Job Klaxon: Creative Arc - brief for Investment Manager contract
1. Introduction and context
The University of Exeter, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) and Exeter City Council are working together on a new strategic partnership and programme called Creative Arc to create new ideas and projects to address big societal challenges.
The vision for Creative Arc is to create a collaborative and strategic relationship between RAMM, University of Exeter and Exeter City Council to create an innovation unit and network that is a new knowledge asset in the South West, focusing on the development of ambitious projects where research meets culture to help shape place. Creative Arc is conceived as ‘a new model of cultural partnership’, acting as a catalyst for economic development and social change, and helping to build Exeter’s profile as an exemplary ‘Liveable City’. The strategy is being developed in partnership by the University and Exeter City Council and is the most advanced project in the Civic University portfolio. The ambition is to maximise connectivity and engagement in areas of culture, heritage, regional development, economic regeneration, education, employability, and research – attracting significant new investment into the city and the University.
This role is funded by the Complex Initiatives Fund at the University of Exeter that seeks to support new projects that are high calibre, high value, and scaling up concepts that include research and impact; and the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which supports knowledge exchange activities between universities and society.
Function
It is a:
1. Partnership – between 3 organisations
2. Programme – interdisciplinary in design addressing key current and future-facing issues
3. Place – an innovation unit and network working in an interdisciplinary nature on 3 programme themes
Programme Themes
1. Health & Well-being
2. Environmental Sustainability
3. Heritage & Place
Impacts
1. New and increased collaborative research and knowledge exchange projects
2. New and increased action research projects
3. Increased opportunities for development of skills, enterprise and employment
4. The development of new exceptional interdisciplinary partnerships
5. Increased investment of £1M - £3M over 3 years
6. Increased public engagement with the museum and university research, especially with non-traditional audiences and participants
7. Influence on the planning and shaping of new capital and housing developments and their communities
1. The role
Phase 1
Develop a set of Key Performance Indicators and Outcomes against the Impacts that have been identified by the stakeholders. These KPIs will enable the stakeholders to understand levels of success and if the partnership is achieving impacts against these areas. The next stage of this work will be to create a Programme Framework. This will be developed based on the agreed Programme Themes and enable the future development of a more detailed Programme. It is envisaged that the KPIs/Outcomes will be drafted based on consultation with Stakeholders. The Programme Framework will be drafted based on notes of x3 Sandpit events (Environment, Health & Wellbeing and Heritage/Place) that are already in place.
Deliverables:
A set of clear and measurable KPIs based on the agreed impacts
A Programme Framework with developed theme areas and clarification of points of focus
Phase 2
Work with key staff at the University of Exeter, RAMM and Exeter City Council to develop i) the investment requirements for the delivery of the Creative Arc programme; ii) lead on the creation (with key University, RAMM and ECC staff) of an approx £1M proposal for a single funder; iii) during the process, engage with the stakeholders to look at other potential investment routes and assess the viability of these. A demonstrable understanding and expertise of the operations of higher education and cultural sectors is vital. Specifically an understanding of National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and Trusts and Foundations is crucial. It is also vital that the applicant has a proven track record in developing funding and investment plans, and success in securing large-scale grants for strategic programmes. An ability to work in a team environment, but also independently as required to tight deadlines is advantageous.
This role is contracted to the City Council and is managed by the Innovation, Impact and Business (IIB) team at the University. During the contract a small team of project leaders in the organisations will provide support, managed by the Creative Places lead in IIB.
2. Deliverables
There are specific areas to deliver in this role. This includes:
Project Inception Meeting 8-10 December in Exeter
The development of a costed investment plan based on the Creative Arc programme by the end of January 2022 (milestone 1)
The active support and development of an Expression of Interest/ draft strategic grant application for major investment for the first phase of Creative Arc by the end of February 2022 (milestone 2)
Final grant application delivered by end of March 2022 as well as the identification of specific funders who would be a target for future applications (milestone 3)
3. Timescale
We would like the contract to begin by 8 December 2021 and run for a period of 4 months up to the end of March 2022. This period will include attendance at scheduled Creative Arc Management meetings and include reporting on the progress of the development of the deliverables. This period will also include Stakeholder consultation across the Council, RAMM and University.
4. To Apply
We would like submissions of proposals to include a CV and short proposal (up to 2 pages) that articulates why you would like to apply for this role and what expertise you have to carry out this work. Please outline the budget and how this is allocated in the proposal. We would like these costs to be within £28,000 (inclusive of VAT and expenses). Please outline how you breakdown the costings for this contract, and your preferred working pattern and arrangements.
Please include 2 referees that we can contact who you have worked with on £1M-plus funding bids and an example of an appropriate investment case or bid with a budget that you have written yourself.
The successful individual will be expected to come to Exeter to meet with the stakeholders during the course of the contract.
If you have any more questions please contact Dom Jinks (d.j.jinks2@exeter.ac.uk) or Belinda Dillon (B.Dillon@exeter.ac.uk). Please send your proposal to Belinda Dillon by 26 November at 5pm.
The contract will be with Exeter City Council.