Sales and Information Assistant Application Pack_1

8/7/2019 Sales and Information Assistant Application Pack_1

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Dear Applicant,

Sales and Information Assistant (part time: 25hours a week)

Salary: 6.62 per hour

Deadline for applications:

Thanks for your interest in this position. An application pack is enclosed and you willfind the following things in it:

Information about Contact

Guidance notes and checklist to help you complete and send in yourapplication

A Job Description

Details of the type of person we are looking for (Person Specification)

An Application Form

An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

If your application is successful we will contact you about interviews which are to beheld during the month of October 2010. If you do not get shortlisted, we willcontact you to let you know.

In the meantime, if you want to find out more about us you can visit our websitewww.contact-theatre.org , come to see a performance (box office: 0161 2740600) or pop into the venue and spend some time at Contact Lounge to get afeel for the organisation.

Good luck with your application.

Roxanne MooresAdministration AssistantEmail: [email protected] Line: 0161 274 0646


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ABOUT CONTACT

Contact is a space where new kinds of theatre are created.

Contact is a place where artists can meet, develop, explore and take risks.

Contact is a young peoples theatre, where you can grow, learn and make decisionsas a young artist, audience member, organiser or leader.

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Contact is a pioneering theatre venue in Manchester. The building includes threetheatre spaces Space 1, a 350 seat end-on theatre; Space 2, an 80 seat flexiblestudio, and Space 3, a rehearsal, workshop and performance space. Across thespace we host an array of contemporary visual and digital art, create performances

and events in our lounge area, which has a stage, a bar, and plenty of room todance! And our website is a space for debate, artistic showcases, insight into ourprocesses, and sharing of ideas.

Our focus in on young people (ages 13-30). The majority of our audiences comefrom this age group, though we welcome audiences and artists of all ages. We areknown as a company that embraces diversity. We believe that diversity is astrength; providing us with many viewpoints, ways to solve problems, and creativeideas. We actively pursue diversity at all levels including board, staff,participants, artists, audiences and partner companies.

Contact provides a wider range of development opportunities for artists, with a

particular focus on emerging artists. We run residencies, training courses, and weprovide a lot of support and advice. Many of the most exciting artists at Contacthave developed through our participatory projects, but we welcome artists at allstages in their lives.

We are constantly exploring new ways to develop, to learn and to create excitingtheatre. We bring together passions, fashions, moods, moves, sounds, networks,anger, engagement, words, rhythms, visions and visuals in our theatre. And we arealways ready to add new things to the mix. Contact, theatre can involve a mix ofdrama, poetry, music, dance, physical theatre, multi-media and visual arts. Alsointegral to the work of the company is a range of ancillary activities e.g.: bar/cafe,

conferences etc., which will support and enable artistic activity.

Young people are also encouraged to become involved in planning and decisionmaking at Contact through a range of opportunities including our CreativeLeadership Programme and a Youth Marketing Team.

Participation is at the heart of our work, and we run a huge range of activitieswhere young people and artists can join in, learn and develop. These activitiesrange from outreach projects with a wide range of communities, to drop in sessions,more intensive artistic development programmes such as our Young Actors and

Young Writers groups and @Home artist residencies.

We believe that its important to collaborate with people in order to achieve thebest results. Our partners range from local, national and international arts


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organisations and artists who come to Contact to present or make work, tospecialist agencies working with particular communities. International collaborationis very important to us. We regularly invite artists from across the world to performat Contact, and programmes such as our theatre exchange festival, Contacting theWorld, help to develop new kinds of artistic understanding.

We have won many awards for our work, including, in recent years the Art 04 andBreakthrough awards from the Arts Council, the Eclipse Award from TMA, plus many

awards for our artists, writers and shows.

The theatre we produce can be described as lyrical, visual and passionate. Weembrace music and the cultures surrounding music, a full range of visual media,and writers who are poetic, experimental and collaborative.

As a member of Contacts staff team you will be expected to work towards thedelivery of the Companys integrated vision, working with a range of partnerorganisations and individuals.

We are committed to providing a positive, diverse environment for young people ofall cultural and socio-economic backgrounds where all Contact users feelcomfortable, irrespective of their gender, sexual background, ethnic origin ordisability.

To achieve the delivery of the vision, you will be expected to:

Work within Contacts agreed policies and practices

Seek to achieve the objectives set through the Business Planning process

Work to the highest possible standards to ensure quality in all areas of theCompanys operation

Ensure that all projects undertaken receive the same high standards of care andattention

Facilitate and enable the enjoyment, awareness, appreciation, and participationof young people in theatre, with an emphasis on reaching people from a widerange of communities and backgrounds and those new to theatre.

