Program Manager: Arts and Culture at Inspire Community Network Foundation

• The Program Manager, Arts and Culture, is an avid reader, a creative writer, and a lover of arts and culture with current knowledge and active engagement with industry trends and market news in Nigeria, and internationally (a plus).
• The right candidate would be highly skilled in arts and cultural content development (writing is a critical required skill for this role), arts and cultural grant research and writing, partnership development, fundraising and literary event programming and management.

Responsibilities

Lagos Artists and Authors Talk (LAAT) (70%)

• Manage the planning and implementing of the annual Lagos Artists and Authors Talk (LAAT) programming (formerly called Authors Talk).
• Develop the workplan and workstream of LAAT and manage the schedule of the annual author and artist's lineup, developing relevant and engaging topics and panels, performing events, and exhibitions.
• Work closely with publishers to feature the year’s most compelling books at LAAT.
• Develop new partnerships and leverage on existing partnership to enhance LAAT overall delivery.
• Create engaging programming that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.
• Oversee the master grid of author and artist invitations, submissions, declines, and rejections.
• Oversee LAAT author and artist's schedule information, ensuring lineup and schedule information is published by the target deadline.
• Oversee fundraising, including grant writing and identification of new sponsorship relations to achieve the department annual budget.
• Build and maintain relationships with sponsors, patrons and partners.
• Manage LAAT's volunteers' onboarding and assignments.
• Work with Industry Partners, and appropriate government departments to align and coordinate the LAAT’s implementation and management.
• Work with the Development team to create programming that meets development goals.
• If applicable, manage guests' itineraries, arrivals, departures, and hospitality.
• Produce literary program reports for relevant stakeholders and leadership team.
• Work with Finance and the Department Head to manage the programming budget,
• continually striving to improve efficiency and cost savings.
• Curate LAATl events lineup.
• Produce literary and arts content for websites, emails, grants, fundraising, press releases, ads, and promotional materials, including social media platforms, interviews, and lit events calendar.
• Using critical PR strategy, improve LAAT’s brand and build support with the literary and arts community in Nigeria.
• Other LAAT Need as required.

Special Projects (20%)

• Lead the research and development of special projects.
• Lead the planning, managing, and implementing of special projects.
• Develop special projects workplans and workstreams, and work with other required
• departments for program delivery, tracking and impact reporting.
• Manage all vendors and contractors assigned to a special project.
• Manage all contracts and donors required compliances.
• Create resources and all required materials for the delivery of an effective programming.
• Produce programs reports as needed across board.
• Work with Finance to manage the programming budget, continually striving to improve efficiency and cost savings.
• Other Special Project Need as required.

Ibom International Arts and Book Festival (10%)

• Support the planning, managing, and implementing of the Ibom International Arts and
• Book festival's programming.
• Work closely with the Artistic Director to schedule the annual Festival author and artist's lineup, developing relevant and engaging topics and panels, performing events, and exhibitions, including other festival's side events.
• Work closely with the Artistic Director to oversee the master grid of author and artist invitations, submissions, declines, and rejections.
• Manage Festival's volunteers' onboarding and assignments..
• Work closely with the Artistic Director to arrange guests' itineraries, arrivals, departures, and hospitality.
• Other Festival Programming Support Need as required.

EXPECTATIONS

• Actively participate in and contribute to the organization’s long-term strategic goals and
• success for an inclusive arts and cultural landscape in Nigeria and abroad.
• Actively contribute to a positive, professional, and respectful work environment.
• Support festival team members when they need help.
• Embrace the all-in commitment required to make the annual arts and culture programs a
• success and understand that evening and weekend work will be expected in the weeks
• leading up to these events. Flexible hours and generous time off in the off-season are
• provided in recognition of extra work time needed for events.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be residing in Lagos City. LAAT is a Lagos-based program.
• Bachelor’s degree or graduate studies in a relevant field preferred.
• 2-3 years of relevant work experience, including writing, curating, planning, and executing literary and/or arts programming and events.
• Experience with event-planning management on a large scale.
• Experience with arts and literary grant research and writing.
• Enthusiasm and passion for literature and literacy, including the arts.
• Knowledge and experience in the publishing and arts industry, including curiosity about contemporary trends in publishing and arts.
• Knowledge of the Lagos literary community.
• Experience in recruiting, motivating, and managing volunteers
• Excellent communications skills (oral, written, and presentation)
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Attention to detail is critical for this position
• Strong technological aptitude. Familiarity with and flexibility across platforms and operating systems is expected.
• Media and public relations skills.
• Ability to think creatively to problem solve and promote the Festival.
• Dedication and enthusiasm for fulfilling the Festival mission.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when needed.
• Some travel is required.

COMPENSATION AND HOURS

• Salary is a monthly N130,000-N150,000 commensurate with experience
• Irregular evening and weekend work hours; flexibility with work schedule
• Primarily local and inter-state travel during business hours, although some regional and
• overnight travel may occur.
• Benefits are generous, including paid employee health and dental insurance (some
• employee contribution required); voluntary vision and retirement plans are also available.
• Paid time off includes vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.