Title: Programme Manager, Later Life Programmes
Reports to: Head of Later Life Programmes
Line Manages: Programmes Assistant, Later Life Programmes
£30,000 FTE
Contract type: Fixed Term: One year, with possibility for extension.
Part time, 0.6 FTE (21 hours pw)
Ideally the post-holder would start October 2026.
Based at: Snape Maltings Works closely with: Professional Learning and Knowledge Exchange Department Children, Families and Young People Department About us
Britten Pears Arts (BPA) is a pioneering Music & Arts based charity, situated on the beautiful Suffolk coast, working across a wide range of activities. Music-related charitable work includes Artist Development, a year-round Performance Programme, Music in the Community and Creative Health and our Living Heritage Museum and Archive at The Red House.
At Snape Maltings, our significant commercial activity includes Retail, Hospitality, Galleries and Property – including holiday lets and accommodation for visiting artists. All commercial profits are used to support the BPA charity. We employ more than 150 permanent colleagues, many of whom work flexibly, together with significant numbers of seasonal staff and freelancers.
Our mission is to use Music, Arts & Heritage to transform people’s lives for the better, to bring communities together and effect positive social change. BPA continues to follow in the footsteps of founders Britten and Pears, inspired by their goal to make the arts useful and available to all. At our two internationally recognised cultural destinations; Snape Maltings and The Red House, we create vibrant, uplifting and life-enhancing experiences for visitors, customers and audiences alike. We deliver this vision through our remarkable people and brilliant inclusive teams, working together with a sense of purpose.
Our values guide all of BPA’s activities, with a Pioneering sense of creativity, openness to new possibilities and the courage to take initiative, a Collaborative spirit, knowing the power of teamwork, inclusivity, mutual support and challenge, a Rigorous pursuit of excellence, ambition to go the extra mile, and attention to detail, always Empowering people to learn, grow, find their potential and inspire others.
Role Overview:
The Programme Manager will work closely with the Head of Later Life Programmes, the Strategic Lead: Communities, Professional Learning and Knowledge Exchange (freelance) and their wider team colleagues to develop our work for adults living in the community living with long-term health conditions.
The post holder will join us in a period of exciting change across the organisation. They will evaluate existing programmes and activities, react to the relevant findings and create a body of work that brings community members together on our sites – something that has previously not been possible due to the inaccessibility of some of our buildings.
The role includes regular delivery of, or attendance at, project activity as well as regional/national networks, working alongside the internal team and managing and developing freelance artists to ensure high quality co-created activity that is at the forefront of national discussion in this field, and meeting the aims and objectives of BPA’s strategic plan.
BPA’s Later Life work (Participate and Skylarks) is delivered alongside the Programmes Assistant, whom this role line manages.
Main Responsibilities:
- Taking a medium-to-long-term view of the wider community programme for Britten Pears Arts together with the Head of Later Life Programmes
- Managing the programme’s budgets
- Contribute to the logistical management and practical delivery of the projects, chiefly delivered by the Programmes Assistant, Workshop Assistants and Volunteers
- Support artists in the development of new projects to be delivered in community settings and on our sites: providing support, challenge and advice
- Take an active role in the implementation of the organisation’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion action plan, both in employment of freelance staff and planning for participant engagement
- Implementation and delivery of monitoring, evaluation and communications activities across the programme
- Ensuring all projects and activity are compliant with the guidelines in the organisation’s Safeguarding policy
- Establishing and nurturing cross-sector relationships pertinent to the success of the projects
- Attend relevant meetings, conferences and events to represent the work of the team and Britten Pears Arts
- Collaborate with other internal departments as appropriate (including Marketing and Development), ensuring excellent communication and collaborative working
- Work with the Development team on delivering on existing funding agreements as well as proactively working towards new potential applications
- Always lead by example – with professionalism, empathy and a willingness to support other colleagues.
- Undertake other responsibilities which are commensurate with the purpose and spirit of this role.
Person Specification – Programme Manager, Later Life Programmes
Essential Experience:
- Demonstrable experience delivering long and short-term participatory music projects for a
variety of groups
- Building positive working relationships with cross sector partners/organisations
- Employing and managing freelance musicians in the delivery of projects
- Creating and managing project budgets
- Negotiating fees
- Working with people living in challenging circumstances such as the criminal justice system,
with vulnerable young people, or older people living with conditions affecting their health and
wellbeing
Essential Skills/Knowledge:
- The post holder must be a musician (not necessarily professional)
- Efficient, accurate admin skills
- Clear and engaging verbal and written communication skills
- A genuine interest in music and the arts
- Strong understanding of barriers to access in arts and community settings
Essential Ability/Aptitude:
- Emotionally intelligent – can easily adjust approach and delivery to the needs of
participant(s), colleagues and collaborators
- Is able to prioritise and meet strict deadlines
- Remains calm and clear-thinking under pressure.
- Is a collaborative team member who makes a positive contribution
- Willingness to contribute to and support the whole of the Music Programme and wider
organisation, including areas outside of the Community field
Essential Special Requirements:
- Willing and able to work flexible/unsocial hours if required to meet key deadlines as agreed and
to manage/deliver tasks/projects
- Compliant with our Enhanced DBS Check regulations
- Driving license and own transport – eligible to drive a pool vehicle (we work in a rural area
with very sparse public transport, and the postholder must be able to easily reach regional
communities)
Closing date: 1st September 2026
Interview dates: 8th/9th September 2026
Preferred start date: Late October 2026 (w/c 19th October onwards)
What helps us get the most from your application:
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A CV that shares your experience, skills and what you’ve been involved in
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A cover letter giving us a sense of who you are, what interests you about the role, and what you would bring to it
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Applying via our website where possible, so your application comes through clearly and can be reviewed in full
We understand there’s no single “right” way to apply, and that people bring different experiences and styles. If there’s anything we can do to support you in the process or make adjustments, please feel free to get in touch—we’d be very happy to help.
We are an equal opportunities employer and believe that diversity strengthens and enriches us. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates of all ages and from all backgrounds, in particular from global majority backgrounds and disabled candidates who are currently under-represented at Britten Pears Arts and Snape Maltings Trading Limited.
Do you have right to live and work in the UK that is not dependent on sponsorship?
(Please note that Britten Pears Arts does not hold a sponsorship license and is therefore unable to sponsor individuals. For guidance, please refer to the Home Office website. Please note, it is illegal to employ anyone who does not have permission to live and work in the UK.)*
