Area Manager

The starting salary for this role is £47,142 per annum subject to increase with following confirmation of the 26-27 financial year pay award. This is based on working 36-hours per week.

This role will require some evening and weekend work to support out of school centres, for which time off in lieu will be taken. This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that a minimum of one day a week is spent in the Surrey Arts office in Guildford working with colleagues (Wednesday) with the rest of the time spent split between schools, out of school centres and home working.

We are seeking an inspiring and innovative Area Manager to join the Surrey Arts wider leadership team, playing a central role in leading high‑quality music education across the East of Surrey. This is a key strategic post, focused on building strong local partnerships and shaping area‑based music provision that responds to the needs, strengths, and aspirations of young people, schools and communities.

This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute directly to Surrey Music Hub’s mission to ensure all children and young people can access meaningful, progressive musical learning. Working collaboratively with schools, community partners, and the Surrey Arts team, you will lead the growth and development of music activity across the area—championing inclusion, supporting colleagues, and helping ensure a broad and balanced musical offer.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
• Opportunities to participate in regional and national music education professional development opportunities

About the Team

Surrey Arts is the Arts Service for Surrey County Council. We are the lead delivery organisation for the Surrey Music Hub. We provide music lessons, instrument hire, out of school music centres, activities and ensembles for young people. Surrey Arts leads on a range of arts and culture programmes across the county.

You will join a team dedicated to "changing lives through world class arts". Surrey Arts is an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation that places young people at the centre of our work. We are committed to developing Surrey Arts as a genuinely inclusive organisation, and one that meets the needs of the whole diverse community of Surrey.

About the Role

As an area manager within Surrey Arts, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and leading our place‑based work across Tandridge, Reigate & Banstead, and Epsom & Ewell. You’ll be a visible, trusted leader—championing high‑quality, inclusive music and arts opportunities that respond directly to local communities.

You’ll take a strategic approach, building meaningful partnerships with schools, music centres, and community organisations to deepen engagement and expand sustained musical learning for children and young people at every stage. Acting as Surrey Arts’ main point of contact in the area, you’ll listen carefully to local needs and turn opportunity into action.

You’ll lead and support an area team to deliver vibrant, relevant programmes across two area centres (currently in Redhill & Oxted) - developing them as welcoming, community‑connected spaces and beacons for music education. With a strong focus on equity and access, you’ll help ensure a broad and balanced musical offer across instruments, genres, and pathways, including those that are currently underrepresented.

In line with Surrey Arts’ ambition to reach underserved communities, you’ll work alongside local people, schools, and partners to shape programmes together—making participation more meaningful, responsive, and sustainable.

Highly collaborative by nature, the role works closely with the Surrey Arts senior leadership team, fellow Area Managers and your Deputy Area Manager. Together, you’ll share learning, balance opportunities across the county, and develop joined‑up approaches that strengthen Surrey Arts’ collective impact.

You will manage your Deputy Area Manager and a number of instrumental teachers, supporting professional practice through performance conversations, monitoring participation, and developing initiatives that broaden engagement. While this is not primarily a teaching role, you may contribute up to 20% of your time to teaching / delivery on a developmental basis. You will also part of the safeguarding team as a Deputy DSL.

If you’re an experienced music educator or leader—driven by partnership, inclusion and creativity and want to make a place‑based impact—this is an opportunity to lead meaningful change and help shape the future of music education in the East of Surrey.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:

• Qualified Teacher Status or demonstrable experience of operating as a successful music educator and leader, in any musical discipline with extensive experience of working in school settings
• A clear vision for and commitment to high-quality music education and learning for students, your team and yourself
• Experience in building partnerships
• Line management experience with accountability for the effectiveness of delivery by others
• Project management experience
• Demonstrable approaches that are innovative and passionate to support young people to achieve outstanding musical outcomes

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and respond to our application questions- no more than 300 words max per answer:

1. Please tell us why are you suited to this role?
2. What does high-quality music education mean to you?
3. Tell us about your experience in leading others and give us an example of where you have had to lead a challenging situation (for example, conflict, performance concerns, safeguarding, or delivering through others). What actions did you take, and what did you learn from the experience?
4. Tell us about a project, initiative, or area of work that you developed or improved that successfully engaged children or young people in meaningful musical learning. What impact did it have?
5. Tell us about a time you built or strengthened a partnership with a school, community organisation, or external agency. What was the purpose of the partnership, and what difference did the partnership make?

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

We would love to hear from you if you share our passion for the Arts and are committed to inspiring Surrey’s musicians of the future.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferrable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Abbie Richardson or Tom Bunting by email at abbie.richardson@surreycc.gov.uk or tom.bunting@surreycc.gov.uk

The job advert closes on the 9th of June with interviews planned to follow, which will be held at our Surrey Arts Office, GU3 3BH.

As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to deliver a short presentation and complete a task which will be set on the day.

Interview questions will be given to candidates 30-minutes before their allocated interview because we don't want you to be distracted by the unknown of the interview, we genuinely want you to present the best version of yourself.

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.