This is a unique opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading commercial arts organisations – Storytelling PR is an artist-first PR company who work with a diverse and brilliant range of established and up-and-coming live performers and creatives across Theatre, Comedy, Cabaret and Visual Arts. We are looking for the perfect person to come in and help lead Storytelling into its next 10 years. Salary advertised could be for a job-share or part time role if experience lends itself – salary could also be tied to success with the company. We welcome applications that ask questions as well as answer ours.
This role is based in Edinburgh at our office in Summerhall. We understand life comes before work, but there are ways to make that time at work so rewarding – and this is the basis of all we do as a team.
Storytelling PR Ltd work between Edinburgh, Glasgow and London; and with companies touring and making work across the UK. We often work with international arts companies selling mostly to British audiences. Storytelling PR has a huge focus on theatre and performance that has an interest in social change or activism. We love good stories and good storytellers. We define our work by feminist / equalitist ethics and we feel it’s important our work and our services are available to both up-and-coming and established artists and companies – this has always been key to our practice and we actively ensure our client / company list is diverse. We are intersectional feminists, Queer-positive and actively anti-racist. We seek to collaborate with artists of all identities and we take the time to do the learning and work to support our artists and staff.
We are looking for an Executive Director who will have a personal specialism within the team alongside a management role. We are especially keen to see applications from candidates who have worked in Digital Marketing OR Comedy and Commercial Live Performance. Every time we advertise a role at Storytelling we are looking for the right person to join our collaborative working style – we’re totally aware these two specialisms are two ends of the spectrum in terms of selling live events.
Storytelling PR Ltd is an equal opportunities employer and we really, really welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Diversity in the workplace is an asset both to our organisation and our ability to deliver for our diverse client and company base.
Main purpose of role:
- To support the Storytelling Team working across Publicity, Digital and Marketing with a personal specialism but a genuine interest and perspective on all areas of the business.
- To collaborate with artists, companies, and live event makers.
- To collaborate theatre / arts management companies and activists, both who bridge into culture and those who lobby directly to ScotGov and require a PR platform for launches and happenings.
- To take on some administrative duties from our Founder and Director, not limited to negotiating and setting fees, meeting clients and companies and ensuring the team are supported and have manageable workloads.
- To (essentially) be a representative to the media of some of the UK’s best live performance and campaigners and creatives in a way that the companies feel matches their own vibe and work.
- There is an exciting opportunity to work with any of our year round companies (see our website) on a really aspirational and close level to get the best PR and lend the best advice on comms.
What you will be doing:
- Delivering or supporting PR and Digital campaigns for all of Storytelling PR’s many and varied theatre, performance, and activism companies and clients across the UK. PR and Digital campaigns will include writing excellent fully finished press releases, issuing and pitching, logging all on a project WIP, keeping good records of who is engaged and interested in the work, looking for new contacts and matches for the work across a broad range of media.
- Managing cash flow through the year and helping with financial strategy and planning. Being across all project strategy and working alongside our Founder & Director to manage best practice in every area of the business.
- Line-managing several members of the team with weekly updates and having a clear picture of what needs prioritising when across our entire roster.
- Engaging closely with a network of press media and with our companies to sell their work to audiences.
- Actively listening. As we work with Minoritised, Ethnically Diverse and Disability led companies there are often new conversations and considerations that need thought – from access, to the restraints of structurally problematic industries on all sides. You will often hear about Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia and Ableism. As you will be the intermediary between our brilliant companies and our colleagues in the press you’ll be expected to be aware of what support companies need and we will support you in turn.
- Working on our world-class Edinburgh Festival Fringe portfolio of leading performance art, dance, theatre, circus, cabaret and international theatre work.
- Every member of the team has a direct project specialism – please outline what your area of specialism would be at application.
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Be a strategic and creative thinker.
- An ability to interpret creative practice for paper or pitching in a way that is clear and concise.
- Demonstrable knowledge of, and interest in, issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in the arts.
- A keen interest or background in culture – be that music, theatre, performance, pop culture or anything else.
- A keen interest in activism, changing how we report and how we listen
- A keen interest in the intersection of culture and green / environmental causes.
- Experience of working to and achieving income targets.
- Experience of managing budgets and delivering campaigns within financial limits.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and proven ability to collaborate with team-mates on projects.
- Press contacts and a keen interest in culture media and reportage.
- Highly organised, with a demonstrable ability to keep track of tasks, prioritise work under pressure and deliver against set targets to agreed deadlines.
- Someone who thrives in a busy environment.
- Significant experience in the media world (be that as a journalist / PR / communications specialist) and experience working in a busy comms office or working within a press outlet.
- Active listening skills
- Demonstrable experience in leadership and line management – demonstrating strong values, and the ability to motivate and build high-performing teams.
- Ability to identify and develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Proven networking and negotiation skills, demonstrable development of good partnerships with other individuals and organisations.
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the arts in Scotland, across the UK
- An interest in the power of the small business and independent makers and creatives
- High-level creativity and ability to devise novel and unexpected solutions and strategies
- Intrinsic motivation and drive to make change, get bums on seats and do your best work (small ask)
- Have something entrepreneurial about your approach to your work.
- Experience of working in live events.
- Experience of working across culture, charity or not for profit.
- An interest in changing the way things are.
Storytelling PR Executive Director
Salary – salary will fit the applicant and will be offered based on experience £28,000pa – £34,000 – if you feel this number is more suited to part-time or job share – we will accept those pitches or call Director Miriam to talk through.
Storytelling staff receive an annual pay rise and there is opportunity for staff to have a contribution towards counselling or therapy, because we think it’s very important to have good mental health!
We work from a light, buzzy (and often busy) office in Summerhall, Edinburgh.
We welcome those interested to send a cover letter and CV to admin@storytellingpr.com.
We welcome any questions about applications to Miriam Attwood miriam@storytellingpr.com
Have a look at our equal opps doc here.
The deadline for applications is 31 March 6pm. Interviews will take place the following week in Edinburgh or via zoom.
