Vacancies at Arts Council

22/06/2007

Closing Date Has How Passed
RESEARCH AND POLICY OFFICER

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

 

1. Introduction

This post is for a Research and Policy Officer in the Strategic Development Department.

2. Terms and Conditions

Salary Range £22,261-£29,922 per annum (NICS August 2007)

Initial salary will fall within the scale minimum and scale maximum. Annual increases in salary are by incremental progression normally payable from 1 st August each year but subject to at least six months service following commencement of employment.

Pension Scheme The Council offers a contributory pension scheme operated through the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee.

Probationary Period The appointment will commence with a probation period of six months which may be terminated at a month’s notice by either side during the period.

Annual Leave Twenty five working days per annum. The leave year runs from 1st March to 28/29th February.

Hours of Business

Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm. Flexi-Time: 8.00am to 6.30pm
Office Hours: Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Flexi-Time: 8.00am to 6.00pm
(including one hour for lunch every day)

The post holder may be required to work outside the Arts Council’s normal office and flexi-time hours.

Office Location The post is based at the Arts Council’s headquarters, 77 Malone Road, Belfast.

3. Closing Date

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5.00pm on Friday 6th July 2007.

The completed Application Form and Recruitment Monitoring Form should be returned in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL and must be addressed to:

The Monitoring Officer
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Road
Belfast BT9 6AQ

Failure to complete and return the Application Form in accordance with the Guidance Notes contained on the reverse of the first page of the Application Form will result in your application being disqualified.

Canvassing will disqualify.

Copies of this job application pack are available in large text or on disk, on written request only, from the Corporate Services Department , Arts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ or by email from registry@artscouncil-ni.org

 

4. Shortlisting

Initial shortlisting will be carried out using the Essential requirements in the Person Specification. Should further shortlisting be necessary, the Desirable requirements will be applied in the order shown.

 

5. Interviews

The interviews for this post will be held in August.

The Arts Council will treat all information and documents supplied in support of this application as strictly confidential unless required to disclose such by a statutory body in connection with any claim which may arise out of the appointment.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Objectives of the Post

To work within the Arts Council’s research team, delivering research projects which contribute to the formulation of evidence based arts policies and the delivery of the Council’s business strategy and plans.

The post holder will be responsible for scanning the wider arts environment, undertaking and commissioning primary and secondary research projects; investigation and analysis of data from a variety of sources; and developing policy proposals for the arts.

Scope of Responsibility

The post holder will report to the Director of Strategic Development. He/she will have responsibility for meeting the objectives of the post and carrying out the principal duties attached to the post.

Principal Duties

• In line with the Arts Council’s research plan, to undertake primary and secondary research which will contribute to the development of arts policies and programmes;
• to liaise with individuals and organisations, internally and externally, to draft reports, policy papers and discussion documents supporting the development of the arts in N Ireland;
• to commission external research when required and manage such projects through to completion;
• to develop effective working relationships with clients and other stakeholders of the Arts Council including those undertaking arts and cultural research;
• to develop and maintain effective monitoring systems for gathering information regarding the performance of the Arts Council and its clients;
• to disseminate information relating to research, policies and procedures;
• to co-ordinate/prepare briefing papers for the Council on relevant topics;
• to contribute to the Council’s statutory compliance and reporting requirements;
• to support the Arts Council’s policy in relation to equality of opportunity;
• to undertake any other relevant duties which may reasonably be allocated.
  
  
  

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Essential

• EDUCATION University degree or equivalent.
• SPECIALISM You must be able to demonstrate a breadth and depth of experience across the principal duties of this post. To demonstrate this you will probably possess a minimum of 2 years experience gained within the last 4 years in a post which includes research, information gathering, analysis and policy development.
• RESEARCH Practical experience and skills in research design, methodology and project implementation.
• ANALYSIS The ability to analyse and evaluate information from a wide variety of sources and present it in a usable format to a variety of audiences.
• POLICY DEVELOPMENT Experience in drafting discussion and policy papers from information obtained from primary and secondary research.
• INTERPERSONAL & COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS Excellent oral, written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills in dealing with people at all levels.
• WORKING RELATIONSHIPS The ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team; the ability to maintain professional and effective working relationships with a wide range of organisations and bodies.
• IT SKILLS The ability to make appropriate use of the Arts Council’s IT systems and software packages especially the components of MS Office and the internet.
• EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY An understanding of equality of opportunity issues.
  

Desirable

• EXPERIENCE Two years experience within the last 4 years in a post which includes research, information gathering, analysis and policy development.
• GOVERNMENT Understanding of government programmes and policies, particularly as they relate to the arts and culture in Northern Ireland.
• COMMISSIONING Previous experience of commissioning research.
• IT SKILLS Experience in the use of SPSS and/or MapInfo.
• ARTS Familiarity with the arts in Northern Ireland.

 




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