The Unit delivers the Mayor’s Culture Strategy for London, supporting an exciting, world-leading city of inspiration and opportunities for everyone. We do this through a wide range of programmes that support the arts and creative industries to grow and be accessible to all, and the capital to become the number one destination for 24-hour culture and entertainment. Projects we work on across the Unit include the London Borough of Culture, the Creative Economy Growth programme, Creative Enterprise Zones, East Bank, the Fourth Plinth Programme, Diversity in the Public Realm and 24 Hour London Task Force.
The Making Space for Culture Manager heads up a team of four within Space for Culture – with a focus on creating new, high quality, fit for purpose cultural space which serves the needs of all Londoners. This involves setting the strategic direction of the team as well as personally leading and bringing experience to cultural infrastructure and planning projects. The Making Space for Culture team plays a strategic role in the delivery of a range of cultural infrastructure initiatives including East Bank, the Thames Estuary Production Corridor, the Creative Land Trust, ReStage, the International Centre for Creative Industries and London Museum as well as developing opportunities for new spaces and ensuring these projects are integrated across the Mayor’s policies and programmes.
Good Growth
Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.
Principal accountabilities
1. Provide strategic leadership on a range of initiatives, programmes and policies related to Making Space for Culture in service of the Mayor's mandates to boost London’s growth sectors and support local economies to thrive. Lead and deliver the programme and staff resources in line with planned performance and outputs to time, budget commitments identifying any risks and issues as appropriate. Contribute to development of continuing strategic planning, research and analysis across the programme and the Space for Culture team.
2. Progress the development and implementation of large scale strategic cultural infrastructure projects in line with Mayoral priorities, currently including the International Centre for Creative Industries, East Bank, London Museum, ReStage and others as they emerge, particularly where they align with Mayoral developments, Opportunity Areas or GLA funding programmes. Represent GLA interests in steering committees, advisory boards and working groups related to capital projects as required and maintain high quality relationships with relevant senior level stakeholders.
3. Influence and develop new strategic partnerships based on evolving sector issues and programme aims to encourage best practice in all areas of cultural infrastructure– towards the aim of more sustainable and stable culture and community assets. Engage with internal and external stakeholders to influence their work on the further development of the programme, including the Regeneration, Economic Development, Housing & Land, Planning Environment, Skills and Community and Social Policy teams, London & Partners, Transport for London, London’s creative industries, businesses, higher education, and government departments.
4. Maintain knowledge of regional, national or international initiatives and best practice in culture, regeneration, planning and skills to keep the GLA’s thinking and work abreast of latest developments., including contributing to and managing dedicated research which furthers the aims of the Space for Culture programme.
5. Provide and contribute to written and oral briefings and specialist reports related to culture and the creative industries and key issues relating to the programme for the Mayor and his advisors, GLA staff, government departments and London and national organisations including:
drafting timely responses to Mayoral questions and correspondence
providing concise briefings and responses to questions
providing meeting management and secretariat functions for key meetings
representing the GLA at external events and meetings
timely responses to the London Assembly’s scrutiny function
6. Contribute to the development of policies and strategies within the Culture and Creative Industries Unit and wider GLA Group.
7. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of
opportunities, and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities
8. Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and
responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams
9. Manage staff and resources in allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards
10. Undertake any other additional duties and tasks reasonably assigned to the role.
Person Specification
Technical requirements/experience/qualifications
Successful track record of creative industries policy development and programme delivery in a complex political environment, including working with local, regional and central government partners.
Experience in or knowledge of London regeneration, planning, licensing and lease negotiations and built environment contexts.
Experience of programme, project and team management – delivering projects to a specific timeline, securing partnerships, running campaigns and strong communications and project management working across teams.
Experience of carrying out extensive research with a number of partners to produce reports and recommendations.
Significant experience of engaging with high level stakeholders and politicians and managing communications in a political context.
Good working knowledge of local government structures and working and how culture is delivered across London Boroughs.
Good negotiating, influencing and communication skills, including experience of preparing written reports, letters and briefings, presentational skills and confidence in public speaking.
A good working knowledge of London’s culture and creative industries.
Behavioural competencies
Building and managing relationships… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.
Level three indicators of effective performance:
Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives
Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities
Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict
Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect
Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership
Strategic thinking …is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.
Level three Indicators of Effective Performance
Translates GLA vision and strategy into practical and tangible plans for own team or delivery partners
Consistently takes account of the wider implications of team’s actions for the GLA
Encourages self and others to think about organisation’s long term potential
Informs strategy development by identifying gaps in current delivery or evidence
Takes account of a wide range of public and partner needs to inform team’s work
Communicating and Influencing... is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.
Level 3 indicators of effective performance:
Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is
necessary and brokers agreement
Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation
