road from the train station. We are a multi disciplinary production company that creates exceptional films, theatrical productions, binaural audio pieces and outdoor walking tours with both local communities and international artists. We also develop and deliver artist development programmes with many different partners from our base. We are a small but growing team and we are on the hunt for a part time General Manager to support the evolution of the company and our management processes as we grow.
Breaking Barriers CIC was formed by proud Rochdalian Parvez Qadir in 2020, a British Pakistani Artistic Director who has grown up and still lives in Rochdale – a diverse town with over 50 languages spoken and a rich multi-cultural vibrancy running through its streets. Breaking Barriers was conceived to make high-quality work in Rochdale, to showcase the pool of local talent in the town and to bring audiences from around Greater Manchester (and beyond) to come and see ambitious work made in the area.
The company is jointly led by Parvez Qadir and Jodie Ratcliffe, a working-class female Executive Producer. We also have three non-executive Directors of the CIC and are building a steering group of advisors. We feel that it is of utmost importance for these leadership roles are filled by people who are representative of the people we wish to reach, as we seek to re-address imbalances within diversity and inclusion in the sector. Between them, they have decades of experience working in Greater Manchester, on both small scale and large scale projects.
We make work that people can get involved in, that people feel connected to and empowered by, that takes people on an artistic journey, and that people can be ‘WOWed’ by in their own town. Our ecology often places the community at the heart of the work through co-creation, giving them the autonomy and power to tell their story under the safety, support and creative guidance of our award-winning world class team. We regularly work with communities and artists from a rich tapestry of backgrounds and lived experiences in Rochdale, Greater Manchester and other parts of the country and with a diverse range of partners, investors and commissioners.
Our team is built on collaboration and co-creation, and often melds a combination of artists and skills to create a final outcome. The current team includes a collaborative team of freelance creatives including sound engineers, videographers, photographers, facilitators, production managers, actors and musicians/composers. Breaking Barriers encourage open expression and equity in the collection of ideas to create work. Year upon year, Breaking Barriers has been growing our creative team, our partners and income, our creative ambition and our audience reach. We are supported by a variety of expert individuals that make up the Directors of the CIC and by special advisors.
Future Plans 2024 – 2027
In April 2024 we signed a 7 year lease to operate the Richard Street Studios. We have secured investment to run events and develop inclusive activities for 12 months, including offering use of a small rehearsal/meeting space for free to local artists and creatives for 14 weeks of the year. We are busy developing a 5 year company business plan that places Richard Street Studios at the heart of what we do.
This is an important moment for Breaking Barriers. We are delivering a number of ambitious, co-created digital and live work with communities and young people and also expanding our core team with a new Studio Manager and General Manager. Our General Manager will be a crucial part of our evolution to help support our people and our operations. You will work closely and collaboratively with all staff to ensure that the team feels supported and ensure that our operations financially and environmentally grow in a sustainable way.
We’re looking for someone with the appetite for developing a positive, connected and learning company culture. Someone who is adaptable, ready to get stuck in and work with us to ensure we build a stable future. We are looking for an extremely organised and caring individual who can help drive our organisation into the future. You will need to share our values – we are resourceful, and achieve a lot with a little. We believe in the highest quality experiences. We believe in fairness and equality, we tell brave stories with under-represented communities by valuing their lived experience.
You can see all about us and examples of our work here:
Website: www.breakingbarriersrochdale.co.uk
Instagram: @rochdale.breakingbarriers
Facebook: @breakingbarriers
YouTube: Breaking Barriers CIC – YouTube
Main Duties
HR & Workplace culture
- Act as the primary contact for personnel and contractual matters
- Ensure that HR processes and company policies are people centred, progressive and contribute positively to our ambitions
- Keep up to date with relevant changes in legislation, compliance, record keeping and industry best practice
- Promote a supportive, collaborative and efficient working environment
- Support the development of a Breaking Barriers CIC Appraisal /Performance Management System so that all staff are effectively managed and developed
- Update, manage and share the staff and policy handbook, reviewing and communicating all policies and content annually
- With the Executive Producer and Artistic Director to lead on and monitor staff training and maximise learning opportunities
- Support all recruitment processes to ensure an inclusive process and a representative workforce
- Support each employee’s journey with the organisation from contracting, induction etc
- Maintain systems for personnel contracts and administration
- Help us to set up plans that ensure fairness, equality and climate sustainability is embedded into every level of our company culture
- Help us to set up an Employee Assistance Programme; a Wellbeing Allowance; Theatre Ticket Allowance; Cycle to Work; training and development opportunities.
