Executive Director
Accessible Arts & Media Closing date: Wed, 15 Apr 2026
- Part time
- £30k-£40k
- Apply now
Mon, 09 Mar 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
This is a pivotal moment for Accessible Arts & Media (AAM). The retirement of our inspirational co-founder Rose Kent in 2025 has created an opportunity to reflect and review our operating model.
We're looking for a strategic and ambitious change leader to support AAM through a critical transformation phase. We're offering the role initially on a fixed term 18-month period, with potential to extend.
AAM's been a cornerstone of York's inclusive creative community for over 40 years. Our new Executive Director will play a key role in shaping our direction for the years ahead and ensuring a bright, sustainable future for AAM and the people we support.
We're looking for a leader with drive and determination. You'll be a natural collaborator and advocate, with the ability to inspire, mentor and develop a small but mighty team. Our new Executive Director will work closely with our Board of Trustees, staff, participants and partners to co-create a new model and business plan for AAM.
Strong leadership, financial management skills and the ability to create a vision and inspire and motivate a team to deliver it are essential. And you'll have a passion for inclusive arts practice and share our belief in the power of creativity to transform lives.
This is an opportunity for someone looking to make a tangible difference to the lives of others and lead an organisation with a rich history and an exciting future.
Hours: 0.6 FTE (21 hours per week). We can be somewhat flexible about how this is achieved. The role will require occasional evening and weekend work. Annual leave: 25 days pro-rata, some of which must be taken between Christmas and New Year. Bank Holidays are in addition to this. Place of work: A minimum of 1.5 days a week must be in the AAM office at Clifton Explore, with remote working options available by discussion for the remaining 1.5 days. Some travel will be required.Job Requirements
The Executive Director will have proven experience of leading successful organisational transformation in a small arts/cultural charity, balancing strategic change with operational stability and hands-on leadership.
Key requirements include:
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Ability to successfully develop and deliver strategic/business plans
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Experience of developing and motivating staff and volunteers, creating inclusive, collaborative working environments where people feel valued and supported
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Experience in financial management, including preparing annual budgets, achieving income targets and cost control
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Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills
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Understanding of the current fundraising and economic climate
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Sound knowledge of current trends and key issues in the arts and/or health and wellbeing sectors
Sound knowledge of charity governance and legal obligations
Job Responsibilities
The Executive Director will have responsibility for:
- Organisational change and strategic development - leading a review of our operating model and developing a new business plan
- Leadership and advocacy - providing leadership during a period of change, raising AAM's profile and fostering a culture of learning and innovation
- People and culture - creating sustainable career progression pathways for staff and an inclusive, collaborative, safe and supportive working environment, where employee wellbeing is central
- Finance and fundraising - ensuring the charity's financial health by supporting and monitoring an effective programme of income generation, fundraising and expenditure control
- Operations - overseeing our technical, digital and administrative requirements, ensuring the right systems and processes are in place
- Governance, legal and compliance - ensuring AAM fulfils all its legal, statutory, and regulatory responsibilities and servicing the Board
Useful Links
Job Overview
- Job Title: Executive Director
- Salary: £30k-£40k
- Hours: Part time
- Artform: Combined arts
- Role: Creative
- Contract: Contract
- Closing date: Wed, 15 Apr 2026
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Location:
| view on Google MapsYorkshire
Job: Executive Director
Job: Executive Director
Organisation: Accessible Arts & Media
Postcode: YO30 6NS
How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and your responses to the two questions below to [email protected] by 5pm on Wednesday 15th April.
1 Why do you want to work with AAM, and in this specific role?
2 How do you meet the skills and experience set out in the person specification? Please give specific examples.
You can answer the questions in writing or by providing a link to a video or audio clip. Written answers should be up to 500 words for question one and up to 1,000 words for question two. Video or audio clips should be no longer than 10 minutes long in total and uploaded to an online platform that doesn’t expire (e.g. not WeTransfer).
All applications will be assessed according to the same criteria and submitting in a different format will not affect your chances of being selected.
For more details, including a copy of our Candidate Pack, please visit our website.
- Contact name: Lucy Galliard, Chair of Trustees
- Contact email: [email protected]
About Accessible Arts & Media
We have a vision for an inclusive society where everyone has the chance to shine. We want people to feel happy, connected, creative and valued - we use the arts to make that happen.
Our programmes include singing and signing choirs, accessible music-making and movement groups and 1:1 creative therapeutic sensory sessions. We support over 100 people every week, including adults and young people with learning disabilities and people with mental ill-health.