New Music Scotland – Part-time General Manager

Fixed Term Contract – 14 months

New Music Scotland is seeking to engage a freelance General Manager to support the organisation to enable, support and connect Scotland’s new music sector.

The General Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the organisation’s day-to-day running and long-term management, including but not limited to: event organisation, project management, network co-ordination, marketing and PR, budgeting and fundraising. They will be assisted by a part-time Digital Officer and supported by the Board.

The successful candidate will have a background in the arts sector, preferably in new music, with proven strategic, administrative, project-management, financial and organisational skills. They will be a strong communicator, with experience in networking, and

will be a self-motivated, flexible and creative individual, capable of working on their own initiative and in close co-ordination with the Board and NMS members.

About New Music Scotland

New Music Scotland was set up to help generate a vibrant and thriving new music sector in Scotland. NMS is a SCIO and exists to connect, enable and support makers of new music, musicians, sound artists, composers, promoters and producers in Scotland. NMS creates and maintains a supportive environment for innovation.

Details

Timeframe: 14 months – fixed term, allowing for final reporting. Starting date: early September.

There may be a possibility of extension/further opportunity, dependent on internal/external developments.

Fee: £18,000 (based on an expected equivalent of 1.5 days a week, but annualized over 14 months).

Plus expenses for travel and accommodation if required.

The role

The General Manager role is a 14-month fixed term post. It is hoped that the role will be extended if sufficient funding is obtained.

The General Manager will implement NMS’s strategic aims and objectives, reporting directly to the Board, working with them to devise strategy, and implementing agreed activity. The General Manager should be comfortable working as part of a team, and will be required to work independently from home, in close liaison with the Board (voluntary) and the Digital Officer (also freelance part-time).

Key Responsibilities

• Managing the day-to-day running of the organisation, including communicating with its members and dealing with queries from external personnel and organisations.

• Alongside the Board, devising a membership strategy to increase and diversify our membership, and implementing it.

• Planning and coordinating NMS activity to strengthen and increase communication within the sector: this will include a Conference and New Music Celebratory weekend, various online events for members, the annual AGM, any networking events, informal meet-ups and other relevant opportunities and activities.

• Preparing agendas, papers and minutes for, and attending, quarterly Board meetings.

• Initiating and supporting any Working Group meetings, and following up on meeting actions.

• Overseeing the organisation’s finances, including up-to-date bookkeeping and preparing quarterly accounts for the Board, and managing resources within budget guidelines and according to current legal and regulatory requirements.

• Communicating with accountants, HMRC and Companies House as required.

• Working with the Board on fundraising planning and implementation: writing funding applications, submitting proposals, administering fundraising records and reporting to funders.

• Building partnerships and facilitating collaborations that will advance the organisation’s aims.

• Attending meetings and conferences, where relevant.

• Liaising with the press and the new music sector regarding NMS events and opportunities

• Liaising with the Digital Officer to oversee updates to the NMS website and communication via social media outlets

• Working with the Board to draft and implement policies as appropriate.

• Undertaking such other duties as may from time to time be agreed with the Board.

Required Skills

• Experience working in and an excellent first-hand knowledge of Scotland’s music community.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong relationship-building.

• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.

• Strong administrative, project-management and organisational skills, with ability to prioritise workloads and show excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to think strategically and take initiatives.

• Experience of using Word, Excel and other Microsoft Office software.

• Strong track record of fundraising and budgeting

• Experience of collaborative working and ability to balance a variety of different stakeholder’s priorities.

Application Procedure

Please apply here by submitting your CV with accompanying Covering Letter addressing the essential skills needed, and your motivation for the post.

Closing Date: 25th August 2025

We aim to interview in the week commencing 1st September 2025

Please note that we are committed to equal opportunities & developing diversity in our organisation. In particular we would welcome applications from D/deaf, disabled, global majority and LGBTIQA+ candidates.