Reading Rep Theatre is looking for a freelance Project Lead to help set up and begin delivery of the Berkshire Cultural Skills Hub, our Arts Council England Place Partnership.

Although contracted by Reading Rep Theatre as grant holder, the role is explicitly partnership-facing and will work across the agreed governance structures of the Berkshire Cultural Skills Hub.

The Berkshire Cultural Skills Hub brings together Reading Rep, the University of Reading, Activate Learning, the Cultural Education Partnership and cultural delivery partners including CultureMix Arts, Readipop, Jelly and RABBLE. The programme aims to build a joined-up pathway from early cultural engagement into paid work in the creative and screen industries, with a particular focus on underrepresented young people aged 14–24.

This is a nine month contract to get the partnership working and the first delivery underway. Above all, the partnership is the project: the post holder’s main measure of success is a functioning, trusting and equitable partnership in which every cultural partner feels genuinely involved.

We are looking for someone who is collaborative, relationship-led and confident working across multiple organisations. This role is about getting the partnership working well, supporting co-design, setting up clear systems and ensuring the first phase of delivery is ready to progress.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with experience of partnership working, project coordination, creative/cultural skills programmes, education or skills partners, and funder reporting.