Part-time | 30 hours per week | Fixed term 9 - 12 months
Salary: £35,736 – £38,255 pro rata
Based in Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is one of the UK’s most distinctive coastal towns - creative, entrepreneurial and rich in heritage. Falmouth Town Council is recognised nationally for its ambitious, collaborative and community-driven approach, with culture sitting at the heart of its strategic vision.
Falmouth Town Council is seeking an exceptional cultural leader to join us at a pivotal moment in our development.
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Cornwall’s most ambitious and community-focused cultural service directorates, encompassing the award-winning Falmouth Art Gallery, Falmouth Library, youth services and community outreach programmes.
As Interim Cultural Services Director, you will provide strategic leadership across a highly visible and much-loved service at the heart of one of the South West’s most vibrant coastal towns. You will lead a talented team, maintain momentum across major projects and partnerships, and help shape the future of cultural provision in Falmouth.
This role comes at an exciting time, with:
• Delivery of the new Town Council’s Cultural Services Strategy
• Plans for a major transformation of the historic Municipal Building
• Growing regional and national partnerships
• Aspirations linked to Falmouth’s future as a potential Town of Culture
We are looking for an experienced and inspiring leader with a strong background in cultural services, arts, museums, libraries, heritage or related sectors. You will bring:
• Senior leadership experience within cultural services (arts, museums, libraries or heritage)
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience securing external funding and developing strategic opportunities
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with operational delivery
• A passion for inclusive cultural provision and community impact
You will play a key role in ensuring Falmouth’s cultural services continue to thrive, evolve and remain accessible, relevant and sustainable for local communities and visitors alike.
To Apply
For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact:
Anna Jay, Managing Director, Public Leaders Appointments:
anna@publicleadersappointments.com
Full details including application pack can be found here:
Cultural Services Director FTC - Public Leaders Appointments
Key Dates
• Closing date: Midday, Thursday 25 June 2026
• Psychometric Leadership Profiling (online): 3 – 8 July 2026
• Final interviews: Thursday 16 July 2026
Falmouth Town Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
This is not a Cornwall Council vacancy therefore please contact the organisation direct for further information.
Organisation address: Falmouth Town Council, The Old Post Office, The Moor, Falmouth. TR11 3QA
A unique Council that has secured the UK's first devolution deal for a rural County! We deliver services to more than half a million local people and to over five million visitors a year.
*Cornwall - The Place: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/work-and-volunteer-for-us/cornwall-the-place/
With its beautiful beaches, stunning countryside and superb community spirit, Cornwall is a great place to live.
*Cornwall - Our Offer: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/work-and-volunteer-for-us/our-offer/
With a competitive employee reward package that attracts, retains and motivates our employees; open plan working environments in most offices, good business systems and a can do culture where talented people thrive, Cornwall Council is a great place to work.
*Cornwall - Our Job of the Week: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/joboftheweek
*Cornwall - What we do and how we work: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/work-and-volunteer-for-us/what-we-do-and-how-we-work/
Services: Care for the elderly, children’s safeguarding, libraries, road maintenance, fire and rescue service, recycling, parks, street cleaning, countryside management, social housing, town planning, tourism support and trading standards.
We deliver these services through our employees who work directly for the Council and through our many other Council owned companies and organisations; CORMAC, Cornwall Housing, Tempus Leisure, Newquay Airport and Cornwall Development Company.
We also have close links with Cornwall’s health organisations, colleges and universities and work closely with the police, town and parish councils and the voluntary sector.
*Cornwall - Council and Democracy: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/
We have 123 elected councillors and as Cornwall is such a large rural area, our councillors and the towns and parishes they represent are grouped into 19 community networks, which are the focus of our local community work.
