Programme Lead: Youtube Creator Incubator

We are currently recruiting for a Programme Lead: You Tube Creator Incubator. This role will lead the delivery of the YouTube Creator Incubator programme, providing high-quality mentoring, support and development opportunities to a cohort of emerging creators. The Programme Lead will build strong relationships with participants, supporting their creative and professional development and helping them to navigate and succeed in the evolving digital media and creator economy.

About the NFTS YouTube Creator Incubator
The NFTS YouTube Creator Incubator is a development programme designed to support and nurture the next generation of digital creators. The programme provides participants with tailored mentoring, industry insight, creative development and practical opportunities to strengthen their skills, develop their ideas and build sustainable careers as creators.

The programme will support 100 participants over three years, combining a primarily online programme with regular one-to-one development sessions, online masterclasses and workshops, alongside in-person activity across the UK. Participants will benefit from individual mentoring and guidance, opportunities to connect with experienced industry practitioners and peers and access to a network that supports their continued creative and professional development. 

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of YouTube, digital-first content and the creator economy, with significant experience of working with or supporting creators and a strong understanding of how creators develop audiences, creative practices and sustainable careers.

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Responsible to: Head of NFTS Cymru Wales

Purpose of role: 

Working with the Head of NFTS Cymru Wales and the wider team, the Programme Lead will lead the delivery of the NFTS YouTube Creator Incubator programme, providing high-quality mentoring, support and development opportunities to a cohort of emerging creators. The Programme Lead will build strong relationships with participants, supporting their creative and professional development and helping them to navigate and succeed in the evolving digital media and creator economy.

As Programme Lead your duties will include:

Programme Leadership & Planning

• Take overall responsibility for the scope, development, delivery and success of the Creator Incubator programme.
• Lead on identifying, securing and coordinating programme speakers, including researching and approaching appropriate speakers, managing invitations and confirmations, preparing and briefing speakers, and ensuring they have all necessary information and support ahead of their sessions.
• Lead the programme calendar and coordinate all programme activity, including tutors, workshops, coursework, communications and other events, ensuring that all elements are updated, planned, communicated, delivered efficiently and kept to schedule.
• Ensure the programme is planned and delivered smoothly and efficiently, with a strong emphasis on forward planning, organisation and attention to detail.
• Work collegiately with the Head of Department, Programme Lead for Create x Connect and Development Manager, contributing to a collaborative and supportive programme team.
• Work within agreed programme budgets, monitoring expenditure and ensuring activity is delivered effectively within available resources.
• Ensure programme activities comply with NFTS Health & Safety policies, including appropriate risk assessments and measures to protect participants, staff and contributors.

Participant Experience, Mentoring & Development

• Ensure a consistently high-quality participant experience across the Creator Incubator programme, with outcomes aligned to the standards and ambitions of a world-leading film, television and games school.
• Build strong, trusted and supportive relationships with participants, creating an engaging, inclusive and motivating environment in which they can develop their creative practice and professional careers.
• Provide regular one-to-one development sessions with participants, offering tailored mentoring, constructive feedback, guidance and challenge in response to their individual creative and professional ambitions.
• Track the progress and development of individual participants, identifying opportunities, challenges and areas where additional support may be required and taking appropriate action.
• Support participants to identify and pursue relevant industry opportunities, connections and networks that support their creative and professional development.
• Build a strong sense of community across the cohort, creating opportunities for participants to connect, collaborate, share knowledge and develop peer and professional networks.
• Support the recruitment process by assessing and scoring applications ahead of deadlines and coordinating additional assessors where required.
• Manage the shared programme inbox, responding to participant queries and ensuring timely follow-up and appropriate support.

Programme Content & Delivery

• Identify and appoint appropriate external tutors, mentors and guest speakers, ensuring appointments are aligned with programme requirements and within budget.
• Ensure that guest speakers, contributors, mentors, case studies and examples reflect the diversity of the UK creative industries and provide participants with a broad range of perspectives, experiences and career pathways.
• Develop and curate workshops, masterclasses, mentoring and other learning opportunities in response to the needs and development goals of the cohort.
• Lead the development and coordination of in-person workshops and cohort activity across the UK, taking responsibility for their practical delivery and attending events as required. This role will involve regular travel across the UK.
• Oversee the smooth and effective delivery of online sessions, one-to-ones, workshops and masterclasses, ensuring technology, communications, materials and participant access are fully prepared in advance.
• Take full responsibility for the practical delivery of exercises, workshops and sessions, supporting tutors, mentors and guest speakers to ensure a high-quality participant experience.

Stakeholder, Partner & Supplier Management

• Take professional responsibility for relationships with external stakeholders, partners and suppliers, as well as departmental peers and senior colleagues across the organisation.
• Take responsibility for contracts and partner relationships, negotiating and influencing effectively to ensure partners and suppliers meet agreed terms and deliverables.
• Use and develop industry networks to identify relevant practitioners, opportunities, resources and connections that can support participant development.
• Ensure clear, timely and effective communication with participants, tutors, mentors, speakers, partners and internal stakeholders throughout the programme.
• Work collaboratively with the Programme Lead for Create x Connect, providing support and cover as required, including during periods of leave, to ensure continuity and the smooth running of both programmes.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor individual participant progress, engagement, feedback and programme outcomes, using data and insight to evaluate impact, inform participant support and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Participate fully in the School’s assessment and evaluation procedures, ensuring assessments and relevant paperwork are completed accurately and to schedule.
• Prepare written reports on the progress, value and outcomes of the programme as required, assessing participant development and achievements and identifying learning to inform future programme planning.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Significant experience of working with, supporting or developing digital creators, creator-led businesses or talent within the wider creative industries.
• Strong knowledge of YouTube, digital-first content, online audience and the creator economy with an understanding of how creators build audiences, develop creative practices and establish sustainable careers.
• Significant experience of programme or project delivery, ideally in a hands-on producer, programme management, talent development or similar capacity.
• Excellent interpersonal, mentoring and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with participants from diverse backgrounds and at different stages of their creative and professional development.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback, encouragement and challenge, adapting your approach to the individual needs, ambitions and circumstances of participants.
• Strong understanding of the creative industries and the evolving digital media landscape, with the ability to identify relevant opportunities, emerging trends, practitioners and professional networks.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time-management skills, with the ability to balance individual participant support with wider programme delivery and forward-plan effectively.
• Highly proactive and solutions-focused, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to take initiative, make sound decisions and respond effectively to challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with participants, creative practitioners, partners, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Experience of coordinating tutors, mentors, freelancers, contractors and/or external contributors, with the ability to build effective working relationships and deliver to agreed objectives.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, manage changing priorities and respond positively to evolving programme requirements.
• Ability to rapidly acquire new skills and confidently work with new technologies, including in situations where documentation or technical support may be limited.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and representation

Desirable skills

• Experience of working directly with YouTube creators or creator-led businesses
• Experience of developing or managing a talent development programme