Senior talent pathways manager

Closing date for applications: 10th November 2025

Compensation: £41,000 to £43,000 per year

We are looking for people to join our fantastic team at Somerset House Trust. As the home of cultural innovators, the trust connects creativity and the arts with the broader society.

Somerset House pursues a ‘Step Inside, Think Outside’ spirit and is born from the creative community we nurture - the experience and perspectives we host across background, age, race, and stage, and the intersections and crossovers we encourage.

Somerset House seeks a seasoned senior talent pathways manager to lead and shape the delivery, and continuous improvement of its Entry Route programmes for young people ages 16 -30. The post holder will collaborate with the team to ensure progression pathways between programmes are accessible and visible while maintaining best practice in departmental delivery.

Working closely with internal teams across Somerset House, external partners, and community organisations, you will develop approaches to strengthening pathways between programmes, establishing accessible routes from Entry Routes programmes into wider supported Career Development initiatives such as the BBR, Exchange Bursaries, Studios Bursaries and Makerversity’s Makers with a Mission, and Makers Under 30.

The senior talent pathways manager will design, deliver and monitor a new entry routes initiative, taking inspiring and skilled facilitators, artists and creatives from within the Somerset House creative eco-system, off-site to reach young people where they are.

The senior manager will hold diversity and equity as core values in their practice and be able to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for delivering relevant, innovative and inspiring programmes to support the next generation, leveraging the creative community at Somerset House as a source of inspiration and as tool for social change.

This pivotal role will work closely with the Head of Inclusive Talent to deliver the Inclusive Talent Engagement strategy. The successful candidate will maintain high standards in programme delivery, monitoring and evaluation and serve as a thought partner to the Head of Department, capably supporting the team as required. You will line manage the department Coordinator and Administrator providing effective leadership to ensure the quality delivery of all entry routes programmes. This role requires exceptional project management skills and extensive experience and knowledge of organising and delivering creative participation programmes with young people within a community context.

What we are looking for

Strategy, programme delivery

• Work in close partnership with the Head of Inclusive Talent to drive forward the delivery of the Inclusive Talent Engagement strategy and the department’s vision and long-term goals.
• To lead the design, planning, delivery and evaluation of a community-focused programme, prioritising engagement with young people not currently served by existing activities.
• Proactively collaborate with the broader teams to co-create radical, equitable, and accessible programmes, supporting an agile and innovative approach to developing and embedding talent pathways.
• Collaborate to ensure entry routes programmes continues its work towards producing equitable, meaningful and impactful programmes for young people ages 16-30, advocating for underrepresented voices throughout.
• Cultivate and leverage strategic relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally, pursuing new community partnership and collaboration opportunities.
• Foster open, effective collaboration with internal and external project stakeholders, including artists, community partners, creatives, and Somerset House teams, ensuring timely consultation and information-sharing.
• Maintain principles of evaluation throughout Talent Pathways to ensure quality impact measurement.
• Horizon scanning to monitor developments in youth policy, creative education, and talent pipelines, ensuring Talent Pathways remain ahead of sector trends.

Team leadership and people management

• In response to the department vision, lead on supporting the team to deliver the ambitions by distilling short-, medium- and long-term goals, into clear objectives enabling the team to deliver departmental ambitions.
• Provide effective line management for the Coordinator and Administrator as well as freelance creatives, ensuring motivation, appraisals, and ongoing training and development.
• Serve as a day-to-day advisor for the ITE team, providing operational, contractual, financial, risk assessment, and safeguarding support as required.
• Support the team to anticipate and address delivery-related risks and challenges, ensuring proactive resolution and clear communication throughout.
• Collaborate with the team to deliver consistently high-quality work, nurturing best practice and committing to learning-led continuous improvement.
• Step in to deputise for the Head of Inclusive Talent Engagement, providing confident, consistent leadership in their absence.

Finance, operations and marketing

• Ensure all processes are rigorous and transparent, maintaining comprehensive oversight of departmental trackers for programme planning, finances, and evaluation, ensuring accurate data and timely reporting.
• Liaise with the marketing team to ensure effective communications for all programmes, using data and insight to maximise reach and actively engage young people from diverse backgrounds.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Has substantial experience in managing and delivering high-quality creative, learning and participation programmes for young people in an arts and culture context.
• Excellent attention to detail with considerable experience of working in complex programme delivery, ideally in a high-volume environment with the ability to prioritise a busy workload and meet deadlines.
• Has considerable experience of delivering equitable and accessible programmes externally in collaboration with grass roots charities and small organisations working with young people.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, anti-racism, access and inclusion, with practical experience applying these principles through co-creation and participatory practices.
• Is experienced in evaluation and reporting, using data for evidence led programme development and impact measurement.
• Experience of budget management and all related administration with ability to highlight issues and propose logistical, operational and financial solutions.
• Skilled diplomat, with an ability to build and nurture strong working relationships with a diverse range of people, both within the organisation and externally.
• Line management and leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, appraise, and develop staff and freelancers.
• Able to work collaboratively, as a cohesive part of the team supporting and assisting in the shape and form of ideas, initiatives and projects that are not your own.
• Highly organised, with demonstrable administration, analytical and IT skills (Microsoft Office and other planning, budgeting and booking systems)
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the creative industry landscape, youth workforce development, and policy contexts relevant to talent development and equity.
• Understands the challenges faced by young people who experience multiple barriers and employs trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches.
• Is a collaborative team player with strong problem-solving skills and a flexible, pragmatic approach with a commitment to continuous learning and reflective practice.

Somerset House is open to all, and we value everyone's unique skills. Somerset House Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.