JOB VACANCY AT SURTAL ARTS – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

About Surtal Arts:

We exist to celebrate the richness of South Asian Heritage, making it meaningful and resonant for today and future generations. As a cultural bridge, we connect communities, deepen cultural awareness, and inspire a shared future, one where diversity is embraced, creativity thrives, and everyone has a place in the story we are shaping together. Our purpose informs all of our decisions.

Surtal Arts is a charitable contemporary arts organisation, with thirty years’ experience in Derby and the East Midlands. Our strengths are a deep specialism in South Asian Arts, Culture and Heritage and strengths in dance, music, heritage visual Arts, outdoor and participatory work. Our ambitious artistic programme features big cultural moments, original contemporary works, cross-cultural performances and enrichment programmes for children and young people.

Through commissioning our network of artists, communities, and partners, we celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and unlock creative potential. In anticipation of the retirement of the current job-holder, and following a strategic review led by the Board, we are now looking to recruit an Artistic Director to take Surtal Arts forward, working together with a Business Development Manager.

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Location: Our activities are focused in East Midlands. The applicant should be available for one contact day per week to work with team members (if requested by the Board). Applicants with flexible working preferences are welcome.

Duration/Salary/Hours: The appointment is for twelve months, and may be extended, subject to funding. It is a part-time role. £9,360 per annum

Description: The Business Development Manager is responsible for:

•  Working closely with the Artistic Director, providing support in the arrangement of events and activities.
• Taking the lead in identifying funding opportunities, including the development and submission of grant applications, Trust & Foundations, Crowd funding and business sponsorship
• Developing a project framework for managing and measuring principal strategic projects
• Income /payments management (in conjunction with Board member)
• Identifying and engaging with potential partners and sponsors
• Forming relationships with key stakeholders, e.g local council, business sponsors, community leaders, schools, funding bodies etc
• Strengthening existing processes for working with key suppliers (eg marketing, PR, photography etc)
• Audit and strengthen existing data collection processes
• Develop Partnership and Sponsorship packs
• Ad hoc projects requested /approved by Board

Requirements

We are looking for someone who can both shape this new role and deliver tangible business outputs.

Essential criteria include:

• Experience in fundraising – you will have a track record making successful grant applications ie local authority, Arts Council, trusts and foundations, donations etc
• Experience in securing business sponsorships
• Strategic thinker – focussed on developing effective processes and relationships that serve a sustainable future for the organisation and audiences.
• Self-motivated and proactive – skilled at identifying business problems and developing solutions.
• Organised, dynamic and flexible – capable of responding to business development opportunities as they arise, making use of in-house and external resource and expertise
• Excellent communicator, negotiator and presenter – you will be capable of engaging effectively with stakeholders, artists, our target audiences, communities and the Board.
• Knowledge and links with Derby’s communities (South Asian and wider)
• Strong project management skills – managing budgets, cashflow, planning, report writing, pitch/presentation, resource management
• Good knowledge of modern marketing and PR, and ability to commission and manage external experts in this field
• Experience developing systems for activity monitoring and evaluation

Desirable criteria include:

• Passion for arts and heritage– being a champion for this creativity can support the relationships and opportunities you will develop as part of this role.
•  Awareness of local youth, education and family agendas
• Professional networks across the region and sector
• Bi/multilingual in a South Asian language – preferably Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to being an inclusive organisation that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas and innovation. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Application

Please submit your application (covering letter and CV) to edcom@surtalarts.co.uk by 5.00pm, 14th November.