Job Description

Freelance contract

Fee: 13,000 plus any travel or subsistence costs associated with travel to and from

working in Oxford for these services. You will be responsible for your own national

insurance and income tax payments as a freelance worker.

Approximately 65 days of work over a 9 month period

Starting: 1st Feb 2026 (handover in Dec 2025 / Jan 2026 as arranged and mutually agreed)

Deadline for applications: 9am, Monday 8th December 2025

OCM is looking for someone with a significant level of experience in programme planning for activities in community settings, and the successful project management, delivery and embedding of those activities. We also require a proven track record in strategic planning of community engagement and fundraising for this area of work (predominantly with trusts, foundations and public funding). This role will encompass the work of our Community and Learning Producer who will be on maternity leave, as well as some additional responsibilities as described.

OCM will embark on a period of long term strategic planning for the organisation in 2026. The freelancer will support and contribute to this process, and will therefore need to demonstrate relevant experience and an ability to work with senior management to create an ambitious vision and clear aims for OCM's community engagement and learning activities for 2027-2031.

OCM's current programme of activity focuses on family learning, music making workshops for teens and pre-teens, skills development for young adults, music programming for community events, one-off workshops tied into the concert/commissioning programme, and co-creation/participatory projects within our commissioning programme. We have a successful programme that currently takes place in the Barton and Blackbird Leys areas of

Oxford.

You are free to carry out your work from your own office or place of your choice using your

own computer and telephone equipment. The OCM Oxford office facilities will be made

available to you.

You will need to have Public Liability Insurance if it is deemed necessary at any stage during

your contract in relation to the work undertaken.

Scope of the work:

Planning & Delivery

? Liaising with schools, community groups and promoters to set up workshops, performances and projects for young people and the wider community within an

agreed budget.

? Research into where there is a need and desire for music activities in local communities around Oxfordshire, developing new partnerships and relationships where needed in order to reach OCM's target audiences. Finding key community contacts and nurturing new relationships.

? Planning programme activity and project managing the delivery of workshops and activities.

? Keeping informed about education and outreach work of other organisations in the county and working with these organisations where appropriate.

? Keeping informed about county and city-wide initiatives and working to contribute to

such strategies when appropriate e.g. Cultural Education Partnership, Oxfordshire

Music Education Partnership.

? Liaising with the Director regarding opportunities for visiting artists to take part in the community and learning programmes.

? In close liaison with the Director and Senior Management Team, undertake strategic planning for the long term direction and content of the community and learning programme, in line with the organisation's strategic aims.

Fundraising

? Liaising with current funders to keep them informed of the progress of the

programme, including invitations to events and workshops where appropriate.

? Working with the Director, Associate Director, and Deputy Director to plan and deliver

funding applications for activity in 2026-2027 and beyond.

Administration, policy and procedure

? Creating and managing budgets and the finances for projects.

? Overseeing the running of performances and workshops (in person when required)

including prior arrangement of technical equipment.

? Liaising between artists and client organisations regarding detailed arrangements for

workshops and performances.

? Contracting artists and workshop facilitators on behalf of OCM and ensuring that

where necessary they supply appropriate DBS check details.

? Ensuring compliance with guidelines on the protection of children and vulnerable

adults and inputting into safeguarding planning to ensure OCM's policy is up to date.

Publicity and Press

? Assisting client organisations to publicise events and recruit participants where

required.

? Working with the Marketing Coordinator and Deputy Director to ensure press

coverage for events where appropriate.

? Promoting OCM's mailing list at events and encouraging sign up.

Evaluation

? Ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the programme to feed back into

planning and future programmes.

? Gathering feedback from partner organisations and participants.

? Documenting events and workshops and collecting data as required for reports to

Arts Council England and other funders.

? Contributing to reporting for the OCM Board, partner organisations and funders as

required.

To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be required by

the Director.

Please note that the successful candidate will need to be in possession of, or be willing to

undergo, an Enhanced DBS Check with the Disclosure and Barring Service, regarding their

suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Oxford Contemporary Music actively strives towards equal opportunities for all and diversity

in all areas of its activity, and positively welcomes applications from disabled people and

people of any ethnicity, age, belief, sexuality and gender.

How To Apply

To apply for the role, please send us:

? an up-to-date CV;

? a cover letter (up to 3 A4 pages) ;

? a completed monitoring form (this form will not form part of the selection process but

is a necessary part of the application documents). You can complete the form online

at: https://forms.gle/p3FKM6Ax1UeoEj16A

Your cover letter should explain how your skills and experience align with those required for

this role, as outlined in this information pack.

Alternative Formats:

You can submit a video (up to 8 minutes) if you would prefer. A written CV is still required

alongside these formats.

Please email your CV and cover letter/video with 'Community Engagement and

Development Manager application' in the subject line to: info@ocmevents.org

Deadline for applications: 9am, Monday 8th December 2025

If you have any questions regarding the position you can contact our Interim Director, Emma

Dunton: emma@ocmevents.org

Please note: applicants should have an existing right to work in the UK.

Your application and data will be stored securely and confidentially, in line with GDPR and

PECR. See our Privacy Policy for full details on how we handle data.

What happens next?

Once you have submitted your application we will get back in touch within a couple of days

via email to let you know if you have been selected for the shortlist.

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview. Interviews will take place online.

We plan to hold interviews on Thursday 11th December 2025.

Interview questions will be provided in advance to all shortlisted candidates, and every effort

will be made to meet any access requirements, to ensure candidates are comfortable with

the process and given every opportunity to present their best selves.

OCM will be open to discussion where expenses to attend the interview may be needed, for

example to cover time away from another job, or childcare costs.

We may take up references if applicable upon offer of the position.

The start date for the role is 1st Feb 2026.

A handover will take place in December or January as arranged and mutually agreed.

Thank you very much for your interest in working with Oxford Contemporary Music.

www.ocmevents.org

@ocmevents

OCM is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through and supported with funding from . OCM is a Talent Development Network Partner supported by and an Affiliate Organisation of .

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract, Freelance
Contract length: 9 months

Pay: 1,444.00 per month

Expected hours: 12 - 13 per week

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oxford OX3 0BP