Ensure that young people are welcomed into Contact and encouraged to be apart of the company.

Be flexible in your approach to work and schedules.


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GUIDANCE NOTES

Please use the checklist below to make sure you have completed yourapplication in full.What to do Why Tick

whencompleted

Read these guidancenotes

To ensure that you submit the bestapplication as possible it is very importantthat you read the following information.

Read About Us This information will help you to get a feel forwho we are, what we do and the kind oforganisation you will be working in if you get the

job. We also outline what is expected of all staffwho work at Contact.

Read the JobDescription

This explains what the job involves and the maintasks you would be expected to do. We dontexpect you to have carried out all of these tasksbefore, but we would like you to demonstrateyourpotential ability to do so.

Read the PersonSpecification

Here we describe the skills, knowledge andabilities we will be looking for in candidates. Theperson specification forms the basis of ourshortlisting process and these are the minimumrequirements. It is important to clearlydemonstrate these in your application. Considerwhat experience, skills and knowledge we arelooking for and what you feel you can bring tothe job and to Contact.

Complete theApplication Form

Complete the Application Form as fully aspossible. Remember to detail all relevantexperience such as voluntary work, workplacements, secondments, as well as paidemployment.

Complete the EqualOpportunity Form

Dont forget to send your Equal OpportunitiesForm with your application.


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Write a detailedCovering Letter

Explain how you have demonstrated the keyskills, knowledge or abilities mentioned in theperson specification. Tell us why you think youare suitable for the position. You may chose toillustrate your suitability for this position byproviding examples of similar tasks you havedone in other paid or voluntary work, your

outside interests, activities etc.

Send us yourapplication by post

Applications by post or hand delivered should bemarked Private & Confidential JobApplication and sent to:Roxanne MooresContactOxford RoadManchesterM15 6JA

Please do not staple your application form

together; it makes it much easier toprocess when it arrives in our office.

Its always a good idea to ring the AdministrationAssistant on 0161 274 0646 to check wevereceived it. We cant accept any applicationsafter the deadline.

It is your responsibility to ensure that yourapplication arrives by the application deadline.

Send us yourapplication by email Send your covering letter, application form andequal opportunities form [email protected] advise that you ring the AdministrationAssistant (telephone number as before) to checkwe have received it. We cant accept anyapplications after the deadline.


Fax your application

to us

You can fax your application to 0161 274 0640.

We advise that you ring the AdministrationAssistant (telephone number as before) to checkwe have received it. We cant accept anyapplications after the deadline.


APPLICATION DEADLINE:Tuesday 12th October 2010, 12-noon


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Contact Mission Statement

Contact brings together an unexpected mix of ideas, young people,

artists, cultures, sounds, sights, audiences, colours, tastes, visionslanguages, experiences, moves, moods, passions, fashions, likes, dislikes,points of view and ways of working, to create exciting new theatrereflecting and helping to shape the world around us.

To achieve the delivery of the vision, staff will be expected to:



Work to the highest possible standards to ensure quality in all areas of theCompanys operation


Facilitate and enable the enjoyment, awareness, appreciation, and participationof young people in theatre

Ensure that young people are welcomed into Contact and encouraged to be apart of the company

Be flexible in their approach to work and schedules.

Work to promote a dynamic understanding of cultural diversity in all areas of thecompanys work from staffing to programming.


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Contact - Job Description Sales & Information Assistant

CONTACT - JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE Sales & Information Assistant

MAIN LOCATION Main base at Contact, but the post-holder may berequired to work from other locations from time totime

RESPONSIBLE TO Sales & Information Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR Making sales and providing information over the

phone, in person, via the internet and by post.

STATUS Permanent Part time, 25 hours per week

Contact Mission Statement

Contact brings together an unexpected mix of ideas, young people,artists, cultures, sounds, sights, audiences, colours, tastes, visions,languages, experiences, moves, moods, passions, fashions, likes,dislikes, points of view, ways of working, to create exciting new theatrereacting to and reflecting the world around us.

Members of Contacts staff team are all expected to work towards the delivery of theCompanys integrated vision, working with a range of partner organisations andindividuals. Contact aims to be a company that works with young people through a widerange of theatre and arts projects from youth theatre to contemporary music, from home

produced professional theatre productions to international touring companies and is

involved in the training of young people in theatre. At Contact, theatre can involve a mixof drama, poetry, music, dance, physical theatre, multi-media and visual arts. Alsointegral to the work of the company is a range of ancillary activities e.g.: bar/cafe,conferences etc., which will support and enable artistic activity.

