Part-time, 18.5 hours per week
Permanent Contract
Grade E: Starting salary of £28,143 (£56,286 per annum – full time equivalent)
Location: This role can be based at any one of the Arts Council of Wales offices in Cardiff, Colwyn Bay or Carmarthen. We are currently working in a hybrid way.
Our benefits include 30 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days, flexible working hours/pattern, cycle to work scheme and a final salary pension (6%).
About this role
The Head of Dance is a strategic leadership role focused on driving the development and revitalisation of Wales’s dance sector. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Arts, you will, champion diversity and excellence across all dance forms. You’ll manage a specialist team, shape policy and investment priorities, and build strong partnerships to support a resilient, vibrant dance ecosystem nationally and internationally, while embedding key priorities such as the Welsh language, climate action, and inclusion.
About you
We’re seeking an experienced dance sector leader with a background in practice, creative direction, or executive management within Wales’s dance community. With deep knowledge of dance sector dynamics and cultural policy, you excel at building diverse creative communities and delivering strategic frameworks that nurture talent and artistic excellence. Skilled in partnership-building and cross-sector collaboration, you bring a passion for advancing dance as a vital art form and a commitment to embedding Welsh cultural values and sustainability in your work.
Welsh language
Learning Welsh language skills will be necessary when appointed. Although you are not expected to be able to speak Welsh fluently when applying, we are looking for an individual who understands the culture of the country; the varied relationship of the people of Wales with the Welsh language and who is committed to developing innovative use of the Welsh language both linguistically and culturally within the Arts Council and the wider sector. Everyone’s story with the language is different and we recognise that levels of ability and confidence vary from person to person. We will ensure the relevant support to increase or learn Welsh language skills.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Arts Council of Wales is an inclusive employer, and we wish to reflect the diverse communities we serve. Applications from culturally and ethnically diverse people and underrepresented groups are encouraged and warmly welcomed. Applications are welcomed in Welsh or English and we will correspond with you in your language of choice. Applications submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than applications submitted in English. We aim to take positive steps to ensure that all candidates are selected for jobs solely on their suitability for the role.
The Arts Council will provide support to ensure that you feel comfortable joining the organisation, the type of which may be new or unfamiliar to you, so that you can feel your best self at work. Mentoring or training will also be provided during the induction period, if required.
Disability confident Scheme
The Arts Council of Wales is a Disability Confident employer, committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet all the essential criteria set out in the person specification.
Please refer to the Gov.uk Disability Confident Employer Scheme link for further details.
How to apply
Please submit the Application Form and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring Form in Word format to HR@arts.wales. If you would like to submit your application in an alternative format, such as voice note, video or British Sign Language video, please contact us first.
Closing date: 5pm Friday 8th August 2025
Interview date: 28th of August 2025 (In person in our Cardiff Office)
Flexible working
In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Please clearly state your proposal for working anything other than the advertised hours in your covering email upon submitting your application.
The Arts Council of Wales is an inclusive employer, and we wish to reflect the diverse communities we serve. Applications from culturally and ethnically diverse people and underrepresented groups are encouraged and warmly welcomed. Applications are welcomed in Welsh or English and we will correspond with you in your language of choice. Applications submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than applications submitted in English. We aim to take positive steps to ensure that all candidates are selected for jobs solely on their suitability for the role.