The Hours of Work Are Those Required to Fulfil the Needs of the Post

Head of Music Performance

Ref:RWCMD/0017

Full Time, Permanent

The hours of work are those required to fulfil the needs of the post

Salary:£57,674 – £63,009 (Band I)

The National Conservatoire of Wales is looking for a dynamic and experienced musician to provide leadership across the area of Music performance. The successful applicant will be responsible for developing, supporting and delivering strategic initiatives particularly in relation to the recruitment of students, the vocational training of musicians, and in fulfilment of the conservatoire’s broader remit as a national institution.

Deadline for Applications:22nd May 2017

Job Description

Job Title:Head of Music Performance

Responsible to:Director of Music

Main Purpose of Job
The Head of Music Performance is responsible for maintaining and promoting a training environment for music performance of the highest possible quality; for developing and facilitating cross-disciplinary performance opportunities within Music, across the conservatoire and with external partners; to manage a full range of enhancements to the student experience and the conservatoire’s wider profile arising from its public performance programme; and for developing the conservatoire’s profile and participation within music education and music industry networks nationally and internationally.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
1. Management responsibilities

To take overall responsibility for the delivery of high quality training in music performance at the conservatoire;
To line-manage designated Heads of Department;
To manage delegated budgets for performance training in music;
To lead the contribution of Music within collaborative projects within the conservatoire and with external partners;
To liaise with the Head of Pre-College in maintaining a high quality and vibrant programme of outreach training and related practical experience for Music students;
To liaise with the Head of Creative Programming in respect of the performance planning process in Music, with particular responsibility for the provision of high quality public performances by students;
To develop and oversee the contribution of visiting artists to the performance training of students;
To assist the Director of Music in the planning and delivery, each academic year, of an integrated training programme for music students in collaboration with Award leaders, Heads of Performance & administrators;
To take overall responsibility for the operational viability of all aspects of performance scheduling within Music;
To facilitate and develop international exchange programmes for staff and students;
To develop and maintain an effective professional relationship and interactive dialogue with the conservatoire’s team of visiting tutors in music;
To take overall operational responsibility for Health and Safety matters in relation to music performance;
To lead and manage the implementation of the conservatoire’s strategy in the area of sustainable/healthy performance for music students.

2.Learning, teaching and assessment

To undertake teaching as required;
To act as an examiner or moderator and to chair assessment panels and boards of examiners, as required.
To ensure that all documentation relating to performance training across all disciplines is complete, current and fit for purpose;
To advise the Director of Music on changes in content, delivery or organisation of music performance training activities;
To ensure compliance with quality assurance processes relating to the assessment of performance;
To monitor assessment strategies for music performance and, in consultation with relevant staff, develop enhancements where required;
To ensure that Associate (External) Examiners arebriefed fully on their role and responsibilities in a way which is consistent across all disciplines.

/ 3.Student support

To take overall responsibility for the support of Music students including the personal tutor system, ensuring (in liaison with the Head of Student Services) that disabilities and specific learning needs and medical issues are addressed appropriately within Music;
To take an active role in the College’s procedures for tracking graduates;
To offer guidance and support to students and graduates, and to write references as required.

4.Research, scholarly activity & professional practice

To undertake research, scholarly activity, professional practice and/or consultancy in contribution to the College’s Research & Scholarly Activity strategy;
To keep abreast of current good practice in the development and delivery of performance training in music;
To disseminate examples of good practice in the performance-related training of conservatoire music graduates which reflects industry requirements and expectations.

5.Recruitment and admissions

To audition applicants in the UK and overseas;
In consultation with the Director of Music, to implement strategies for Home/EU recruitment, including the award of scholarships;
To set and review appropriate and attainable international recruitment targets across Music, in collaboration with the Director of Music;
To contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of an international recruitment strategy in Music;
To develop proposals for additional collaborative partner institutions world-wide;
To represent the College overseas and to attend conferences/conventions as required.

6.Professional responsibilities

To make a contribution to institutional strategic planning;
To serve, as a member of the College committees and working groups as appropriate.
To represent the College in relevant national and international fora.
To undertake, from time to time, such additional duties as may reasonably be required by the Principal.

The above duties and responsibilities are not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected from time to time within the scope and grading of the post.

Person Specification

leadership and management skills including:

planning and delivery of objectives;
negotiation; advocacy;

interpersonal skills including: tact; diplomacy; the ability to see alternative points of view; to challenge and motivate others; to adopt a collegial approach;
organisational and administrative skills including time-management, clear thinking, the ability to prioritise competing demands;
ability to manage a budget;
positive, pro-active and creative approach to problem solving;
ability to remain calm under pressure;
excellent communication skills, oral and written including: public speaking and the drafting of formal reports;
numerate and IT literate.

/ Desirable

Ability to speak Welsh

KNOWLEDGE
Essential

the wider conservatoire and HE context in the UK and overseas;
relevant music education contexts in relation to the training of musicians;
a broad knowledge of repertoire and stylistic approaches to performance appropriate to the training of musicians;
a sophisticated understanding of issues relating to health and well-being in relation to music performance;
relevant music industry networks in relation
to the training of musicians;

/ Desirable

the wider HE context;
the wider arts industry context.

EXPERIENCE
Essential

successful career as a performing musician;
significant experience in the training of

musicians at an advanced level;

experience of working within a conservatoire

environment at a senior level;

experience of working within international
contexts.

/ Desirable

teaching experience within Higher Education

TRAINING
Essential

to hold an appropriate Masters qualification, or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience via industry or professional practice

/ Desirable

Higher Education teaching qualification

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential

ability to manage change and motivate staff within a changing environment;
ability to act as an ambassador for the College;
commitment to professional development within the college’s strategy for research and scholarly activity.

The College welcomes applications from Welsh speakers and promotes the use of the Welsh Language in accordance with Welsh Language legislation and itsLinguistic Skills Strategy.

Mae’s Coleg yn croesawu ceisiadau oddi wrth siaradwyr Cymraeg ac yn hyrwyddo defnydd o’r Gymraeg yn unol â deddfwriaeth yn ymwneud â’r Gymraeg a’i Strategaeth Sgiliau Iaith.