To achieve the delivery of the vision, all staff will be expected to:



Work to the highest possible standards to ensure quality in all areas of the Companysoperation

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Facilitate and enable the enjoyment, awareness, appreciation, and participation ofyoung people in theatre, with an emphasis on reaching people from a wide range ofcommunities and backgrounds and those new to theatre.

Ensure that young people are welcomed into Contact and encouraged to be a part ofthe company.

Be flexible in their approach to work and schedules.

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Key tasks:

To be a key member of the sales team, making sales to individualcustomers and groups over the phone, in person, via the internet andby post.

To work to Contacts high standards of financial controls whilsthandling cash and credit card including cashing up, refunds andreporting.

Where appropriate, you will be expected to increase sales byrecommending further Contact shows and events to customers. Thiswill involve you having a strong knowledge of Contacts seasonalprogramme as well as participation projects and workshops. You willbe expected to work closely with our Sales and Information Manager tomaintain this knowledge and to attend all sales team meetings.

To support outreach strategies targeting new customers and groups

with key research and outbound calls.

To act in accordance with the guidelines of the Data Protection Act incapturing personal details for sales and marketing purposes.

To assist in the creation and maintenance of all displays of promotionalmaterial in the public areas of the building in a creative, imaginativemanner, ensuring high standards of presentation and cleanliness ofthe box office.

To ensure that excellent internal communication is maintained from all

queries at the front desk throughout the building.

To play a key role in the marketing department, assisting withcampaigns both in Contact and when required, off site. You will also beexpected to add to campaigns at both the planning and evaluationstages with direct reference to your experience as first point of contactfor our varied audiences, friends and artists.

To assist in the invoicing, call handling, bookings and completion ofpayment for group sales.

To maintain Contacts professional standards of customer service,taking into account all forms of communication and customerinteraction.

To provide weekly box office sales reports for internal and externalbodies.

To represent Contact to external bodies and organisations as requiredand to establish good working relationships with all Contacts externalpartner organisations.

General:

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To continually provide a high quality service.

To be familiar with the work being presented by Contact; attendingworkshops, read-throughs, rehearsals and performances asappropriate.

To undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required inconnection with the position.

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CONTACT PERSON SPECIFICATION

TITLE Sales and Information Assistant

Essential:

Keen to be a part of an energetic arts organisation working with youngpeople.

A friendly, confident personality.

The ability to communicate to an excellent standard.

Enthusiasm for the arts and understanding of what Contact does.

Commitment to high standards of customer interaction and customerservice.

Flexible approach and attitude to work.

IT literate with experience of email and web work.

Experience of working as part of a team, and the confidence to makeyour opinions count within one.

Desirable:

Experience of working in a sales capacity, and particularly, experienceof using the Databox ticketing system.

Some experience of working within the arts, e.g. promoting a clubnight, playing in a band, producing a fanzine or writing reviews.

Experience of handling cash and credit card sales.

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CONTACT THEATREEMPLOYMENT APPLICATION FORM

Application for the appointmentof:

Sales and Information Assistant

Application Deadline: Tuesday 12th ofOctober 2010, 12-noon.

This application form may be handwritten (in BLACK ink/biro) or typed.

1. YOUR PERSONAL DETAILSPreferred Forename(s): Surname:

Title:

Address (for correspondence):

Postcode:

Mobile: Telephone No. (day): Telephone No (eve):

Best time(s) to call? Best time(s) to call? Best time(s) to call?

Email address:

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR APPLICATION.THEY ARE PURELY FOR STATISTICAL INFORMATION.

Have you worked at Contact before?If so, what was your job?

Have you attended any events atContact? If so, which events?

Do you have a full clean drivinglicence?

If applicable, are you willing and ableto drive?

Where did you hear about this job?

Criminal Records Bureau Checks:Due to the nature of our work at Contact, the target age range of our users (13-30)and to compliment our Policy for the Protection of Young People; if you areemployed by Contact you will be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).Please note that only relevant information will be taken into consideration and thatstringent confidentiality processes are in place to safeguard your privacy.Please tick as appropriate:

I agree to being CRB checked

I do notagree to being CRB checked

Previous convictions:

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If you have been convicted of any offence, this MUST be disclosed (unless spentunder the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974). Failure to do so could result indisciplinary action or dismissal. Details of any previous conviction should beprovided on a separate sheet. All such information will be treated with the utmostconfidence and only taken into consideration if strictly relevant.

DeclarationI confirm that all of the information contained in this application, to the

best of my knowledge, is true and accurate.Signed:

________________________________________________________Date:

_______________________________________________________

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2. TELL US ABOUT ANY QUALIFICATIONS OR ACCREDITATION YOU HAVEGAINED

NAMEOF SCHOOL, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITYETC. QUALIFICATIONS, ACCREDITATION GAINED

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3. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS, WORKPLACEMENTS/EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTARY WORK, WORK AT HOME etc.Name and address oforganisation (if applicable), anddates you were there

Job Title (if applicable) and brief description ofresponsibilities and duties

Name and address oforganisation (if applicable) anddates you were there.


