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Contract 1: (COOF32) Fixed Term until 31 March 2027, working 35 hours per week. (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Contract 2: (COO14) Permanent, working 35 hours per week. (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £28,662 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Manchester or Cambridge (The roles will be based in any of the locations listed; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
We are seeking to appoint two Assistant roles. Your application will be considered for both roles, however if you have a preference, please include this in your supporting statement. If open to both positions, there is no need to include a preference. Please note the different contract types and additional specific role details for each role.
Introductions:
Capital Assistant, Music Hubs (COOF32)
The Capital Assistant role will provide administrative assistance and support to the Music Hub Investment team, specifically the administration of the DfE’s £25million capital investment in musical instruments for Music Hubs.
Assistant, Music Hubs (COO14)
The Music Hub programme funds a network of 43 Hub partnerships which cover every area of England. The Arts Council delivers the Hub programme on behalf of the Department for Education. In addition to the core revenue funding for new Music Hubs, the Department for Education is investing a further £25 million in musical instruments and equipment, and technology where it is used specifically for music-making purposes and to benefit children and young people.
The Assistant role will provide administrative assistance and support to all the Music Hub team and programme.
Role Details for both roles:
You will provide administrative assistance to Senior Officers, Senior Managers and Directors, servicing and event-managing internal and external business meetings and co-ordinating administrative processes: collating and distributing agendas and papers, note-taking and following-up on actions, and providing support for cross-team working groups and other committees, as required.
You will undertake small research tasks, preparing briefings, gathering and disseminating information, and running administrative support systems for the team: including workload planning, data entry, record filing and archiving.
You will provide support to the team’s administrative procedures: raising purchase orders and contracts, producing budget reports, reviewing information and processing payments as requested.
You will monitor the Music Hub inbox and act as the first point of contact for the Music Hub team, responding to queries and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
You will combine your ability to plan and prioritise with a flexibility and curiosity to work beyond this area of work, contributing to areas outside of your daily responsibilities within the Music Hub team’s activities.
Candidates should be organised and be able to develop processes and systems to support effective administration within a team.
You will be required to travel on occasion to other Arts Council locations across England as well as to organisations that we fund.
You will contribute to a positive working culture in the organisation by taking a proactive approach to learning, responding to change, inclusive practice, and environmental responsibility, ensuring an inclusive working environment whereby everybody feels respected and valued, reflecting the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the Arts Council’s values with a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Specific Role Details and Key Relationships
Capital Assistant
In addition to the above role details, your role will work specifically on DfE’s capital investment in musical instruments for Music Hubs. Knowledge and experience of grant management and capital projects is desirable but not essential.
You will also work with the Music Education team. You will also work with colleagues across the Chief Operating Officer’s team which the Music Hub team is based, offering flexible support as needed.
You will work closely with the investment and risk colleagues in the Music Hub team, as well as with the Assistant for the Music Hubs programme and the wider network of Assistants at Arts Council to ensure the sharing of good practises.
Organisationally, we operate as a fully interconnected structure, and you will be expected to work in an environment that relies on collaboration, flexibility, and the ability to manage both formal and informal reporting relationships.
Assistant, Music Hubs
In addition to the above role details, you will provide personal assistance to the Director, Music Education, promoting optimal use of time by coordinating meetings and making travel arrangements and ensuring that the Director is well briefed in advance.
You will work closely with the Assistant (Arts & Culture) who will support the Children & Young People team and the Music Education team. You will also work with colleagues across the Chief Operating Officer’s team which the Music Hub team is based, offering flexible support as needed.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
Disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent people and those from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds are underrepresented in our workforce so we particularly encourage applications from people in these groups.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan – a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding – either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application guidance and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description for Capital Assistant, Music Hubs (COOF32) please click here
To view the job description for Assistant, Music Hubs (COO14) please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: COOF32 and COO14
Closing date: 11:59pm, Monday 27 April 2026
Interviews: (Virtual) 13, 14 or 15 May 2026
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
