Head of Culture and Leisure Services

We are a dynamic local authority providing essential services to the people of Gloucester City. We are passionate about the city and what we do. We are an equal opportunities employer, we want our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and our inclusive culture to enable everyone to bring their whole true self to work.

In keeping with our strategy and values we work together to deliver our very best for residents and the city. We offer unique career opportunities whether you are looking to start, develop or progress your career.

Our main office, based in the Eastgate Centre on Eastgate Street in the heart of the city, is an accessible, modern and light space designed for collaborative working and finding new ways to work. It’s all open plan, with a living green wall, flexible seating area and without set desks, so you can sit next to someone new every day. Our main office isn’t the only place you’ll find our talented teams though, our staff run some of the popular venues and attractions we have in the city, like the Museum of Gloucester, Blackfriars and the Gloucester Guildhall, and provide community-based services like the crematorium and shop mobility.

We’re continually looking to improve how we work and we offer flexible and agile working to give our people a great work life balance. Many of our teams work remotely from home utilising the office for collaborative team sessions.

About Us, The Team & Role

Gloucester is an important small city in the SW of England with a fast-developing cultural offer that is in the process of significant regeneration and investment.

This role presents an unique opportunity for the right person to lead Gloucester through a period of growth within its cultural offer, as well as to oversee the next phase of development of the city’s leisure facilities and their management.

Identified as a Priority Place by Arts Council England, Gloucester has recently attracted both capital and revenue cultural investment into the city’s cultural venues and the city now has 4 organisations that are part of the Arts Council’s National Portfolio (NPO) scheme for 2023-2026. The ambition around culture remains high and this is demonstrated by its Cultural Strategy and the strength of the ongoing investment by the council into its Culture and services. Levelling Up funding has recently been received for Greyfriars Quarter, which will unlock the development a new cultural venue in the heart of the city.

The Head of Service for Culture and Leisure is a key role in the strategic development and delivery of the city’s cultural, tourism and Leisure offer for the city of Gloucester. The post-holder will work with Gloucester Culture Trust and others to deliver the strategy and cultural vision for the city. In addition, you will lead the delivery of the city’s vibrant programme across its venues and public spaces, parks and squares.

Partnerships, relationships, advocacy, strategy.

As part of the council’s senior leadership team, not only will you represent the council in your areas, you will also manage key relationships with external stakeholders, advocate for Gloucester and champion its cultural sector, whilst delivering an inclusive, sustainable and vibrant cultural offer. You will contribute to strategic decision-making in support of the work of the council and ensure relevant councillors and cabinet members are briefed on the activity of the services you oversee.

The scope includes overall responsibility for the Museum of Gloucester and its collections, Gloucester Guildhall and the award-winning Blackfriars Priory. It includes the outdoor festivals and events programme and delivery of key events such as Gloucester Tall Ships Festival and Gloucester Goes Retro, as well as film and site permissions and the marketing of Gloucester through the Visit Gloucester channels.

You’ll also have line management responsibility for the areas of Cultural Development, Visitor Experience and Tourism and Destination Marketing and be the commissioner for Leisure services contract. You’ll be a great communicator, able to inspire and successfully deliver change and improvements.

Equality and Diversity

We recognise the positive value of equality and diversity and pride ourselves on growing a high-performing workforce that is diverse, skilled and talented.

We aim to recruit a diverse pool of talent and will recruit the person who is most suited to the job without regard to their race, colour, religion or belief, age, nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, caring responsibilities or disability.

We are a disability confident employer committed to removing barriers to employment to those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure to ensure that no-one is disadvantaged because of disability, impairment, neurodiversity, or long-term health/ mental health condition. Please contact the recruitment team if you require support or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process. Recruitment@Gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Further information on reasonable adjustments can be found Here Accessibility Our commitment to Equality and Diversity can be found Here (Equality and Diversity).

How to apply

If you feel you have the skills, desire and experience required to make a positive difference then applications should be received in the form of a CV and Covering Letter before the deadline of midnight on Sunday 10^th March. Please submit your application via email to exrecruit@gloucestershire.gov.uk or click apply below

For more information please contact:

Philip Walker, Head of Culture and Leisure services: philip.walker@gloucester.gov.uk & 01452 396355 OR Ruth Saunders, Corporate Director: Ruth.saunders@gloucester.gov.uk & 01452 396789