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3. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS, WORKPLACEMENTS/EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTARY WORK, WORK AT HOME etc.Name and address of organisation(if applicable), and dates youwere there.


Name and address of organisation(if applicable) and dates you were

there.


3. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS, WORKPLACEMENTS/EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTARY WORK, WORK AT HOME etc.

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Name and address of organisation(if applicable), and dates youwere there.


Name and address of organisation(if applicable) and dates you werethere.


If required, please continue your employment history details on a separate sheetand attach it to this form.

4. DISABILITY ARRANGEMENTSIf you are disabled, please give details of your disability any special arrangements you mayrequire at interview should your application be successful.

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Are you a registered disabled person? Yes No

If you have a disability and would like to take advantage of the Guaranteed Interview Scheme,

please tick the box

5. AVAILABILITYIf you are offered the post, how much notice are you required to give your current employer?

If you would you like us to add your email address to our mailing list to find out about news, eventsand other job opportunities here at Contact, please tick the box

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6. YOUR REFERENCESPlease give details of two referees - one of whom should be your current or most recentemployer where appropriate. Both should be prepared to comment on your suitability forthe post.

Name: Name:

Address: Address:

Postcode: Postcode:

Telephone(s): Telephone(s):

E-mail: E-mail:

Relationship to you: e.g. employer Relationship to you: e.g. employer


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CONTACT THEATRE COMPANY

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING FORM

The Contact Theatre Company is committed to an Equal Opportunities Policyincluding integrated casting and equality of access.

This policy exists to ensure quality of opportunity and the elimination ofdiscrimination on the grounds of an employee's sex, marital status, age, creed,colour, race, national origin, class, sexual orientation and physical disability.

It aims to ensure that no job applicant, Board member or employee receives lessfavourable treatment on any of the above grounds, or is disadvantaged byconditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Selectioncriteria and procedures should be such that individuals are selected and treated onthe basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

Monitoring

To ensure that an Equal Opportunities Policy is achieving its aims, it must bemonitored and for this to be effective, it is necessary to classify all employees and

job applicants according to their ethnic origin, sex and disability. The records canthen be used to establish whether any group is under or over represented in certainareas. These areas can be examined more closely in order to assess whether EqualOpportunities are being achieved, or whether discrimination may be occurring.

This can be a sensitive area but monitoring is supported as necessary to eliminate

discrimination by the CRE, EOC and other specialist bodies. We hope we will haveyour co-operation.

Classification by Ethnic Origins

The CRE recommends classification by a combination of colour and ethnic origin,with the divisions used on the form. Wherever possible self-classification should beused.

Classification of Disability

The following is a internationally recognised definition of disability "people with

physical, mental or sensory disabilities; with hidden disabilities such as psoriasis,epilepsy, heart and chest conditions; people with disabilities linked to aging; peoplesuffering from mental illness".

THE INFORMATION COLLECTED IS CONFIDENTIAL.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING FORM

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE GIVEN AND HAVE READ THEINFORMATION SHEET (SEE OVER) BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM

Sales and Information Assistant.

Self Classification

I would describe my ethnic origin as:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Classification by ethnic origin

I would describe my ethnic origin as:-(Please tick )

Black or Black British WhiteBlack African BritishBlack Caribbean IrishAny other Black background Any other White background

Asian or Asian British Mixed HeritageAsian Bangladeshi Asian and WhiteAsian Indian Black African and WhiteAsian Pakistani Black Caribbean and White

Any other Asian background Chinese and WhiteAny other background from morethan one group

Chinese originAny other ethnic group

Age Range16-19 40+20-3031-40

Classification of Disability

In terms of the definition on the information sheet, would you describe yourself as disabledin any way? YES NOPlease tick (You need not give any further details unless you wish to do so)

Gender Please tick

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FEMALE MALE

Where did you hear about the job/role/post?

Please tick box(es) as applicable

The Guardian Contact Theatre foyer/noticeboard

Guardian Online Arts Jobs

The Asian Times Voluntary Action Manchester

New Nation Disability Advisory Service

Caribbean Times Friend/Colleague/Word of Mouth

Eastern Eye PANDA Network

India Weekly

Other publication (please specify)

Website (please specify)

Mailing List (please specify)

Other e.g. arts/community organisationnoticeboard (please specify)

Documents

Sales and Information Assistant Application Pack_1