Artist & Programme Manager

About Children’s Books Ireland

Children’s Books Ireland is a charity and arts organisation whose vision is simple: Every Child a Reader. We work in English and in Irish, to inspire a love of reading in children and young people on the island of Ireland, and to champion equitable access for all to excellent books. We share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence young readers, and encourage schools and early childhood settings to build a positive culture of reading and reading aloud. We support and promote authors and illustrators and connect them with their audiences through our work.

For more information about what we do, please visit our website: www.childrensbooksireland.ie

About the role

This management-level role, previously known as ‘Programme & Events Manager’, is being expanded from part-time to full-time to reflect the breadth of responsibilities and to align with the organisation’s strategic ambitions. The Artist & Programme Manager is a crucial role for the delivery of our strategic aim to support authors and illustrators who make work for young readers.

The successful candidate will be instrumental in nurturing our community of artists throughout their careers and connecting them with their audiences. They will lead on key programmes and events throughout the year, including the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference, and our range of professional development supports for artists. The successful candidate will support the implementation of Children’s Books Ireland’s Artistic Policy, Child Protection Policy and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy through their work with artists.

The Artist & Programme Manager connects the organisation with many and varied stakeholders: audiences, partners, funders and supporters; provides arts experiences for young readers and families as well as professional development and networking opportunities for children’s artists and others in the field.

Duties

This role involves a significant level of cross-team working, managing one direct report and collaborating with the Book Gifting and Publications teams in order to ensure that the creative teams in the organisation benefit from each others’ expertise and knowledge. The following are core responsibilities which will be important across all programmes and projects:

• Manage the Artist & Programme Officer in line with Children’s Books Ireland’s Management Charter
• Oversee budgets with rigorous financial control, ensuring spending remains within approved limits, that the charity gets value for money in line with the Charities Governance Code, and that all reporting to funders is accurate and timely
• Work with the Communications team and with external PR agencies as needed to ensure effective dissemination to various audiences at key timelines
• Work with Research & Evaluation Officer to gather feedback, testimonials and data and to implement learnings and utilise suggestions from our audiences
• Work with Deputy CEO on print and design elements of all projects
• Work with Senior Leadership Team to ensure that priorities and activities align with the strategic plan, focusing our time and resources on the initiatives that will deliver the deepest impact

There are also project-specific responsibilities:

Children’s Books Ireland International Conference

• Act as event lead, curating a varied and diverse programme of authors, illustrators and other industry speakers, balancing keynotes, panels and interviews across two days
• Secure sponsorship to ensure financial stability of the event
• Liaise with all speakers and their publishers to arrange logistics of their travel, accommodation and fee, with the support of the Artist & Programme Officer
• Liaise with speakers and publishers around content of speakers’ talks and use of audiovisual aids
• Oversee technical production of the event with contractors
• Oversee logistical production of the event at the venue
• Write all copy for website, Eventbrite and conference timetable
• Oversee logistics for Children’s Books Ireland Award presentation
• Co-present the event alongside the CEO
• Work with Communications team and Administrator & Office Manager to promote and manage ticket sales, essential to the financial stability of the event
• Work with Deputy CEO on all print and design elements
• Oversee hospitality provided to speakers and other guests, ensuring a warm welcome and enjoyable experience

Children’s Books Ireland Awards, currently supported by headline sponsor KPMG

• Plan and execute all elements of the awards process once judging is complete
• Oversee technical and logistical production of awards longlist and shortlist announcement, shortlist event and winners’ ceremony with partners and suppliers, including programming guest artists
• Manage Artist & Programme Officer to oversee execution of the Junior Juries programme including sign up, book gifting, programming events, arranging for their attendance at shortlist announcement and winners’ ceremony and gathering final votes
• With Artist & Programme Officer, oversee planning and execution of Volunteer Day, ensuring KPMG Volunteers are trained and matched in good time with Junior Jury groups islandwide
• Manage Artist & Programme Officer to oversee artists’ experience element of the awards, offering opportunities for paid work via events and videos for all shortlistees and ensuring their visibility via attendance at winners’ ceremony
• Manage Reading Hero Award, encouraging and gathering nominations, arranging for winners and runners up to attend winners’ ceremony, prize dissemination
• Produce a final report for relevant funders
• Work with Deputy CEO on all print and design elements
• Working with the CEO, build and maintain positive, professional relationships with sponsors, ensuring they receive timely updates on project progress and financial status

