Deputy Director, Arts (Maternity Cover)


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£86,000 to £86,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	28 Sept 2026
Closing date:	12 Oct 2026

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Summary

We are looking for a high performing and motivated individual to lead the Arts Team as a maternity leave cover for up to one year.

Responsibilities for the role include:

Leadership of a c20 person team and a visible leadership role in the wider Culture Directorate as part of its Senior Management Team;
Develop close and strong relationships with stakeholders across the arts sector, understanding their businesses and art forms and representing their interests across central government to improve the arts offering for citizens.
Senior sponsorship of Arts Council England (ACE) – one of DCMS’s largest Arm’s Length Bodies. Sponsorship includes managing senior relationships and working closely with ACE on their strategic objectives and design and deliver of some of their core programmes. Sponsorship also includes oversight and assurance of their governance, budgets and representing theirs and the wider arts sectors’ interests at Spending Reviews and Fiscal events.
Along with ACE, implementing the findings of the independent Review of the Arts Council.
Developing future funding models and policy to ensure the sustainability of the arts sector – including acting as SRO at DCMS for a number of ACE delivered programmes, such as the £425m Creative Foundations Fund.
Developing and delivering policy across government on core issues affecting the arts sector – including working with Department for Education on cultural education and skills policy, and on other core issues such as philanthropy, devolution, cultural taxation, among others.

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