Programme Director - Re-centre

Job Summary

Lead Re-centre, Salford's new Creative People and Places programme. This is a rare opportunity to shape an ambitious £1m community-led cultural programme and help realise a long-term vision for cultural democracy, participation and creative opportunity across the city.

Job Description

Re-centre is Salford's new Creative People and Places programme, funded by Arts Council England and supported by a consortium led by the University of Salford alongside Salford City Council, Lowry, Salford Community Leisure and Salford CVS.

With £1 million in confirmed funding, Re-centre is the first phase of a wider 10-year vision for community-led cultural development in Salford. At its heart is a commitment to cultural democracy, supporting residents, artists and communities to shape, influence and participate in the cultural life of their neighbourhoods and the city as a whole.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to become Re-centre's founding Programme Director. This is a rare opportunity to establish a new programme, build relationships across communities and sectors, and create the conditions for ambitious artistic and cultural activity rooted in lived experience, collaboration and shared decision-making.

The Programme Director will lead programme development and delivery, working closely with residents, artists, consortium partners and Arts Council England. The role combines strategic leadership, artistic thinking, partnership development, community engagement, governance and operational oversight.

The successful candidate will help establish Re-centre as a trusted and visible programme, develop community-led approaches to decision-making and commissioning, build partnerships across culture, local government, health, education and the voluntary sector, and ensure effective delivery, learning and evaluation.

Based in Salford and employed by the University of Salford on behalf of the Re-centre Consortium, this role offers the opportunity to shape an ambitious long-term programme that seeks to unlock potential, strengthen communities and create lasting civic and cultural impact.

For a full job description and recruitment pack, please visit https://jobs.salford.ac.uk/en/sites/CX_3001/job/821

Job Requirements

We are looking for a collaborative and values-led leader with experience of developing and delivering ambitious cultural, community or place-based programmes.

You will bring:
Leadership experience within arts, culture, community development or related fields
Experience of community-led, participatory or co-created programmes
Experience of building partnerships across multiple sectors and stakeholders
Experience managing budgets, public funding and reporting requirements
Understanding of cultural democracy, co-creation and community engagement
Strong strategic thinking, communication and relationship-building skills
Ability to balance long-term development with practical delivery
Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and shared ownership

Experience of consortium working, fundraising, governance or Creative People and Places programmes is desirable.

See recruitment pack for more information

Job Responsibilities

The Programme Director will:

Provide strategic and artistic leadership for Re-centre
Lead programme development and delivery in line with Creative People and Places priorities
Build relationships with residents, artists, community organisations and partners
Develop community-led approaches to decision-making, commissioning and participation
Create and oversee an ambitious programme of community-led cultural activity across Salford
Manage partnerships, governance arrangements and Arts Council England relationships
Lead programme planning, financial management, monitoring and reporting
Embed learning, evaluation and reflective practice throughout delivery
Recruit, support and manage the Re-centre team and freelance workforce
Champion inclusive practice, accessibility and community participation across all aspects of the programme

See recruitment pack for more information

Useful Links

University of Salford Art Collection

Job Overview

Job Title: Programme Director - Re-centre
Salary: £40k-£50k
Hours: Full time
Artform: Combined arts
Role: Creative
Contract: Contract
Closing date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026
Location:

North West

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Job: Programme Director - Re-centre

Organisation: University of Salford

Postcode: M5 4NL

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the University of Salford online application form and upload a CV (maximum two pages).

We recognise that strong candidates may not meet every criterion listed in the job pack and welcome applications from people with transferable experience and a commitment to community-led practice and cultural democracy.

Re-centre is committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. If you require adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Kate Atkin at [email protected].

Contact name: Kate Atkin
Contact email: [email protected]

Apply now

About University of Salford

The University of Salford is a leading Greater Manchester university with more than 26,000 students from over 130 countries. Through teaching, research and civic engagement, it works closely with communities, employers and partners to create positive social impact. Re-centre is led by the team at the University of Salford Art Collection, an award-winning public collection connecting art, artists and communities through participation, learning, research and creative engagement.

Find out more