Professional Development

• Consult with artists regularly about professional development needs at all career stages
• Work with new and existing partners to identify opportunities for ProperBook events, aimed at emerging artists
• Co-curate, co-present and chair ProperBook sessions, working closely with co-founding artist Sarah Webb
• Write marketing copy for ProperBook and other professional development events
• Plan and execute Zoom Artists’ Coffee Mornings approx. 5–6 times per year, inviting speakers and ensuring all Irish children’s artists are invited and welcomed
• Manage annual Tyrone Guthrie Centre bursaries, including maintaining a strong partnership with the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and funding partners and managing the application process
• Accountable for Artists Database; overseeing regular updates and distribution to relevant parties
• Manage Raising Voices project, funding allowing
• Develop an artists’ handbook in 2027, with advice for emerging and established artists, with input from across the team
• Manage other professional development opportunities for artists that may arise via partners/funders or via demand/request
• Arrange regular regional social and networking opportunities for children’s artists islandwide, working with partners
• Oversee the monthly artists’ newsletter, managed by the Artist & Programme Officer

Book Clinics

• Work with new and existing partners, funders and venues to ensure there are regular Book Clinics island-wide
• Manage the external Book Clinic team, including staffing, contracts and invoicing, connecting staff with venue partners, ensuring all necessary information has been communicated to all parties and all materials are in place for the event in a timely manner
• Recruit new Book Doctors and Book Clinic administrators when required, working with the Oifigeach Gaeilge/Irish Language Officer to build an Irish-speaking team for the Clinic Leabhar
• Arrange regular inclusion training for the Book Clinic team, ensuring the event remains an excellent, quality experience for all families
• Manage and update Book Clinic marketing materials, copy and images
• Apply for funding (local authority etc) where available
• Work with Development Team to ensure quality delivery of Book Clinic experience as part of larger corporate relationships and identify new opportunities

Requirements

The following skills are essential:

• Ability to confidently carry out the duties outlined above to a high standard, while working independently and as part of a small, creative, fast-paced team.

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, meet deadlines, coordinate cross‑team work and maintain high standards of delivery.
• Experience supporting artists, including relationship management, professional development, contracting
• Demonstrable experience planning, delivering and evaluating arts or cultural programmes, ideally with a focus on literature, visual arts or children’s and young people’s arts.
• Proven track record of leading medium‑ to large‑scale events (e.g., conferences, awards ceremonies), including programming, logistics, technical production and stakeholder management.

• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build and maintain positive, professional relationships with partners, sponsors, funders, venues and artists.

• Experience overseeing project budgets, ensuring value for money, financial accuracy and compliance with governance requirements.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, including copywriting for public‑facing materials and confident presentation skills.

• Excellent digital literacy, with a high level of proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook and ability to work with Dropbox, Zoom, Monday.com and Slack.

Desirable but not essential

• Proficiency in written and spoken Irish.
• Understanding of inclusive practice in the arts and the ability to embed equity, diversity and inclusion principles across programming and artist support; training will be provided, so previous experience is not a requirement.
• Awareness of child protection responsibilities when delivering programmes for and with children and young people; training will be provided, so previous experience is not a requirement.
• Track record of developing or maintaining relationships with sponsors or funders.
• Experience presenting or chairing public events — Confidence hosting panels, interviews or public‑facing sessions.

Further Information

Reporting To: Deputy CEO

Location: First floor, 17 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1. The successful candidate will have the choice of working fully in person or on a hybrid basis, and will be expected to work from the office at least two days a week.

Start date: As soon as possible.

Contract duration: Permanent, with a six month probation period.

Hours of work: 40 hours per week including 1 hour paid daily lunch break. Working hours are flexible between 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu can be taken in accordance with company policy.

Remuneration/benefits: €40,401.76 per annum. Matching pension contribution up to 5% of salary from start date. 25 days’ annual leave. Ability to work flexibly. Mobile phone allowance of €35 per month and work from home allowance of €3.20 per day provided. Public transport is preferred where possible, but mileage will be paid in line with company policy for approved travel, and all employees who drive for work must have appropriate insurance in place at their own expense.