Music Administrator

Music Administrator (Maternity cover)

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £26,417 pro rata (term time only)

The School Cambridge is one of the country's leading independent co-educational day schools for children aged 3-18, who attend their Pelican, Prep or Upper.

Their aim is to be a leading employer of choice. This means they strive to be a school where staff say they are proud and excited to work, and feel valued, respected and motivated.

They are committed to providing a very competitive salary and benefits scheme at the same time as offering a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional development. They want their staff to feel engaged and purposeful so that they, in turn, help pupils to be happy and successful.

The Role

An opportunity has arisen at The School for an Administrator in their Music Department, providing full administrative support to the whole department, including their roster of Visiting Music Teachers. This is a term time (plus 2 weeks) only, fixed term role, providing maternity cover. Although the successful candidate will have regular meetings with the Director of Music to agree priorities and tasks for upcoming items in the Music Department calendar, it is expected that they will also demonstrate the initiative to identify relevant tasks for themselves and the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.

As a member of the support staff, the Music Department Administrator's ultimate line manager will be the Bursar. Day-to-day responsibility, however, will be to the Director of Music and the post-holder will also work closely with other key members of the Music Department organising events.

Key Responsibilities

The following is not an exhaustive list but represents a range of administrative work within the Department. Some tasks are occasional/seasonal and others will be done on a daily basis.

• Administrative planning of concerts: email circulation to pupils/parents, booking of catering, publicity, reminder/information emails, transport planning for off-site events and ticket applications.
• Assistance and pupil supervision at selected concert afternoons/evenings as required by the Director of Music.
• Administration of Associated Board and Trinity exams: creating online entries, planning the schedule, booking accompanists and processing pupil charges.
• Operation of Departmental database: maintaining group/teaching lists; inputting pupil chamber group attendance and peripatetic payment claims; processing chamber music charges and running a manual check for accuracy.
• Ensuring peripatetic weekly timetables are posted on the board in the department and on the School's intranet site.
• Answering routine telephone/email enquiries from current and prospective parents.
• Oversight of room booking for both the School day and for evenings/weekends where some community lettings take place.
• Dealing with instrumental lesson applications from current and prospective pupils.
• Timetabling for music scholarship exams and welcoming of candidates.
• Management of Department resources, including booking out of any equipment and monitoring its return; arranging for piano-tuning and occasional instrumental maintenance; reporting minor building defects to the Estates Department.
• Ensuring a visually and aesthetically-appealing environment within the Department through monitoring of equipment/resources and liaison with the Bursary to book caretaking/cleaning support where necessary.
• Secretarial support to the Director of Music, members of the full-time music teaching staff, and the Heads of Instruments as required: office-related tasks such as processing, proof-reading and drafting communications to parents and pupils; taking minutes at selected meetings; and filing paperwork.
• Any other administrative duties that become necessary.

Skills and Qualifications

• No specific qualifications are sought for this post, though the successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of literacy and numeracy plus expertise in the use of Office-based software. Their system is built around Windows 2010/Office 365 and they also use SOCS for schoolwide administration in music, as well as sport, drama and other extra-curricular activities.
• A willingness to adapt to and learn new systems is vital (training will of course be provided) and candidates should also possess the requisite initiative for problem-solving and a desire to incorporate their own ideas for improvement in the running of the Music Office.
• Excellent inter-personal skills will also be vital for the role as well as the confidence and flexibility to take decisions over administrative matters. The successful candidate will frequently be the first point-of-contact for parents/members of the public into the Department, and so a polite phone manner and pleasant rapport are essential attributes.
• An enthusiastic interest in Music, and some knowledge of orchestral/band instruments, would be a distinct advantage.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable company, please click apply to complete your application.

Closing date: Wednesday 29 th January at midday but applications will be considered as they are received; The School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date.

The School actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Safer Recruitment

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations).All work carried out at the School on a regular basis amounts to regulated activity. This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. The School is committed to acting in the best interests of the child so as to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The School requires everyone who comes into contact with children and their families to share this commitment. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates' suitability to work with children.