Caithness & Sutherland Partnership is seeking an experienced Project Co-ordinator with a background in arts management and community liaison to help lead a new 15-month Culture Collective programme. The post and programme are funded with the support of Creative Scotland’s Culture Collective Fund. The Culture Collective fund is a Scottish Government Initiative which supprtsa network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally.

The partnership will deliver the first Caithness & Culture Collective, embedding socially engaged artists within five community settings across the region. The project will respond to locally identified priorities, strengthen local cultural access, support community participation, address inequalities and contribute learning to the national Cultural Collective Network.

Supported by lead organisation, Lyth Arts Centre, the Project Co-ordinator will assist with the recruitment and management of five artists’ residencies working closely with partners on the indicative themes and areas:

LAIRG LEARNING CENTRE – environmental futures and blue health 

LATHERON, LYBSTER & CLYTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY- community cohesion through arts, heritage and culture

LYTH ARTS CENTRE – cultural repair and change

STRATHNAVER MUSEUM – intangible cultural heritage

TIMESPAN – holistic approach between arts and heritage

Please click here to find more information on all the Caithness and Sutherland Culture Collective Partners.

Key Information

• Job Title: Caithness & Sutherland Culture Collective Project Co-ordinator
• Freelance Fee/Salary: £31,752 (£35,280 Full Time Equivalent) for 3 days per week x 18 months/ paid PAYE 
• Start Date: Early September 2026
• Reporting to: Lyth Arts Centre Director
• Contract type: 18 months employment contract 
• Location: Lyth Arts Centre and/or Lybster
• Probationary Period: 8 weeks
• Notice: 4 weeks
• Pension: Employer Contribution 3%
• Annual Leave:  Full time holiday allowance, inclusive of public holidays is 34 days per annum, which is then pro-rated accordingly, based on hours and on start date in the calendar year.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Project Co-ordinator who is highly organised, community focused and will act as an effective bridge between the creative practitioners, partners and participants. They will have good team working skills and ability to prioritise competing demands across a wide geography. They will have good written communication skills, and have some knowledge of social media and print. They should be detail orientated, and act as an ambassador for Caithness & Sutherland Culture Collective’s aspirations/ambitions/ethos. Some knowledge of local and Scotland-based cultural organisations would also be beneficial.

The role will require the candidate to be based in Caithness and Sutherland and to be in LAC’s offices or the office in Lybster 50% or more of the time. 

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure programme and processes align closely with the partners and  LAC’s ethos, the core aims and agreed programme timeline
• Manage smooth and regular communication with all parties
• Help recruit resident artists in liaison with partners using inclusive, barrier-free recruitment practices set out in the EDI Policy
• Support relationship-building and co-development of a shared framework which may include a collective manifesto-writing session
• Support the resident artists creatively and practically
• Work closely with community groups and representatives across the five different settings
• Oversee and manage the programme budget, ensuring that each residency keeps to agreed budget levels 
• Assist with reporting to key bodies e.g. Creative Scotland 
• Provide practical support with creative and participatory activities, as required
• Manage weekly check-ins and monthly project team meetings
• Arrange peer support sessions for artists, as required
• Ensure that access barriers do not inhibit community participation
• Support the artists in monitoring their carbon budgets and help guide them in decisions around travel, materials and activities.
• Oversee evaluation processes

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience supporting or coordinating collaborative projects involving communities, cultural organisations and/or partner groups
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to manage schedules, communications and multiple strands of work simultaneously
• Experience working collaboratively with a range of people
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally with different audiences
• Experience supporting inclusive and accessible participation in community, cultural or public facing contexts
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities and contribute positively within a small team
• Confidence using digital tools for administration and communication, including email, online meetings and shared documents
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across Caithness and Sutherland

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of arts, heritage and community organisations in Caithness and Sutherland and/or the wider Highlands and Islands
• Knowledge of participatory, socially engaged or community based creative practice
• Experience working with freelancers, artists or arts participants
• Experience with project budgeting, reporting and evaluation
• Experience contributing to communications or public engagement activities  including social media
• Familiarity with Creative Scotland funded projects or similar public funding structures

In addition to the key responsibilities, the Project Co-ordinator will engage and liaise with the national Culture Collective platform and network to promote the creative practitioners working, and the creative activity happening.

If you are interested in this role and would like to discuss how your experience or knowledge fits, please contact Susan Christie (susan@lytharts.org.uk) to arrange an informal discussion by telephone.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Friday 14th August 2026 at 5pm

INTERVIEWS:  w/c 24th August 2026

Appointment anticipated by early September

Access and Recruitment

We are committed to supporting access needs throughout the recruitment process and employment period. If you require adjustments or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us.

We particularly welcome applications from people currently underrepresented within the cultural sector, including people from working class backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people and people from global majority communities.

Candidates will be shortlisted against the essential criteria listed in the person specification.

How to Apply

Please send the following to Susan Christie at susan@lytharts.org.uk

• A current CV
• A short cover letter, no more than 2 pages, outlining how your experience meets the criteria and why you are interested in the role
• Contact details for two referees who will be contacted after interview with your permission