We’re hiring a Co-Director!

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We are a collective of freelance BPOC writers and creatives coming together to uplift, support and celebrate Black writers and writers of colour in, from and with connections to Scotland. At the centre of everything we do is collective care and support, access, non-hierarchical working and an anti-racist approach.

Since our founding in 2018, SBWN has been dedicated to providing platforms and spaces where Scotland’s writers of colour can develop creatively, find community, and make our voices heard on our own terms. Now, eight years later, we are currently delivering year two of our three-year multi-year programme funded by Creative Scotland, which runs until March 2028.

The literary landscape is evolving and so are we. 

We’re looking for a new Co-Director to join our current Co-Directors and help to steer our programming and operations in exciting, innovative ways that engage our existing community and expand our positive impact on Scotland’s literary sector.

This is an arts programming and administrative role which includes co-curation, literary events management, creative thinking, community development, editorial work, partnership relationships, project management and reporting.

Duration: July 2026 to March 2028

(While we seek to extend contracts beyond this, extension will be subject to available funds.)

Fee: £1,400 per month

£28 per hour x 50 hours per month, paid monthly on receipt of invoice

Application Deadline: 31st May 2026

Shortlisting: you will hear from us if you have been shortlisted for an interview by 5th June.

Interviews held in June: Friday 12th, Monday 15th, Tuesday 16th (evening), at a mutually convenient time.

Earliest start date: 6th July 2026

Contract:

1. 50 hours per month @ £28 per hour (£1,400 per month)
2. July 2026 to March 2028 inclusive
3. Scotland-based, mostly remote with occasional travel within Scotland
4. Travel for in-person SBWN events covered
5. Must be able to work freelance in the UK. You will be responsible for your own tax and invoicing monthly to receive payment.

Essential:

• Based in Scotland
• Shares SBWN values and is passionate about inclusive programming (particularly creating environments and programmes free of racism, ableism, queerphobia and transphobia, anti-blackness, and classism)
• Experience in project management in the literary or arts and culture sector
• Experience in working with budgets or grants, especially in the creative sector
• Familiar with Scotland’s creative writing landscape and literary industry
• Experience within the literary industry as a performer or published writer (including all forms, genres, and mediums including self-publishing; applicants are not required to have published a full-length book)
• Experience in leading/co-leading or managing small teams
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills
• Effective, clear communicator with colleagues, audiences, and external associates 
• Understands and upholds anti-racist values
• Understands and upholds Safer Spaces Policy
• Self-starter, able to work independently and collaboratively
• Legally able to work as a freelancer in the UK

Desirable:

• Experience in programming literary or arts events
• Experience in budget management, particularly in a literary/arts context
• Experience in grant writing or applying for funding
• Experience in keeping and maintaining organisational records 
• Track record of securing and/or expanding partnerships in the literary or arts sector

Co-Director Responsibilities:

Below is a summary of responsibilities involved in the Co-Director role. For full details and a breakdown of duties, please read the Role Description. 

• Taking a leadership role in short-term and long-term programming for SBWN with innovative programming ideas that engage our existing community and expand our positive impact on Scotland’s literary sector. 
• Seeking out and maintaining long-term partnerships and short-term collaborations with other organisations and creative practitioners.
• Hiring, onboarding, training, and contract review for new and existing team members. 
• Managing programming budgets and reporting responsibilities in conjunction with SBWN’s other Co-Directors.
• Managing legal and operational tasks relating to SBWN in conjunction with our Finance Manager and other Co-Directors. 
• Identifying and implementing development and support opportunities for team members.
• Identifying fundraising opportunities and assisting SBWN’s Fundraising Manager with fundraising applications. 
• Resolving complaints, conflicts, and other issues, including breaches of our Safer Spaces Policy.
• Supporting other team members with project tasks as required.
• Carrying out Committee Member Responsibilities as required.
• Serving as a member of the Committee and upholding SBWN’s Constitution.

Practicalities: 

Applicants must be based in Scotland and must have the right to work freelance in the UK; team members are responsible for their own taxes. 

