At The Stove, we use creativity as a catalyst for change—embedding socially-engaged practice at the heart of place-based work. We grow projects that nurture long-term thinking and build capacity within communities to test different ways of working creatively and collaboratively: with each other, with partners, and with everyone who has a stake in how our places are shaped.
Central to this work and the beating heart of our organisation is our programme—a series of activities, events, developmental initiatives and support programmes.
The Stove is looking for a highly organised, systems-minded Project Manager to help strengthen the operational infrastructure behind our programme. This newly created role is for someone who can hold the bigger picture across multiple projects, teams and timelines; design and embed practical systems; and ensure that work moves clearly and confidently from idea to delivery. You will play a central role in improving how information, decisions, resources and responsibilities flow across the organisation, supporting our Creative, Marketing, Finance, Café and Delivery teams to work together with clarity, accountability and joint purpose.
Job Outline
The Stove programme brings together regular community-led events, Stove-led activities, and project-specific engagement and workshops. It is delivered by a mix of core staff, freelancers and partners working together in delivery teams. As Project Manager, you will provide the operational backbone for this work, holding the bigger picture across the annual programme while ensuring projects are coordinated, supported and delivered with clarity.
You will be responsible for managing the processes, timelines, and communication that underpin The Stove programme. Holding a clear overview across multiple live projects, you will help ensure that priorities are clear, resources are used well, and Delivery teams understand what needs to happen, when and by whom.
Working in close collaboration with our Creative, Marketing, Finance, Café and Delivery teams, you will ensure joined-up planning and delivery, clear workflows, ownership and tracking are in place.
This role focuses on the operational systems and coordination required to deliver our diverse programme of activity across different delivery models. You will work closely with core staff, freelancers, and project partners alike.
About The Stove
The Stove is a leading creative placemaking* organisation in Scotland, pioneering socially engaged arts practice and community-led regeneration. Based in our community venue at 100 High Street, Dumfries, The Stove is the UK’s first artist-led Development Trust and a central hub for the regional creative placemaking network, What We Do Now.
Since 2011, we’ve worked with individuals, groups, and partners to co-create projects that champion inclusion, wellbeing, and sustainable local futures. Our mission is to use creativity as a catalyst for change—supporting people to reimagine and shape the places they live. Whether through public art, community events, cultural festivals, or skills and learning programmes, we put local voices and lived experience at the heart of our work.
*Creative Placemaking is a community-led approach that uses creative activity to support collective decision-making and positive change for people and the places they live.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Coordination
- Hold a comprehensive operational overview across multiple concurrent projects to support smart working and fluid coordination across delivery teams.
- Oversee the programme’s schedule and advanced planning systems: identifying risks and capacity challenges to support financial forecasting and resource prioritisation.
- Facilitate project planning meetings to align on milestones, establish clear accountability, and maintain a central point for all agreed actions and updates.
Systems & Workflow Management
- Lead the post-sign-off 'delivery workflow,' establishing the shared timelines, tracking methods, and communication frameworks that enable teams to execute projects autonomously and efficiently.
- Maintain and develop organisational systems to support a coordinated workflow across the entire Stove programme.
- Establish, uphold, and embed clear processes for how information moves seamlessly between Creative, Marketing, Finance, and Cafe, and Delivery teams.
- Hold an overview of team workflows, setting and managing internal deadlines and key accountabilities to support effective planning.
- Act as an internal champion for organisational systems; leading light-touch training, onboarding, and ongoing support to ensure core staff, freelancers, and delivery teams confidently adopt and use them.
Evaluation & Reporting
- Oversee programme evaluation systems and support the integration of feedback processes into project delivery.
- Coordinate data collection, including quantitative metrics, qualitative feedback, and participant insights to feed into The Stove reporting systems.
Venue & Logistics
- Act as the primary operational link for our public programme; coordinating schedules and venue requirements.
- Manage room bookings across The Stove’s spaces, maintaining simple, clear, and efficient Google Calendar systems and communication.
- Act as a first point of contact for external enquiries relating to space use and bookings.
- Coordinate space use in line with capacity, compliance, and operational needs, liaising with internal teams and external partners to ensure spaces are appropriately resourced.
- If required, support contracting processes with the Finance team for external suppliers involved in delivery of programmes.
Key Skills
- Project Management and Coordination
- Systems Thinking and Design
- Workflow Management
- Communication & Clarity
- Digital & Administrative Proficiency
- Attention to Detail & Reliability
- Adaptability & Responsiveness
- Positive Problem Solving
Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrable experience managing systems, milestones, and planning processes across multiple live projects, activities and workstreams simultaneously.
- Confidence holding Strong ability to hold an operational overview across a busy work programme, including timelines, resource requirements, dependencies, capacity, and adjusting plans in response to changing priorities.
- Strong ability to design, implement, and maintain practical systems and workflows that support clarity, efficiency, and accountability across teams.
- Exceptional level of organisation and a collaborative ethos—sharing information clearly so everyone involved understands what is happening and what is required of them.
- Comfortable overseeing project milestones, working with teams to take ownership of delivery, ensuring tasks are defined and progress is maintained.
- Experience working effectively across multidisciplinary teams, building strong working relationships, and making/communicating plan adjustments constructively.
- Experience using digital tools such as Google Workspace, spreadsheets, shared drives, and project tracking systems.
- Impeccable attention to detail, pride in accuracy, and a consistent, methodical approach to tracking information so nothing "falls between the gaps."
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift, and the ability to adapt.
- A constructive team player who brings energy to group problem-solving, maintains a 'can-do' attitude, and can navigate challenges with a focus on positive solutions.
Desirable
- Experience working in a venue-based, arts, or community-led organisation, particularly where programmes are co-produced or involve the shared use of community spaces.
- An understanding of, or a keen interest in, creative placemaking and community-led development approaches.
- Experience supporting evaluation, reporting, or data collection processes, particularly for funded projects.
- Experience coordinating freelancers, partners, or external hires within a project or programme context.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to play a central role in an organisation working at the intersection of creativity, community, and place.
At The Stove, you will be part of a dynamic, hard-working, experienced, and supportive team that believes in the power of creativity to promote meaningful social change. We work collaboratively with communities to develop projects that respond to real needs and aspirations.
You will contribute to a programme that spans grassroots activity through to strategic partnerships, supporting work that creates opportunities for participation, skills development, and cultural expression across the region.
Salary
£28,000 - £32,000 Pro Rata
Pay: £28,000.00-£32,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Dumfries DG1 2BJ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
