We're hiring: work with The Modernist Society
The Modernist Society is growing — and we're looking for two people to help us do it.
Since our earliest days celebrating the concrete, the glass and the gloriously unfashionable corners of twentieth-century architecture and design, we've grown into a CIC, presenting exhibitions, events, magazines, books and a community that spans well beyond Manchester. Now with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we want to expand our team to help us extend that reach — and to secure our income alongside it.
We're recruiting for two new part-time posts: an Audience Development Officer and a Fundraising & Development Officer. Both are 4-days-a-week roles, based at 58 Port Street, Manchester, with the possibility of some hybrid working, and both for an initial 3-year term.
If you care about modernism, about architecture and design culture, and about building something a bit different from inside a small organisation — read on
Audience Development Officer
This role sits right at the heart of how people find us, engage with us, and stick around.
You'll lead our digital audience strategy and social media presence, shape community outreach and participatory projects that bring in audiences we don't yet reach, and plan the marketing campaigns that get people through the door, or into their inbox, or onto their feed, for our exhibitions, events and publications.
We're looking for someone with a solid grounding in audience development, marketing or communications — ideally from arts, culture or heritage — who's confident with digital analytics, a strong copywriter, and genuinely motivated by widening who gets to engage with culture like ours.
Salary: £27,797 pro rata (actual for 4 days/week: £22,238)
Job description here.
Download the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form here
Fundraising & Development Officer
As a community interest company, we live or die by a diverse income portfolio — and this role is about making that portfolio stronger and more resilient.
You'll lead on trust and foundation fundraising, public sector arts and heritage grant applications, and corporate partnerships, while also keeping an eye on our membership scheme and wider income generation strategy. It's a genuine opportunity to shape the financial development function of a distinctive cultural organisation, working closely with our senior team.
We're looking for someone with a proven track record in grant fundraising, excellent written communication, and a solid understanding of the UK arts, culture and heritage funding landscape. Experience of corporate partnerships is a bonus, as is prior knowledge of modernism itself. A willingness to learn matters more than a design history degree.
Salary: £27,797 pro rata (actual for 4 days/week: £22,238)
Job description here.
Download the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form here
Why join us
We're a small, experienced team who believe culture should be accessible, and that how we work matters as much as what we make. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to equal opportunities — and we'd particularly love to hear from people who don't see themselves reflected in the arts and heritage sector as it currently stands.
How to apply
To apply for either role, send a CV and a covering letter (no more than two pages) explaining why you're interested and how your experience matches the person specification, to info@modernist-society.org. Please include the Equal Opportunities moitoring form.
Applications close Friday 2nd October 2026.
Full job descriptions and person specifications for both roles are available here..
Fundraising & Development Officer
The Modernist Society CIC is an equal opportunities employer
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's heritage. The Modernist Society's project, 'Built to Last: Strengthening the Modernist Society for the Next Generation,' is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to fund this project, which will help ensure a long-term future for the Society.
