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Forward Prizes Manager We seek a highly organised and motivated individual to manage the Forward Prizes for Poetry and to ensure the smooth running of the Forward Arts Foundation. This is a part-‐time, 4 days a week post, based in our offices at Somerset House (London) and reporting to the Executive Director. OVERVIEW: We expect you • To manage the Forward Prizes: organising submissions, creating timelines, preparing the judging meetings, promoting the Prizes and Forward Books, working on event venue logistics, liaising with sponsors Forward Worldwide on book production • To work on year-‐round communications across the organisation, including National Poetry Day • To manage an efficient and productive office, serving as main conduit for the administrative and operations workflow, preparing paperwork for audit, monitoring income/expenditure and liaising with the Accountant, Finance Sub-‐Committee and Administrator CANDIDATE PROFILE: The ideal candidate will be meticulous, efficient and highly organised, familiar with the contemporary UK poetry sector, with at least three years of experience of working in a literature/arts/cultural organisation, building audiences, organising events and managing timelines, budgets and financial administration. S/he should be a fluent user of social media and database software and confident with Excel, InDesign and Wordpress. Project management and marketing experience a definite advantage. SKILLS SPECIFICATION: Essential • Familiarity with the UK poetry sector, including poets, publishers and organisations • At least three years of experience in one of the following: publishing, a literature/arts/cultural organisation, running a prize/award, event management • Experience with accounts, budgets, financial reporting. Fluent in Excel. • Ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders • Strong social media marketing skills • Familiarity with Wordpress CMS • Event management experience • Project management experience Desirable • InDesign experience • Experience using Submittable, or other online submissions software • Experience of working on a CRM database Page 1 of 3
SALARY & BENEFITS: • £25,000 pro rata per annum. • 25 days’ annual leave per annum (pro-‐rated to 20 days per annum); defined contribution pension scheme for all employees. • A varied and fulfilling job in a leading literary charity; a chance to work closely with writers, publishers and producers KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Forward Prizes and Books • Creating and maintaining timelines and workflow streams for the Forward Prizes and Forward Books. • Managing submissions, liaising with judges and shortlisted poets. • Working with Editor and Designer at Forward Worldwide on book production • Manage mail-‐outs; entry forms, books, invitations etc • Lead on all event logistics for the Forward Prize ceremony in partnership with Southbank Centre Communications • Work with the Executive Director and external PR agency on implementation of year-‐round communications strategy, including drafting regular e-‐newsletters & social media posts • Basic maintenance and updates of website • General design work; entry forms, invitations, adverts Financial Management • Draw up budgets/cash flows with Executive Director, FAF Accountant and Finance Committee. • Monitor all income and expenditure, including banking, issuing payments, chasing invoices and regular cashflow forecasting • Prepare financial and other monitoring reports for finance committee, statutory funders and other donors.
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ABOUT FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION: “So how do you even begin to measure the weight of love? It wasn’t just that my name was called that shocked me – it was the fact that the audience, there at the Southbank Centre, whooped and shouted ‘Yesss!’” – Kei Miller on winning the Forward Prize for Poetry 2014. Forward Arts Foundation is a charity that enables all to enjoy, discover and share poetry. Through our two main programmes, National Poetry Day and the Forward Prizes for Poetry – and the Forward books – we celebrate excellence in poetry and widen its audience. The Forward Prizes for Poetry, now in their 25th year, are among the literary world’s most coveted awards: in the words of Carol Ann Duffy, they “have turned a spotlight on contemporary poetry which is both searching and glamorous”. Each year three Forward prizes – for Best Collection, Best First Collection and Best Single Poem – are awarded at the Royal Festival Hall in September, and the winners enjoy international prestige. The prizes are unique in placing new voices alongside established writers: past winners include Thom Gunn, Ted Hughes, Alice Oswald, Seamus Heaney, Daljit Nagra, Simon Armitage and Claudia Rankine. The annual Forward Book of Poetry, distributed in conjunction with Faber & Faber, is an anthology of works by 15 shortlisted and 100 highly-‐commended poets, which is sold in bookshops and online, and distributed to schools.
APPLICATION: Please submit your CV with an accompanying letter, setting out your reasons for applying for this post and drawing attention to particularly relevant qualifications that match the profile and skills specification. Two referees’ names should be included but references will only be taken up in the event of your being selected for the post. Please say how you found out about this job. Applications should be addressed to Susannah Herbert and submitted via our Submittable page. You should receive an email confirming receipt of your email application within 2 working days. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, as they are under-‐ represented within the arts. We believe poetry is for everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, maternity and pregnancy, race, religion, class and sexual orientation. Forward Arts Foundation is an equal opportunities employer. The closing date for applications is 18 May 2016. Interviews will take place over the week of 23 May.
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