Independent Cinema Office
The Independent Cinema Office is the national organisation for the development and
support of the independent cinema exhibition sector in the UK.
Our mission is to bring the widest range of film to the widest audience. We do this by
offering film programming advice and bookings service to client cinemas; distributing films
and touring programmes of cultural value that would not otherwise reach a national
audience; providing professional development training for film exhibition personnel; and
offering advice and advocacy for the independent cinema sector. We work with a wide
variety of independent cinemas, film festivals, film societies and sector support agencies.
The ICO is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
The ICO is the primary provider of professional development training for staff of independent
cinemas, film festivals and film societies. Our courses train over 250 professionals per year,
providing them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to produce innovative film
programmes, reach broader audiences, and grow their businesses. In 6 years, the training
programme has developed from regional to national to international in scale. Courses have
been funded by a range of organizations, including Skillset, Arts Council England, the
MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, European Cultural
Foundation, regional and national screen agencies.
We are seeking a Training and Events Officer to organise professional development
courses for staff of independent cinemas, film festivals and film societies around the UK.
You will work closely with the Head of Exhibitor Development to help design, deliver and
develop the ICO’s professional development programme. You will not be teaching on the
training yourself unless appropriate, but you will plan the events, including recruiting
speakers, booking venues, producing training materials, promoting courses, handling
registrations and managing the events on the day. You will liaise with course leaders,
speakers, participants, partner organisations and funders. You will track the budget,
evaluate the courses and produce reports for funders.
This is an opportunity to join a vibrant, creative team working on a diverse range of projects
with regional, national and international partners. We are looking for someone who is
organized, positive, able to work independently as well as in a team, and who will relish the
opportunity to deliver this project. In return, we can offer responsibility, opportunities for
training and development, and the chance to work with a small, friendly team working at the
forefront of independent cinema exhibition.
The ICO is based in central London near Oxford Circus.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Training and Events Officer
Salary:
£27,000 pro rata
Reports to:
Head of Exhibitor Development
Working Hours:
4 days per week, 10am – 6pm with 1 hour lunch break,
occasional evenings and weekends as required
Holidays:
25 days per year pro rata of which a number of compulsory days
must be taken during the office closure at Christmas
Contract:
One year fixed-term (with the possibility of extension, dependent
on funding)
Probationary period:
Six months
Notice period:
One month
MAIN OBJECTIVES
To coordinate ICO training courses and events aimed at independent film exhibitors.
To work with the Head of Exhibitor Development to develop and shape the professional
development programme.
To ensure projects adhere to funding guidelines and to produce necessary reports.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES





To plan and coordinate the practicalities of training and other events for film
exhibition professionals (including booking venues and arranging travel)
To work with the Head of Exhibitor Development to grow the ICO’s professional
development programme, helping to design the content and format of training,
selecting speakers and contributing to funding applications
To liaise with course leaders, speakers, participants, funders and partner
organisations
To produce training materials and online resources
To promote the courses and recruit participants (including writing copy, updating
websites and social networks, responding to course enquiries and administering
bursaries)





To evaluate the success of professional development programmes and to produce
evaluative and financial reports for funders
To set up or maintain comprehensive records to monitor income and expenditure,
track course participants, adhere to reporting deadlines etc
To represent the ICO at forums, conferences and meetings
To work in a flexible manner and be willing to undertake other duties as reasonably
requested. Some travel, weekend and evening work will be required
To undertake any other duties as necessary
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
A degree or equivalent
Minimum of two years’ experience of project management or organizing events or training
Demonstrable ability to work on own initiative, to organize own time, to plan, prioritise tasks,
solve problems creatively and meet deadlines
Knowledge of key issues facing film exhibition sector or wider cultural sector
Good communication skills, including written and public speaking
Demonstrable ability to contribute to successful working partnerships
Networking skills
Experience of financial management and reporting
IT skills including Word, Excel, Outlook
Understanding of social networks and updating websites
Ability to work as part of a team
A sense of humour
Desirable
Experience in a training or development role within film / arts / culture sector
Enthusiasm for cultural cinema
Experience of evaluation and reporting to funders
Experience of producing course materials or online resources
Experience of marketing or publicity