Community Engagement Coordinator – Derby Theatre (0299-26) – Derby, DE22 1GB
About the University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
At Derby Theatre, we are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.
Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby and are a home for higher education students. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and offer training for young people too, with opportunities for learners of all ages. It’s all about empowering people to tap into their potential and achieve.
About the Role
As Community Engagement Coordinator, you will help connect people across Derby with Derby Theatre’s creative learning, participation and community programmes. You will make sure projects are well organised, effectively communicated and delivered to a high standard, creating a positive and welcoming experience for young people, partners, students, artists and communities.
This is a varied, people-focused role combining project coordination, relationship building, communications and administration. You will act as a key point of contact for designated projects and partnerships, working with schools, community groups, libraries, students, cultural organisations, artists and practitioners. From coordinating schedules, bookings and venues to supporting workshops, performances, training sessions, partnership programmes and events such as the Eagle Awards, you will help ensure activity runs smoothly, safely and inclusively.
You will also help us demonstrate and celebrate the difference our work makes. Working with colleagues, you will gather participant stories, testimonials, images, evaluation information and case studies; create accessible content for digital channels, presentations and reports; and ensure that the voices of communities, participants and artists are represented authentically. You will maintain accurate project records, contribute to reports for funders and stakeholders, and support consultation that enables local people to influence future programmes.
Your key priorities will include:
- Coordinating high-quality community, learning and participation activity from planning through to bringing together the team to deliver
- Building trusted relationships with existing partners while helping us reach new groups and communities
- Supporting participant and audience development through consultation, advocacy and ambassador initiatives
- Gathering reliable evidence of activity and impact for organisational, partner and funder reporting
- Creating clear and engaging communications that bring our projects and their impact to life, in partnership with colleagues in Creative Learning and the Marketing Department
- Supporting safeguarding, GDPR and other organisational requirements across all allocated activity
- Contributing to the continued development of Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre model
The position has no direct reports, although you will have opportunities to take ownership of agreed programme strands, working independently within established frameworks. In post, you will develop valuable specialist experience in community engagement, cultural education, arts participation, partnership working, safeguarding, evaluation and impact storytelling.
This is a part-time position of 21 hours per week, normally worked over three days, with some flexibility required; precise working pattern will be discussed at interview. There is no stated on-call commitment, but occasional evening, weekend and public holiday work will be necessary to support activities and events.
The anticipated interview date is 11th December 2026.
About You
You will be an organised, approachable and proactive person who enjoys bringing people and projects together. You will be comfortable communicating with a wide range of people and committed to creating inclusive opportunities for communities to participate in arts, culture and learning.
You will have experience of coordinating projects, programmes or events and of managing the practical details needed to make activity happen successfully. This could include schedules, bookings, communications, records, events, financial administration or evaluation information. You will be able to manage several priorities at once, work independently when required and collaborate positively with colleagues and external partners.
Strong communication skills are essential. You will be able to build good relationships with people from different backgrounds and communicate clearly with participants, schools, community organisations, artists and cultural partners. You will also be a confident writer who can turn project information, participant experiences and evaluation evidence into engaging copy, reports and case studies. You will be able to capture content from diverse voices to help tell our story.
No specific professional qualification or registration is required. Experience of Arts Council or other grant-funded programmes, digital content creation, cultural education, community arts or participatory practice would be an advantage, but we also welcome candidates with relevant transferable experience. Most importantly, you will be collaborative, dependable and motivated by the opportunity to help communities shape, experience and champion the work of Derby Theatre.
What should I expect if I am invited to an interview?
We aim to make the interviews as accessible and engaging as possible, and we want you to talk about yourself and your work experience in a relaxed and friendly setting.
We believe an interview is a chance for you to find more information about the role, us as an organisation and for you to get a sense of whether this is the right environment for you.
With this in mind, we have designed an interview process which will enable potential candidates to meet members of the team and partners, see some of the spaces you might be working in, and of course a chance to talk about you and your work experience.
Please note you must be at least 17 years of age to apply for this role.
Benefits
Please refer to the job description for Derby Theatre benefits. Please note benefits from University of Derby do not apply.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Caroline Barth, Creative Learning Director via c.barth@derby.ac.uk.
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.
To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
The Theatre is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.
Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.
Closing Date: 29 Nov 2026
Area: Operational Support
Salary: £27,232 to £30,258 per annum pro rata
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