Head of Learning and Community

Salary: £29,000 - £31,000

Contract:Full time (permanent, 37.5 hours p/week)

Responsible toDirector

Introducing Pallant House Gallery

Located in the heart of historic Chichester on the south coast, Pallant House Gallery is a unique combination of a Grade One Listed Queen-Anne townhouse and an award-winning contemporary extension, housing one of the most significant collections of Modern British art in the country. Widely acclaimed for its innovative temporary exhibitions and pioneering Learning and Community programme, which has inclusion at its heart, it has won numerous awards and accolades including the Gulbenkian Prize and the Charity Award.

The Gallery employs 29 staff (FTE) who work closely with 200 highly committed volunteers and a vibrant Friends organisation numbering over 4,000 members. The Gallery receives an average of 60,000 visitors a year and over 8,000 people participate in the Learning and Community programme.

Pallant House Gallery is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), and receives annual support from Chichester District Council. Learning and Community is at the heart of the organisation and the Gallery has developed a widely respected programme supporting local communities and developing new audiences.

To find out more about Pallant House Gallery, please visit our website

Learning and Community Programme

Pallant House Gallery's pioneering Learning and Community Programme provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to explore their enjoyment of art.

Developing pathways for individuals to enter into the Gallery's programmes in a way that is tailored to meet their needs and creative interests, with a focus on delivering projects and programmes that enable a broad range of people to access the Gallery.

Purpose and key objectives

The Head of Learning and Community will be responsible for developing, managing and delivering the learning and community programmes for Pallant House Gallery in line withthe objectives of the Gallery’s Forward Plan, working to meet audience development and income targets. You will lead, inspire and manage the Learning and Community team, including the Learning Programme Manager and Community Programme Manager, and play a key role in the Gallery’s Senior Management. There is scope to reshape the department to meet the Gallery’s ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

Reviewing and providing innovative leadership of the Learning and Community programme.
Leading the development,management and regular review of the Learning and Community team.
Working with the Director and Head of Communications to develop and manage Pallant House Gallery’s audience development strategy.
Establishing and sustaining strong networks and partnerships locally, regionally and nationally, including with schools, colleges, education authorities, health and wellbeing organisations and community groups to develop and grow programmes.
Working with the Director, Curatorial teams (Collections and Exhibitions) and other staff to plan programmes so that exhibitions, displays, permanent collections, installations and residencies engage a wide range of audiences.
Working with Curatorial and other teams to develop interpretation and oversee development of learning resources for a range of audiences
Overseeing review and development of Pallant House Gallery’s policies relating to learning, community and audience development.
Contributing to the production of funding applications, including capital bids, providing information as required to support applications, and work with the Director and Head of Development to develop a fundraising strategy to secure future funding for the Learning and Community Programme.
Working with Visitor Services and other teams to develop and deliver events.
Overseeing the planning and delivery of Learning and Community exhibitions, facilitating cross department working with Curatorial and Communications teams.
Line managing the Learning Programme Manager, and Community Programme Manager and supportingthe management of freelance artist educators, facilitators of workshops and volunteers, ensuring that all training provided is effective and covers all key gallery policies and safeguarding.
Oversee the gallery’s programme of Art History and Practical Art Courses, line managing the Adult Programme Manager.
Leading on the on-going development of dementia-friendly activities to build a skilled pool of artist educators and Art views facilitators.
Facilitating the Learning and Community Advisory Group, and the Access Advisory Group and Schools Programme Advisory Group.
Liaising with learning and community specialists in national and regional museums and galleries
Monitoring and evaluating programmes and oversee recording of outcomes, including attendance and income, against objectives and outcomes.
Producing reports and information as required by the Gallery, Chichester District Council, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, other funders and partners
Building on existing relationships with Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council and other arts and heritage sites in the region.

Senior Management Responsibilities:

Contributing to Pallant House Gallery strategic planning and delivery of its Forward Plan, and other strategies and plans
Supporting the management of Pallant House Gallery as an active member of the Senior Management Team
Representing Pallant House Gallery as required, including in national forums
Supporting delivery of Pallant House Gallery’s capital projects
Supporting development of Pallant House Gallery’s staff teams - carrying out appraisals and identifying training and development needs for staff managed by the post holder
Developing and managing Learning and Community core and unrestricted budgets and supporting the Head of Finance in Pallant House Gallery’s budget planning and management.
To be a key holder and Duty Manager for the Gallery as requiredand will have emergency planning responsibilities as designated in the Emergency Plan.

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities and duties of the post holder. It is not meant to be, nor is it, an exhaustive list of specific responsibilities and duties. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties which could be reasonably be expected as being within the remit of the post and which arise out of changes of legislation, orders, rules and working practices, methods and reviews, as directed from time to time.

Person Specification

Qualifications

A relevant degree or equivalent qualification

Experience

At least three years’ experience of working in museum engagement in a management or equivalent role
Previous experience of developing programming for and working with diverse audiences
Experience of strategic planning including managing budgets and project grants
Experience of developing and managing partnerships

Essential

Excellent interpersonal skills

Skills in deadlines are completed to agreed timescales

Excellent organisational and administrative skills

Good IT skills

Excellent communication skills (written, oral and editing)

Ability to lead and motivate a team

Desirable

Knowledge of the National Curriculum and Arts Award
Good knowledge of 20th century British and Contemporary Art
Good network of contacts in the sector

Attitudes and personal attributes

Commitment to equality, inclusiveness and non-discriminatory practice
Flexibility and ability to work as a team member
A belief in the need to make arts and heritage accessible to all
Open and honest attitude
Reliable and fair in approach
Able to balance diverse elements of a role
A positive attitude and ability to work under pressure

Other Information

Leave entitlement is 26 days’ annual leave plus 8 statutory days.
The post holder will be required to do some evening and weekend work for events, particularly those connected with the responsibilities of their department.
Pallant House Gallery reimburses staff for travel and other expenses within agreed guidelines.
The post holder will be expected to follow security procedures at all times.
Pallant House Gallery is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities in Employment and the post holder will be expected to support the Equality and Diversity Policy and Action Plan.
Pallant House Gallery has an auto-enrolment pension scheme.