Creative Programme Manager At Turquoise Mountain

Job Description and Person Profile

Background

Turquoise Mountain is a British charity that was founded in 2006. We believe artisanal heritage matters and has the power to transform lives. We support artisans to thrive and to revitalize traditions in regions of the world where artisanal heritage is endangered, and to connect people through heritage.

Turquoise Mountain is a fast-growing organization with offices in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, and the Levant, and with over 400 international and local staff members worldwide. We combine a cultural heritage focus with a wide scope of activities; we support artisans to thrive and to revitalize their traditions by any means necessary, and to connect people across the world through heritage.

TM have been working in Saudi Arabia since 2015 to support the development of the country’s ever-growing heritage, arts and craft sector. TM aim to provide training, development and economic opportunities to artisans, and to help them generate income and gain employment by producing commercially viable art and crafts products, rooted in Saudi heritage.

We are looking for a Creative Programme Manager who can work with the Programme Director to drive the creative approach in the AlUla programme that Turquoise Mountain deliver on behalf of the Royal Commission for AlUla. This requires the ability to combine creative expertise and skills with the implementation of structure, within which creativity can thrive in AlUla.

Job Description

Job Title: Creative Programme Manager, AlUla
Department: AlUla Programme, KSA
Location: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Reports to (Line Manager): Programme Director
Job Purpose Summary: Work in partnership with the Programme Director to drive the creative approach in the AlUla programme. Deputise for the Programme Director when necessary.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Main Responsibilities

Design + Product Development:

• Lead on all creative design and development across the AlUla programme.
• Production of concept boards, design briefs and product specifications.
• Working with AlUla team and artisans to translate 2D designs into 3D product samples.
• Support development of a core collection in each craft type to streamline outputs throughout workshops (training and production).
• Managing design and product development of the KPI retail collection
• Sign off responsibility for some designs and products, ensuring they are in line with heritage references, meet TM standards, and are appropriate for artisan capabilities.
• Managing supply chain of each craft type to source the most appropriate materials, considering quality and commercial viability both nationally and internationally.
• Managing implementation of the product lifecycle and QC process.

Artisan Development

• Working with learning and development and training teams to ensure the curriculums implement relevant techniques needed to be able to complete the necessary designs.
• Working with the artisans to be able to translate the 2D designs into 3D samples and then production orders which meet TM standards.
• Managing implementation of successful training to ensure artisans have capabilities to complete designs and products.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

• Coordination between SMEs and artisans, especially for collaborative projects.
• Identifying and recruiting suitable Subject Matter Experts to work with the programme, mostly locally.
• Working with both the SMEs and Creative Lead to create appropriate scope of work, negotiate rate and deliverables, and understand material and equipment needs.

External Partnerships / Commercial

• Responsible for delivery of commercial projects as per client expectations.
• Working with Creative Lead to deliver as per criteria.

This list is not exhaustive, and other duties may be required as determined by the needs of the organisation.

Key working relationships / cross-working

Line Management including (but not limited to):

• Design team
• Training team

Internal:

• Creative and Commercial Leads
• Communications team

External:

• Keyexternal stakeholders including clients

International (TM Global):

• Creative Director
• Commercial Director

Person Profile

Professional approach:

Constructive and collegiate style that contributes to team harmony and builds community.

Personal attributes/ skills:

• Works well under pressure.
• Able to manage multiple clients and conflicting priorities.
• Must be comfortable creating processes and systems that promote creativity.
• Must be detail-oriented and able to communicate vision to a wide group of stakeholders.
• Must be comfortable working autonomously.
• A full driving licence and international permit is essential for this role.

Education and experience:

Essential

• A strong background in a craft-based enterprise.
• Evidence of significant project management experience.
• Significant experience of managing and working within specified budgets.
• Demonstrable experience of managing diverse teams.
• Experience of delivering a creative vision against a detailed brief from client/s.
• Experience of working with multinational supply chains.

Desirable

• Evidence of working with multiple different crafts.
• Formal education in a creative subject.
• A recognised formal project management qualification.

Digital skills and experience:

• Confident user of Adobe creative suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
• Keynote
• Confident using all general Microsoft applications including Excel, Outlook, Teams, Word, SharePoint, PowerPoint etc.

Language skills:

Excellent level of international standard spoken and written English with exceptional reporting skills is essential.

Arabic language skills would be advantageous, or a desire to learn.

This role is based in AlUla, KSA and is offered as a full-time position for an initial fixed term of 12 months (subject to a 3-month probationary period). This term may be extended.

In addition to the base pay, TM will provide a business visa (where needed); accommodation in AlUla (double en-suite room in a shared house); a monthly domestic travel allowance (to allow travel outside of AlUla at weekends); transport between work and accommodation by method of self-driven company car; International flight allowance based on 4 return journeys per year; local health insurance.