PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Managing Director will work in partnership with the Director and as part of the senior management team to operationally lead QUEERCIRCLE. The purpose of the job is to lead QUEERCIRCLE’s financial and operations management and contribute to the organisation’s fundraising and business plan.

RESPONSIBLE FOR

Fundraising and Income Generation, Finance, Governance and Legal, HR, IT, Operations and Premises.
Any other duties reasonably requested by the Director & senior management and QUEERCIRCLE Board. As QUEERCIRCLE’s operational lead, most areas of the organisation will fall under your remit and you will be willing to pitch in as required, as everyone at QUEERCIRCLE does through collaborative working.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

We know that brilliant candidates might already be doing a Managing Director job or might be looking to take on their first Managerial role.
If you don’t think you fully meet all the criteria, but think you would bring a lot to the job, please apply. The interviews will be a chance to discuss how this new role could be shaped. 

LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY

• Provide strategic leadership across the organisation with the Director and seniormanagement, inspiring QUEERCIRCLE’s team to achieve our mission;

• Co-chair QUEERCIRCLE’s senior management meetings, chair the income generation (enterprise) working group and other groups as required;

• Be QUEERCIRCLE’s finance, HR and operations lead, developing flexible yet robust approaches that can be implemented across the organisation

• Play a key role in leading QUEERCIRCLE’s environmental sustainability agenda;

• Play a leadership role in developing QUEERCIRCLE as a diverse, inclusive and accessible organisation;

• Lead on business-critical issues as they arise and on business continuity;

• Manage key staff and freelancers as required;

• Deputise for the Director & as needed;

• Be a persuasive advocate and spokesperson for QUEERCIRCLE and the sector.

FINANCE & GOVERNANCE

• Have responsibility for overall financial management alongside the Director including payroll, the annual audit, quarterly management accounts, setting organisational budgets while delegating budget responsibility to the senior management team;

• Work closely with Board’s finance representatives, accountants and the Director to ensure financial viability, cash flow and continuous budgeting;

• Ensure the organisation fulfils its mission and legal obligations, including the Charity Commission, Companies House, Data Protection (GDPR), Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Employment Law and staff wellbeing. 

• Lead co-development of policies, governance and partnership agreements with our communities, partners and networks. Update on a regular basis.

• Lead on QUEERCIRCLE ’s approach to contracts and negotiate larger grant/partnership agreements;

• Be QUEERCIRCLE’s Safeguarding lead;

• Lead the preparation of Board agendas, reports and papers with the Director, Board Chair

FUNDRAISING & STAKEHOLDERS

• Develop and manage key strategic relationships with stakeholders including local authorities, national agencies and funders like Arts Council England.

• Support our Director with the development and implementation of a new earned income strategy.

• Identify new funding streams and write trust and foundation applications.

• Oversee all reporting to funders.

Operations & HR

• Have oversight of QUEERCIRCLE’s premises management and create a coherent approach to building management with building partners ;

• Have operational oversight of the organisation including risk management, resource management, IT, insurance, contracts and IP. 

• Develop forecasting and reporting approaches that allow QUEERCIRCLE’s leadership to anticipate and plan resources effectively;

• Support the organisational approach to programme evaluation including social impact;

• Oversee HR and create a positive working culture with all staff, freelancers and volunteers.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrable leadership experience in areas of fundraising, finance and operations in a cultural

• organisation or charity;

• A successful track record of developing business plans and managing diverse income streams from new sources;

• Strong experience in strategic fundraising and managing relationships with major funders and stakeholders;

• Proven financial management with knowledge and experience of legal financial obligations;

• Knowledge of operational procedures and policies required to manage an organisation and premises for creative use;

• Experience of risk management, good organisational governance and working with a Board of Trustees.

DESIRABLE

• An understanding and experience of working regionally across multiple sites;

• Knowledge of managing a Registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee;

• Knowledge of a National Portfolio Organisation relationship with Arts Council England.

• Knowledge of earned income generation.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Demonstrable ability to translate strategic objectives and ideas into effective delivery and operational management;

• Ability to manage artistic risk with sound financial judgement;

• Excellent people and interpersonal skills, especially the ability to establish effective and positive relationships with a wide variety of people, stakeholders and organisations;

• Ability to multi-task and manage a complex mix of sites, teams and programmes;

• Highly organised approach to work with strong attention to detail;

• Excellent communication skills.

APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP

• An ambitious and inspiring leader who committed to radically different approaches to accepted ways of working;

• Excellent team builder who values diverse experiences and has a strong commitment to developing staff;

• Resilience and responsiveness to the constantly changing cultural and financial environment;

• Strong commitment to equality, diversity and anti-racism across all aspects of work and an understanding of how organisational infrastructure and culture impacts them;

• A passion for driving change to support environmental sustainability;

• An advocate for hospitality, generosity, access and care for staff, artists, audiences and the wider public. Leading by example with a generosity of spirit;

• Knowing when to keep a strategic overview and make space for others and when to be in the detail;

• A problem-solving, positive attitude and a can-do approach.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We value different perspectives and experiences and welcome diversity in all its forms. We particularly encourage applications from the global majority, LGBTQIA+, working class people and/or people with disabilities.

ACCESS 

QUEERCIRCLE will make every reasonable adjustment to the office or to working arrangements to accommodate the needs of people with different abilities. You can discuss any access needs you may have at any stage of the application process on recuritment@queercircle.org 

APPLICATIONS

Please send us a CV and personal statement (of no more than two sides or via video or audio file at a maximum of 8 minutes) outlining how you meet the criteria and why you want the job to recruitment@queercircle.org with the subject line ‘Managing Director’ by 6 September 2024

Fill out our Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form: https://kruuxebr6qy.typeform.com/to/KWD00ReP 

If you would like to apply in a different format that meets your access requirements better, please contact us. If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact: recruitment@queercircle.org

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will take place on 26 September at QUEERCIRCLE and candidates will be given questions/tasks in advance. There may be a second interview on 17 October. Panels may be slightly larger than usual to give you a chance to meet more of the QUEERCIRCLE team and to involve more of the team in recruitment for this important role.

FEEDBACK

We know applications take time and energy and we have tried to make the process as simple as we can. You will be notified by email if you’re unsuccessful at the application stage. We are a small team and won’t be able to provide feedback on your application. If you attend an interview, you will receive feedback.