ONCA is a Brighton-based arts charity that bridges social and environmental justice issues. With our public programmes, we create inclusive spaces for collaborative learning, artist support and community solidarity. We are excited to announce that we are seeking a new gallery manager! This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s only arts and environmental organisations in a hands-on capacity at the heart of our operations.

Downloadable version of job description

Hours: 3 days/ 22.5 hours per week including occasional evenings and weekends. Based at ONCA Gallery in Brighton with occasional home working where necessary. Probationary period: 2 months.

Salary:  £26,845 – £29,439 per annum pro rata, depending on experience. Salaries at ONCA are maintained in line with the NJC pay scale.

Through all activity, maintain and develop ONCA’s ethical premise: ONCA is an anti-racist environmental charity and we aim to ensure our working practices are as ethical and sustainable as possible.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Coordinate the day-to-day running and maintenance of the gallery and take part fully in the life of the organisation
• Act as first point of contact with commissioned artists or prospective hirers (these may be organisations or one-off events as well as artists), discussing expectations and needs, including access, ensuring that agreements/ MoUs are clear and satisfactory for all parties, and that project activity timelines are in place and adhered to
• With the co-directors, plan and implement the gallery events and exhibition programme
• Manage data capture for each event, workshop and exhibition and keep monitoring records up to date, complete post-project evaluations where relevant
• Coordinate the installation and deconstruction of exhibitions, including any painting and repair work. Currently the majority of our exhibitions are in the window but this is subject to change
• Produce and order exhibition posters, wall texts, labels and window vinyl
• Manage gallery materials budget, carry out regular maintenance reports and keep space in excellent order
• Support and manage any gallery-based volunteers 
• Ensure that exhibitions and events are staffed responsibly at all times
• Lead on set-up and take-down of events
• Stock and run event bars where needed, and manage bar and shop payments using SumUp
• Manage shop stock, and process and post shop orders promptly
• Ensure all Health & Safety procedures are adhered to, including risk assessments
• With other staff, be on call to be notified if the gallery alarm goes off. Go to the gallery out of hours to deal with this if necessary
• With the Building & Operations manager, oversee the upkeep of ONCA’s garden
• With Building & Operations manager, act as support and contact point for artist/s working in the basement studio
• Attend regular team meetings, trainings and CPD, and one-to-one meetings with line manager

Communications

• Continue to grow ONCA’s network of partners, collaborators and artists
• Keep event and exhibition webpages up to date 
• Write event copy, reviews or blog posts where appropriate
• Contribute to audience development and accessibility. Produce BSL scripts, order BSL access videos, lead on making image and audio descriptions, help with video uploads and subtitling (with help from volunteers and other staff)
• Check regularly and respond promptly to all gallery-related enquiries
• Brief Communications Manager on exhibitions and events, provide promotional materials for ONCA’s platforms with plenty of time e.g. social media (copy & images, social media handles etc.) 
• With Communications Manager, develop and implement a strategy for promoting the gallery as a hireable event space 

Finance

• Achieve and maintain agreed rental income targets for the Gallery (£TBD). In 2023 these targets are being met primarily through day hires for non-arts events – looking after these is an important strand of the role
• Lead on decisions regarding instances in which the gallery may be offered for free or subsidised hire rates
• Maintain accurate sales and donations records
• Process receipts, invoices and petty cash related to gallery activity, providing monthly reports to the ONCA book-keeper
• Work on grant applications where relevant

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent organisation and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills including patience, kindness and a friendly demeanour 
• A clear commitment to, and working knowledge of, the arts sector, anti-racist and environmental justice issues
• 2+ years of arts production and project management experience
• 2+ years’ experience of gallery/ venue management
• A clear commitment to developing accessibility and inclusion in the arts
• Basic book-keeping skills
• IT proficiency 
• Good literacy and writing skills

Desirable

• Curatorial experience
• Confidence with the technical side of installing exhibitions and maintaining a gallery
• Sales and marketing experience
• Fundraising experience and skills e.g. with Arts Council England
• Experience of supporting volunteers
• Competency with graphics packages e.g. Canva, Figma
• Competency with WordPress
• Speak or be willing to learn basic British Sign Language (BSL) for artist support
• Proofreading skills

HOW TO APPLY

Please email with your CV, including the names of two referees, and a covering letter or video explaining why you think this role is right for you. Use ‘ONCA Gallery Manager’ in the subject line.

We acknowledge structural exclusion in the arts, and are actively striving to make ONCA a more inclusive organisation. We are keen to encourage applications from people who may face barriers to employment in the arts (e.g. people of colour, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities or facing economic disadvantage). We can refund travel expenses relating to interviews. Click here to read our equal opportunities policy.

If you have a disability and/ or access needs and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to attend an interview, please contact or call the office on 01273 607101.

• Deadline: Midnight, Sunday 7 May 2023
• Interviews: Monday 15 May 2023
• Role starts: June 2023 or ASAP