The Co-Director will have a seat on the Committee, and input into decision-making in a non-hierarchical environment. Co-Directors support and facilitate team development, including hiring, training and contract reviews; and like each Committee member, work to their strengths, knowledge and skills.

All Co-Directors are Company Directors with associated legal responsibilities and are publicly named on Companies House (name, month and year of birth, nationality; identity verification required). Co-Directors are also bank signatories and are responsible for the financial records, supported by the Finance Manager. 

This is a remote position, however some travel is expected for quarterly in-person committee meetings – we generally travel between Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow & Edinburgh to spend the day/half day together (travel expenses covered).

Monthly online Committee meetings typically take place on Thursday mornings, and optional weekly online co-working spaces typically take place on Tuesday mornings, though we may be able to rearrange this to a different mutually-agreed weekday time. Beyond this, team members organise their working hours independently. 

Training will be provided for working with tools and apps the team uses, such as Asana (project management) and Clockify (logging hours). Familiarity with word processing and email apps is expected. 

Access

• Team members are invited to share their access requirements or Access Document / Rider (optional, treated in confidence). 
• A small mental health and wellbeing fund is provided annually to all committee members.
• We offer some childcare/caregiver bursaries – please note that bursaries, if required, count as income to HMRC.
• All online events and meetings have automated captions.
• View SBWN’s public Access Statement.
• If you require Access to Work provisions, these must be organised through the government Access to Work grant system – we know there is a waiting time of up to 12 months for new applications and may be able to support some provisions. 

How to Apply

Before applying:

1. 1. Please be mindful when applying that SBWN is an organisation run by and for Black people and people of colour. Read our About Page
   2. Read our Mission and Values page
   3. Read our Constitution 
   4. Read our Safer Spaces Policy – all team members must abide by this
   5. Download and read the detailed Role Description

If you’re excited about the role but do not fulfil all of our essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply. We value voluntary and informally gained experience as much as paid or formal work history. We are aware of structural barriers that can prevent marginalised people from accessing opportunities, and we take these into account as much as possible in our selection processes.

Due to significant underrepresentation of Black people and people of colour in the Scottish literary sector and in decision-making roles in the Scottish creative industries, we strongly encourage applications from Black people and people of colour based in Scotland. Please refer to our Mission and Values page for more info on this terminology.

Co-Director Q&A

SBWN will host an online Q&A session with our Co-Directors, Titilayo Farukuoye and Jeda Pearl Lewis, on Tuesday 26th May, 6pm – 7pm.

Part 1: The first part of the session will be recorded and will:

• Cover what being a Co-Director involves, the non-hierarchical ways SBWN works, what we’re looking for in a co-director, and practicalities of the application process
• Answer questions submitted in advance on the form

This recording will be shared privately with registered attendees afterwards.

Part 2: The second part of the session will not be recorded and will be open to questions from live attendees.

Register for the Co-Director Q&A – ‼️Update‼️Registration for the Co-Director Q&A is now closed, but if you’re applying to the role we’re keen to share the recording and notes with you, so please email us with “Urgent – Co-Director Q&A Recording” in the subject line: scottishbpocwriters@gmail.com

Ready to apply?

We accept text, audio or video applications – please share the media most accessible to you. 

Please complete our application form by 31st May 2026, including:

• 1-page cover letter of up to 500 words (or 3 minutes audio/video) – please answer the following questions within your cover letter 
  • Why are you interested in this position?
  • What skills and qualities do you have that make you a good candidate for this position? 
  • What is your vision for the future of SBWN?

• CV up to 2 pages (or up to 10 minutes audio/video).

Questions? 

Register for the Co-Director Q&A ‼️Update‼️Registration for the Co-Director Q&A is now closed, but if you’re applying to the role we’re keen to share the recording and notes with you, so please email us with “Urgent – Co-Director Q&A Recording” in the subject line: scottishbpocwriters@gmail.com

Any other questions? Email scottishbpocwriters@gmail.com