Position: Young Curators Programme Manager
Organisation: Factory International
Location: Manchester, UK
Contract: Fixed-term, September 2026–31 March 2028
Salary: £32,000–£35,000 per annum, pro rata, dependent on experience
Application deadline: 31 August 2026
About the role
Factory International seeks a Young Curators Programme Manager to plan, coordinate, and deliver its Young Curators programme.
Working closely with the Young People and Family Lead, the Programme Manager will support a cohort of young people aged 18–30 as they develop their curatorial practices, expand their professional networks, and create ambitious public work.
The role combines programme management and participant support. It involves coordinating young people, artists, facilitators, partners, and internal teams while creating a safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning experience.
Responsibilities
The Young Curators Programme Manager will:
- Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Young Curators programme
- Ensure the programme reflects its aims, objectives, and youth-led ethos
- Manage schedules, communications, contracts, administration, resources, and reporting
- Oversee the programme budget, expenditure, payments, and financial commitments
- Act as the primary contact for participants, providing support and clear communication
- Collaborate with the Lead Facilitator, artists, and creative practitioners
- Coordinate workshops, mentoring, industry visits, and professional-development opportunities
- Brief and support artists, facilitators, and programme partners
- Create an inclusive environment enabling participants to shape the programme
- Coordinate the planning and delivery of the cohort’s public activation
- Support participant recruitment, evaluation, progression, and alumni engagement
- Connect participants with future opportunities at Factory International and across the cultural sector
Candidate profile
Applicants must have:
- Experience managing creative, cultural, youth, or participatory programmes from development to evaluation
- Strong project-management skills, including managing budgets, schedules, contracts, logistics, and competing priorities
- Experience working with young people, emerging creatives, or early-career practitioners
- Experience delivering public-facing projects, exhibitions, events, or programmes involving multiple stakeholders
- Experience managing relationships with artists, facilitators, and creative practitioners
- The ability to support young people in developing and delivering creative ideas
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-management skills
- An understanding of safeguarding, access, and wellbeing considerations
- The ability to work independently, exercise initiative, and make sound decisions
- A commitment to inclusive practice, youth voice, and opportunities for people underrepresented within the creative industries
- A commitment to representation and inclusion
- A willingness to complete relevant statutory checks, including a DBS check
Factory International can support the processing and cost of required statutory checks.
Desirable experience
The following would be advantageous:
- Experience within an arts organisation, cultural venue, festival, or producing organisation
- Experience managing exhibitions, installations, events, or multidisciplinary creative projects
- An understanding of contemporary curatorial practice and the cultural sector
- Knowledge of Manchester and Greater Manchester’s creative networks
- An interest in training, mentoring, and supporting emerging talent
