Programme Officer (Creative Commonwealth)

Please note: this position is only available to those who are eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

The organisation

The Commonwealth Foundation was established by Heads of Government in 1965, reflecting the commitment of Member States to ensuring that the Commonwealth family would be as much an association of peoples as of governments. As one of the three intergovernmental pillars of the Commonwealth, the Foundation operates within that critical space between government and civil society. Our future focus is to:

• Support the active and constructive participation of Commonwealth citizens in all aspects of their governance
• Nurture the growth of vibrant and free civil societies in all Commonwealth countries
• Advance the principles and ideals of the Commonwealth.

The Foundation’s work is delivered through three core programmes: Commonwealth Civil Society, Creative Commonwealth and People of the Commonwealth.

Creative Commonwealth

Creative Commonwealth is the Foundation’s cultural initiative: working to inspire and connect storytellers and artists across all regions of the Commonwealth in pursuit of Commonwealth principles and values.

The programme has two streams: Commonwealth Writers is home to the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, the world-renowned writing competition, and adda, our online literary magazine. A Creative Commonwealth Grants Programme nurtures creative talent throughout the Commonwealth, with a special focus on those countries and regions most in need of support.

Summary description

The Programme Officer (PO) will have responsibilities that will include (but not be limited to) managing the delivery of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, supporting the delivery of culturally themed events, working with the Communications team to deliver a communications strategy, and contributing to the overall support of the programme.

Establishing and maintaining strong working relations with individuals and organisations will be a key part of the role.

The PO will be involved in other areas of the Foundation’s work relevant to their experience and expertise and organisational requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Managing and administering all processes relating to the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, from the initial Call for Submissions to the winner’s announcement. This includes coordinating the outreach campaign, liaising with the chair and other judges, managing the long listing process, and communicating with Prize entrants.
• Supporting the delivery of a cohesive communications strategy for Creative Commonwealth, including identifying platforms and media spaces to raise awareness of Creative Commonwealth and its work, generating ideas for social media platforms and digital data monitoring.

The individual

The Programme Officer (CC) will possess all of the competencies set out in the below Annex under the ‘officers’ column. They will also demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to the Foundation’s vision, mission and values.

The key skills (further are detailed in the job description) are:

• Project management experience and working with creatives in a range of disciplines and from a range of backgrounds;
• A good understanding of the Foundation’s operating environment (preferably gained through exposure to international non-governmental or intergovernmental settings);
• Excellent communication skills using a variety of disciplines.

Salary/benefits:

• Starting salary – £30,000 pa
• 15% of gross salary in a tax-free gratuity payment, payable every 3 years.
• Holiday allowance of 30 days (plus 8 bank holidays and 4 privilege days)
• Learning opportunities at the Foundation for career development

Application process

Please provide a covering letter, CV and copy of proof of right to work in the UK using the application form found on this page.

We expect your covering letter to demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the role and the Foundation’s values. When writing it please refer to the above and information found in the job description, competencies set out in the attached annex under the ‘officers’ column. Each of these resources can be downloaded below.

Closing date:

Monday 28 February 2022 – 1pm GMT

Interviews:

First interviews (online) – week of 28 February 2022

Second interviews (in person) – week of 7 March 2022

Proposed start date:

Week of 4 April 2022

Please note: under UK immigration law you must have the right to work in the UK either by having a Nationality or by possessing an appropriate visa. The Foundation is unable to sponsor any visa applications, so this must be in place at time of applying for this role. The role is  primarily London office based, with remote work as appropriate. 

Annex: Commonwealth Foundation Competency Bank Job Description: Creative Commonwealth Programme Officer