Freelance Technical and Buildings Lead

(Flexible freelance role – job share considered)

The Gregson Community and Arts Centre is a community owned, community led charity. The centre was built to ‘serve the needs of the people’ in 1889. Our mission today ‘for people to be in the driving seat of their community events and cultural experiences’ builds on this, and the unique culture that has developed in the centre over decades – as a responsive, grassroots community organisation. 

Following a change in business model after the pandemic, the last two years have seen exponential growth for our charity. The building is at the centre of community life once again and busier than ever. We are now home to over 60 creative and community groups, one off events and used for a range of private hires. We have become very successful, very quickly but we haven’t been able to develop effective venue management processes. In this role you will help us change that by playing a central role in maintaining and modernising a crucial community hub, bringing people together in a safe, warm, welcoming space.

The charity is now in a stable position. This offers us the opportunity to plan for the future. Central to delivering our charitable aims is the large Victorian building we own which is creaking under increased use. Addressing the need for its urgent transformation is at the heart of our new three year plan. Our vision for 2027 is to: Transform our historic building and spaces into inspirational contemporary places that enable our community to thrive.

In this role, you will be key in helping us get the foundations of the organisation right so we can achieve our vision. Working freelance with us over a period up to 6 months, you will be a catalyst for change for the Gregson and:

• Implement processes that empower the organisation’s team to ensure the efficient and effective running of our venue in terms of premises management, compliance, health and safety and develop an effective approach to technical aspects of the building. 
• Lead building projects and oversee key purchases we have to deliver now.
• Help us plan for the future through scoping capital projects and implementing working groups and assessing long term venue needs. 

We know this is a unique job and the ideal candidate will have experience in varied roles across live events (music and theatre), facilities/building management, health and safety, fire safety and will need to demonstrate a minimum of 5 years professional experience.  

We don’t expect one person to have all of these experiences – so don’t let that put you off! Demonstrable project management experience and the ability to identify and oversee others to complete tasks will be part of this role. The right person will need to be versatile, able to set their mind to varied tasks, learn on the job and most importantly be a self starter with the ability to work independently and see a job through from beginning to end. 

No two days will be the same and this is a unique opportunity to support a grassroots, thriving charity in its next phase of its development – developing a fantastic community owned building that is compliant and working at its best to deliver the ambitions of its community. This is an exciting project in which some fixed outcomes must be achieved but where there is scope to explore with our CEO  how the venue can best run in ways we don’t yet anticipate.

Job Details:

Pay:  Day rate of £175 a day. There is a total budget of up to £10,000 for this role. The post is freelance and can be delivered in a range of ways. We are flexible. The project must be completed within 6 months. We are open to hearing from a candidate/s that comes to stay in Lancaster and work with us full time over a shorter period for example. We’re also open to a job share.  Days of work are flexible.

Closing Date: 5pm, Thu 20th June 

Place of work: The Gregson Centre, Lancaster – flexibility for some home working 

Application Pack: 

Please email our CEO Charles Tyrer – c.tyrer@gregson.co.uk for an application pack and/or to arrange an informal chat about the role.