We’re Hiring! NYJO Creative Producer

September 23, 2022

NYJO Creative Producer – Job Description

 

Reports to: Chief Executive

Salary: £22,500 per annum (FTE £37,500)

Location: NYJO is based in Woolwich; we are open to hybrid working arrangements but anticipate that the post-holder will work in the office at least one day per week (Tuesday-Thursday)

Hours: 24 hours per week (0.6 role)

Holiday: 15 days pa, plus pro rata allowance of bank holidays. Furthermore, in addition to holiday allowance the office is usually closed between Christmas and new year

Probation: Three months

Notice: One month during probation, two months thereafter

 

Introduction

NYJO is looking to recruit an ambitious and dynamic Creative Producer. The role sits at the heart of NYJO’s Professional Development department, working collaboratively with colleagues, guest artists and our emerging professional artists to devise and deliver new artistic projects that achieve a balance of commercial, artistic and educational aims. Recent successful projects range from small young-artist led ensembles to collaborations with major artists such as Hermeto Pascoal and Bob Mintzer.

The post-holder will work closely with promoters across the country, developing new and nurturing existing relationships to promote NYJO’s wide range of ensembles and artistic collaborations. They will work closely with the rest of the Professional Development team and with our emerging artists.

 

Project Initiation

  • Bringing to the organisation a strategic vision that marries innovative developments with respect for the big band tradition and jazz heritage;
  • Curating new project ideas, examining with relevant colleagues the artistic, educational, marketing and fundraising requirements and opportunities of each and ensuring that activity speaks to organisational KPIs and funder requirements;
  • Developing projects that speak to our core values and priorities and achieve a balance of artistic and educational activity across the season;
  • Engaging artists in discussion to explore new artistic ideas for future projects and investigate reviving old projects;
  • Collaborating with colleagues and NYJO’s emerging professional musicians to interrogate, test and realise other stakeholders’ artistic ideas;
  • Curating a balanced season of projects that includes headline projects, new content and lower-budget engagements to ensure sufficient activity within a carefully controlled performance budget;
  • Budgeting new projects, agreeing financial parameters with the CEO;
  • Agreeing touring dates with artists, their fees and contractual requirements.

 

Planning and Administration

  • Maintaining of a promoter database detailing all sales conversations and progress;
  • Managing a Tour Planner document for each significant touring project;
  • Reporting expenditure and income against budgets on a quarterly basis;
  • Contributing to an activity database, ensuring that colleagues have the necessary information to see project delivery through to completion.

 

Promoter Sales & Negotiation

  • Promoting a range of projects to venues, promoters and festivals across the UK;
  • Maintaining and investigating opportunities for international engagements and collaborations;
  • Agreeing dates and financial terms for engagements, prior to handing over fixing, technical arrangements and gig delivery to colleagues;
  • Negotiating and processing contracts for all engagements.

 

Person Specification

It is hoped that the successful candidate will have:

  • Extensive knowledge of jazz and the jazz sector, its venues, partners and promoters;
  • A minimum of three years’ experience working with arts organisations, promoting engagements and negotiating deals and contracts;
  • First class written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage new partners in projects and communicate complex project information;
  • Experience of working with budgets and proficiency in excel;
  • Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise;
  • Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines;
  • A flexible, adaptable and enthusiastic approach;
  • A results-oriented focus;
  • A strong work ethic, with the ability to work well in a team as well as the capacity for setting your own goals and achieving them independently.

 

Why Work for NYJO?

  • Being a small organisation, you are encouraged to get involved in everything we do.
  • Work/life balance is important to us. We have an established culture of flexible working and encourage staff to take TOIL when working out of hours.
  • We have recently moved to outer London’s coolest new arts hub, Woolwich Works, with fast access to central London via the new Elizabeth Line.
  • This is an exciting time in our organisational development – but then it always is. You can help us grow, develop our internal systems, improve our offer to our donors and embed ourselves in our new local community.
  • The Professional Development department is central to the NYJO team, with strong leadership from the Chief Executive.
  • There is plenty of scope for the successful candidate to develop the role in line with their own areas of interest.

 

Application Process

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter of no more than two pages to Susie York Skinner, Chief Executive: [email protected]. Enquiries about the role in advance of making a formal application are welcome.

The deadline for applications is midday, 20 October 2022. Interviews will take place on 25 October.

 NYJO is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality or disability status.

Lucy-Anne (EP quote)

“Since joining NYJO, I’m so much more confident as a performer. Especially in terms of being able to entertain and keep the crowd engaged with you. It’s really nice to be able to feel that difference.” 

Lucy-Anne, NYJO Emerging Professional (Vocals)

Georgia (EP quote)

“It’s hard to just learn this music in the practice room but being immersed in the music at NYJO is a great environment to really push my playing. ” 

Georgia Ayew, NYJO Emerging Professional (Drums)

Sam Eastmond (MD quote)

"Giving them space to create whatever they wanted, without setting parameters of idiom or style helped them to conceptualise how they could bring these new concepts into their work without scaring them off, or mystifying the process."

Sam Eastmond, NYJO Educator

Jazzwise quote

"NYJO has never been conformist, never hewing to one particular line, never known for fawning replications and very deliberately these days a vehicle for new possibilities."

Jazzwise Magazine

Lydia (EP quote)

"The past year has been an absolutely incredible experience, pushing me way out of my comfort zone into playing with some of the greatest young jazz players of my generation and getting to call them my colleagues and friends has been beyond inspiring, and also an obscene amount of fun!"

Lydia Cochrane, NYJO Emerging Professional (Saxophone)

Anna (Learning national quote)

"[The NYJO residential in Cumbria] helped me to make friends with other young musicians. I enjoy playing a lot more and I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I feel more confident now. I have learnt different ways of coming up with solid melodies and also a little bit on harmonies. I think it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had."

Anna, NYJO Learning Widening Access participant

Briony (Learning U18s quote)

"I’ve felt very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing musicians, and I think that the environment at NYJO – which has fostered creativity and improvisation – has allowed my confidence and musical ideas to grow."

Briony, NYJO Under 18s

Oscar (Learning U18s quote)

"I think I’ve progressed a lot in my piano-playing. NYJO has helped me to flourish and really enjoy it. I’ve really enjoyed being engrossed in a high level of playing and learning things in a hands-on-way. I also like the diversity of perspectives and abilities of all the players and teachers which enables me to try things I might not normally."

Oscar, NYJO Under 18s

Jennie (Learning U18s quote)

"NYJO has got me listening to more jazz and learning more changes. It has also helped with working as a band. I’ve really enjoyed the free jazz, learning by ear, the people, and the atmosphere."

Jennie, NYJO Under 18s

Leah-Anais (Learning U18s quote)

"I love the people at NYJO. Everyone here is so encouraging and lovely and it makes the experience worthwhile. Though I have fun I’m still learning on the way which makes me feel productive too."

Leah-Anais, NYJO Under 18s

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