Instrument Development Manager

Key responsibilities:

• Take a strategic approach to increase the range of instruments and supportive apparatus that is available for individuals and the Trust and liaise with instrument makers and technologists where necessary.
• Identify possible OHMI Competition entrants and develop a list of contact information.
• Support activities associated with OHMI Music-Makers as required.
• Ensure that the OHMI Connect is kept updated as new developments occur.
• Prepare reports to funders about the progress of projects as required.
• Keep the General Manager and Trustees informed about the progress of all areas of work and any issues that have arisen
• Work as part of the team to promote the work of the Trust at key conferences and workshops.

What we’re looking for:

Essential:

• An understanding of the importance of musical instruments and barriers to participation
• An enthusiasm for, and understanding of, OHMI’s objectives
• Strong organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise workloads, and work flexibly as part of a team
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• High-level office IT skills
• The ability to travel to throughout the UK as required (expenses covered).

Desirable:

• Experience of musical instruments and working with instrument makers or manufacturers.
• Experience of working with people with physical disabilities

There is some flexibility about the approach the could be taken to this role, and we would want to use the skills and contacts of the successful candidate. Examples of activities undertaken by the current team include:

• Working with undergraduate engineering students as an external partner to present them with a challenge on which they can hone their engineering skills, but OHMI has the benefit of fresh eyes on a challenge that has yet to be solved. OHMI’s role is to present the challenge in a clear way and ensure that known traps are avoided. A successful example is the NMiTE violin bow holder, developed for a young person with a limb difference affecting the fingers of her right hand. Several visits were made during the student project to ensure that the bow holder did what was required for this student, but also in such a way that the principle could be applied to others.
• Finding suitable people or organisations to develop kit where there is a clear need (and funding is available!). One successful example is the development of a 3D printed recorder. This took several iterations and the bringing together of different partners at different stages of the work, but means that an entry level recorder is available which is more affordable than the original and is also more compatible with certain physical characteristics of the target user group.

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and as such commit to offer an interview to all disabled candidates who meet the Essential criteria.

This post is subject to a 3 month probation period.

Location: flexible within the UK – this is a home/remote working role but there will be travel throughout the UK and an advantage in being located near the rest of the staff team in the West Midlands

Accountable to: OHMI General Manager and, through her, the Board of Trustees

About The OHMI Trust

The aims of the OHMI Trust:

• To remove the barriers to participation in music-making for disabled people;
• To promote greater understanding of the current barriers to musical participation for the physically disabled

The primary obstacle to undifferentiated participation in music-making faced by people who are physically disabled is the absence of suitable instruments. There are virtually no conventional instruments that can be played without two fully functioning hands and arms, denying unlimited participation in musical life to those with congenital disabilities and amputees, as well as the millions who may have been injured, suffered a stroke or developed disabling conditions like arthritis. Crucial to meeting the aims of the OHMI Trust is the development, provision, and teaching of musical instruments to the disabled community.

We are meeting these aims through a number of programmes;

• Through the international OHMI competition, challenging developers and instrument makers, to adapt or create instruments that can be played without the use of one hand and arm;
• Teaching the instruments, in collaboration with Music Hubs and other partner organisations in two programmes:

OHMI Music-Makers Individual provides weekly, individual, 30 minute, lessons for students on their instrument of their choice (as far as possible!).

OHMI Music-Makers Whole Class supports Music Hubs to make their provision of whole class instrumental teaching inclusive of all children in the class, by providing adapted instruments, equipment or guidance, based on information gathered in advance of lessons starting.

• Encouraging the manufacture of these instruments while addressing issues of cost and availability;
• Maintaining publicly available databases on instrument makers, musicians, teachers and related resources of use to disabled musicians
• Raising awareness with government and among the public of the inequalities faced by the disabled community

There is further information on the OHMI website.