Project Manager - Creativity in Place

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week Mon - Fri with some evening and weekend work (with time in lieu offered)

Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary

Closing Date: 23 October 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

This role is subject to- 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Culture, arts and being creative are very important to Manchester. We know culture happens everywhere, means a lot to us, and connects with everyone. Our new ten year plan, Always, Everywhere, reflects our Cultural Ambition. We aim to grow culture and creative opportunities in more places, with more programs and more people. If you share Manchester's cultural ambition to make a bigger impact and be more inclusive, diverse, and accessible, this could be the right opportunity for you.

If successful you will take up a pivotal role working with our Culture and Neighbourhoods teams, alongside health, cultural, community, voluntary and social enterprise sector partners to deliver the next phase of a collaborative, pathfinder programme for our new cultural plan.

Manchester Creativity in Place is boosting cultural participation and creative opportunities in North Manchester and Wythenshawe. Both areas are full of potential and ready to grow. Over the next 2 years we're investing in co-production, partnerships, and cultural commissioning to support the local cultural sector, improve lives, and spotlight creativity. The programme connects with significant regeneration initiatives in both areas, including the North Manchester Strategy and transformation of Wythenshawe town centre, including the development of a new cultural hub.

Manchester Creativity in Place is a Place Partnership, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Zoe Williams, at or to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About The Candidate

We're looking for passionate changemakers to help lead and shape this programme. If you think you can bring the right mix of experience, skills and energy to this role, we'd love to hear from you.

Essential Skills:

• Planning and Organising: Excellent time management skills, creating own work schedules, prioritising, preparing in advance and setting realistic timescales for own self and others. Has the ability to visualise a sequence of actions needed to achieve a specific goal and how to estimate the resources required.
• Project Management: Well-developed influencing and persuasive skills and ability to offer a persuasive argument with internal and external stakeholders to achieve key project milestones whilst maintaining a positive attitude.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Continuously performs at high levels of achievement, demonstrating tenacity, energy and commitment to achieve desired results.
• Creative Skills: Ability to find creative solutions where there are no existing parameters or procedural framework.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategy to shape future plans.
• Financial Management: Resource and financial management skills to develop effective planning, financial management and reporting frameworks. Manage allocated resources effectively, delivering business performance and value for money.
• Technical requirements: Proven experience of successfully commissioning, managing and delivering a range of projects, including those in a cultural/creative context. Contribution to and understanding of current approaches to community activation and engagement, including the role of culture and creativity to this. Contribution to and understanding of neighbourhood development and the People, Place and Growth agendas. The role holder depending on the nature of the work may be required to work outside of normal office hours.

About Us

We're the local council for one of the UK's most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it's strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you'll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city - Our Manchester - guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We own it and we're not afraid to try new things
• We're proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - enrolled in the UK's largest local government pension scheme, with life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - enhanced family leave options to bond with a new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - discounts on a wide range of services and products, including MCR+ discounts, phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - access to a diverse set of learning opportunities, onboarding, workshops, training, apprenticeships and qualifications.
• A Good Employment Charter member - secure, flexible work, fairness, annual pay reviews, recognition of trade unions, and health and wellbeing support.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - paid volunteering leave in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool is available via the careers page to provide accessibility features such as text-to-speech, translation, and adjustable text size and colour.

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route by Manchester City Council policy.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful, checks may include: Proof of Right to Work, References, Proof of Qualifications, DBS Check, Police Vetting, BPSS Clearance, Driving Licence, and other role-specific requirements. Details may vary by role.

These checks are part of our commitment to safety and security for our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and to have the necessary aids or adaptations. If a task is unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please read the attached role profile. Calculate your take home pay and Privacy Notice are available on the careers page.