Programming Associate
Line Manager: Director, Music Programme
Line Manages: n/a
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 FTE
Hours: 0.6 FTE (21 hours per week)
Works closely with:
Chief Executive
Head of Artist Development & Artistic Administration, Music Programme
Producer, Aldeburgh Festival
Producer, Performance Programme
Programme Manager, Residencies & New Music
Programme Manager, BPYAP
Director, Communications & Marketing
Head of Marketing
Terms:
This is a part-time position (0.6FTE), fixed term for one year, ending August 2027. We are open to different models of contract for this role, and you are welcome to state on your application what might work for you. Whilst we don’t need you to be based in Suffolk full-time, you do need to be able to spend a good amount of time with colleagues on our site at Snape Maltings, ideally weekly. Please note that we are based in a rural location with extremely limited public transport.
Britten Pears Arts’ mission
Britten Pears Arts mission is to grow the future for classical music. Our values, to be empowering, collaborative, rigorous, and pioneering are central to achieving that mission and our desire to use music’s unique power to transform people’s lives, whatever their background, circumstances or experience, is at the heart of our work.
Britten Pears Arts works to ensure that the legacies of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears continue to be enjoyed worldwide. This includes the Aldeburgh Festival, our founders’ archive, our programme of creative health work, our distinctive approach to talent and artist development and the creation of new work, the house where they lived and extensive learning and inclusion work throughout Suffolk and beyond. Britten Pears Arts embodies their attitude, values, and belief in helping (emerging) artists, communities, the disadvantaged in society and those who don’t have access to music or culture.
www.brittenpearsarts.org
Role overview
The Programming Associate is a new, fixed-term role that has been created to bring the programming forward in line with our new strategy and business plan. We are developing a three-year planning framework and need additional support to achieve this goal in the first year of our business plan. The post-holder will work predominantly with the Director, Music Programme on long-term planning, as well as working closely with key colleagues in the Artistic Administration, Artist Development and Marketing teams. It is the post-holder’s responsibility to act as liaison person between all public-facing programme producers and the communications & marketing team to coordinate season launches and longer-term plans. They will work closely with the relevant Producers & Programme Managers to ensure that they are able to deliver their plans effectively and with good communication across the organisation.
The post-holder will support the Director and relevant Producers directly with the advancement of performance plans, including working closely with artists and agents.
We work to a planning framework that encompasses for programming seasons:
-
Spring
-
Aldeburgh Festival
-
Summer, including our Summer at Snape season
-
Autumn & Christmas, including a focus on new work
Main duties
-
Work with the Director, Music Programme on the planning & programming of the four seasons of Britten Pears Arts Performance Programme. This will involve progressing projects of varying sizes and complexity
-
Work with the Performance Programme Producers on the progressing of their planning, in line with the longer-term plans set out by the Director. This will include streamlining administrative processes to increase efficiency and ease of planning in a close working relationship with the Head of Artist Development & Artistic Administration
-
Work with the Communications & Marketing Department as well as the Editor to launch seasons in a timely manner, also taking into account how information flows in advance of a season launch, and setting processes for years to come
-
Work directly with artists and their agents to progress the exploration of projects either together with the Director and Producers, or before Producers take over to bring the projects to life
-
Triage performance proposals to Britten Pears Arts
Is this role for me?
We are looking for an experienced classical music professional, who has a deep understanding of the industry and very good knowledge of and interest in the canon as well as new music and genre-crossing projects. It’s important you have a very good understanding of organisational systems relating to programming and planning, including budget management, and have experience in communicating with audiences. You will have a very keen eye for detail and are also able to make sense of a large amount of information, balancing short, medium and long-term projects of varying sizes.
You will have demonstrable experience of working within a producing organisation and working closely with artists, agents and a wide variety of producing and commissioning partners. You will have demonstrable planning & programming experience and understand how to progress projects and bring to life strategic plans. We will tailor the role – within reason – to the postholder. We don’t think that you need to be based locally to fulfill this role, but you must be willing and able to spend a proportion of your time at our offices at Snape Maltings to connect with colleagues and to enable cross-organisational meetings to take place in person. You may want to address how the role could work for you in your application.
Person Specification
-
A proven track record of developing and delivering classical music-based programmes & events
-
experience of producing work for artists
-
long-term project planning & calendar management experience
-
budget management experience
-
experience of contributing to EDI strategies
-
experience of programming or supporting programming in an organisation
Skills/Knowledge
-
can think creatively as well as strategically
-
excellent knowledge of classical music & broad interest in other genres
-
clear and articulate verbal and written communication skills
-
uses networking skills, within an artistic context, to develop new, and maintain existing, contacts
-
has excellent IT skills – we use microsoft365 and artifax
-
prioritises clear communication in all circumstances
-
can inspire, influence and persuade others
-
can lead difficult conversations, combining assertiveness with empathy
-
can challenge constructively but also listens well and respects the views of others
-
demonstrates an understanding of, and commitment to, EDI and overcoming the challenges currently faced by the arts sector
-
can remain calm and focussed under pressure
-
is supportive and empathetic towards colleagues and artists
-
is self-motivated and has a positive can-do attitude
-
comply with Britten Pears Arts’ Enhanced DBS Check regulations if required
-
able to attend networking and other meetings – representing Britten Pears Arts with integrity and professionalism in all spheres
What helps us get the most from your application:
-
A CV that shares your experience, skills and what you’ve been involved in
-
A cover letter giving us a sense of who you are, what interests you about the role, and what you would bring to it
-
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.)*
Closing date: 28 August 2026 23:59