Supporting Governance & Reporting
- Administer Board and any working sub-group meetings, including setting dates, establishing locations and minute taking
- Work with the Executive Producer and Artistic Director to collate and distribute papers prior to the meeting
- Be responsible for keeping up to date records with Companies House
- To work with the Executive Producer, Artistic Director and Studio Manager to coordinate monitoring and evaluation for the organisation, ensuring the staff team are embedding this into project planning and delivery
- Set up systems to monitor Breaking Barriers environmental impact and support the development of a plan improve the environmental sustainability of the company
- Lead on the reporting to Arts Council England for any project funded activity
- Support the development of fundraising approaches and bid writing
Finance & Office Management
- Manage Breaking Barriers administrative and overhead budgets ensuring expenditure is controlled and value for money is sought
- Collate and code financial information for the Bookkeeper and Accountant, issue and process invoices, petty cash and staff expenditure and credit card reconciliations
- To manage the payroll – ensuring salaries and deductions are administered correctly
- Office management and liaison including overseeing stationery including finding affordable ethical suppliers, furniture purchase, desk safety audit, photocopier, etc.
Health, Safety and Insurance
- Work with the Breaking Barriers team to ensure responsibility for the health and safety of Breaking Barriers premises and project delivery
- Ensure our risk assessments and policies follow best practice
- Ensure that Breaking Barriers carries adequate insurance, administering any claims against insurance should they arise.
Other
- Be an advocate for and represent Breaking Barriers at events and support our productions
- Carry out any other duties as can be reasonably expected as an employee of Breaking Barriers
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking someone who will enjoy being at the heart of our small but ambitious team during a time of evolution and growth. Ideally we’d like you to work in our accessible studio, but we are open to a discussion around flexible working. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to take the next steps in their arts management career with a fixed-term contract alongside another role or freelance career, or someone more experienced who is seeking to reduce their hours and invest their energy in a driven team who excel on delivering impact.
Your experience and knowledge will include creating the systems and environments in which people can do their best work, excellent administrative and organisational skills and sound financial management. We would prefer you to have an active interest in the arts as someone who can engage with all aspects of the job description.
Person Specification
- A minimum of five years’ experience in an administrative role in an arts, media or charitable organisation
- Experience of financial processes, including budget monitoring
- Understanding of HR policy, processes and best practice
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with a wide range of people
- Understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace
- Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to effectively prioritise
- A commitment to access and inclusion
- Experience or understanding of supporting fundraising bids, reporting and Arts Council of England funding requirements
- Drivers licence is desirable but not essential
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We will take positive action around this by guaranteeing an interview to any applicant who self-identifies as disabled, and/or as Global Majority, and who has general manager experience or appropriate transferable experience in a cultural organisation. If you self-identify as having this background and experience, please state so in your supporting statement as outlined below.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Annual salary: £35,000 pro rata (3 days = £21,000)
Status: 3 days a week, 12 month fixed term contract PAYE
Holiday Entitlement: statutory holidays of 28 days (pro rata) plus all public bank holidays
Probationary period: 3 months
Notice period: 1 month
Hours of work 21 hours per week, including some out of hours work as required
Place of work: A combination of in-person work at the Studio (Richard Street Studios, 44-46 Richard Street, Rochdale, OL11 1DU) as well as some virtual meetings and work from home days. The postholder will also be expected to attend some Breaking Barriers events and performances across the region.
Pension: The Company makes a 3% contribution into the company’s group
personal pension plan on condition that the employee makes a minimum
contribution of 5%, totalling an 8% pension contribution
Closing date: Wednesday 19th June, 9am
Line Manager Executive Producer
Contract Fixed-term 1 year contract
Working hours 3 days per week
Core working hours are between 10am – 4pm Monday
to Friday but we are open to conversations around
flexible hours during the interview process.
Occasional evening and weekend work will be
required, and we operate a TOIL (time off in lieu)
system for this.
Location At present the team work 4 days a week from our studio in Rochdale but we are frequently off site for project delivery. We are open to a conversation with interested candidates during the interview process about how to maintain a presence in the studios during core hours.
How To Apply
To apply for the General Manager role at Breaking Barriers, please send a supporting statement outlining why you want to work with us and how you meet the person specification, and your CV to studio@breakingbarriersrochdale.com
If you’d prefer to send your supporting statement in the form of a short video, please send one no longer than 4 minutes.
Please also complete an anonymous Equal Opportunities Monitoring form which can be accessed here: Equalities Monitoring Form – Google Forms
We guarantee first round interviews to candidates who identify as having a disability and or as Global Majority and have appropriate transferable experience in the cultural sector. If you see yourself as someone who meets these criteria, please say so in your supporting statement.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 19th June, 9am
Interviews
First round interviews will take place at Richard Street Studios, Rochdale, with Parvez Qadir (Artistic Director), Jodie Racliffe (Executive Producer) and Ayla Suveren (Cultural Strategist).
There’s an opportunity that there might be a second round of interviews, either online or in person.