Head of Public Programmes | UK
Head of Public Programmes
The Head of Public Programmes for National Trust is an exciting role that leads the development, strategic planning and delivery of national cultural heritage partnership programmes for the Trust. This fixed term contract covers a sabbatical for the current post holder. You will be responsible for the strategic leadership for thematic, research based national programmes that are rich and rewarding for new and existing audiences covering thematic cultural programmes, major exhibitions, and Heritage Open Days, the UK’s largest festival of history and culture. You will be based in a team that creates the experiences across 500 National Trust places, and works with other major partners in contemporary arts, research, well-being and more.
What it’s like to work here
This role is based at our Central Office, Heelis and will include travelling to the Midlands, where the Seasonal Programming Manager is based. We provide the best possible working environment for you throughout the building whilst also promoting and fostering a sociable Heelis Community.
Heelis was named after one of the Trust’s biggest benefactors Mrs William Heelis. There are approximately 700 staff from across the Trust’s directorates based here, including the Executive team and the Director General.
Heelis was designed to be highly sustainable and has won a number of nationally recognised awards. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects in 2005, this architectural gem uses timber from our woodlands and wool from Herdwick sheep grazed on Trust farmlands, to help make Heelis a unique working environment.
What you’ll be doing
It’s about leading a team of people including curators, producers, programme managers and specialists to work together to create seamless, credible, high quality public programmes across research, exhibitions, experiences in heritage settings, and engagement programmes with a 5-10 year forward planning view. You will balance making meaningful connections between heritage and people’s lives today with high-quality organisational and legacy outcomes.
You will be overseeing in-year programme delivery, as well as refining future programme development, and leading long-range planning tasks with internal and external colleagues. You will maintain and develop key relationships across Whole Trust business functions and senior leadership, as well as ensuring smooth integration of the team’s work with the wider Curation & Experience Directorate in which you are based. Your work will be informed by audience research and in support of our new diversity and inclusion action plan. You will contribute to working groups and project boards as a senior culture leader in the organisation, as well as undertaking the line management tasks to support your own team.
**You will need to be in Swindon head offices of the Trust at least two days per week, and be prepared to travel across the country in support of the role. It will include travel to National Trust and partner locations.**
Who we’re looking for
- Degree level qualification in a relevant subject related to curatorial and cultural content or equivalent experience
- Excellent understanding of public programme networks and channels and techniques including content development, research outputs, events, exhibitions and broadcast partnerships
- Highly creative, with the ability to commission, deliver and evaluate creative projects
- Excellent communication skills including speaking publicly through the media, sharing ideas and stories and speaking at events and conferences
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Strategic thinker; can exploit opportunities to align Trust’s strategy
- A background of senior leadership in a public facing organization including national programmes
- Proven experience developing and delivering against business cases for public engagement at an organizational level
- Experience of working in a cross functional way across an organization to deliver tangible results, including delivering through other teams, sponsoring or delegating projects
For more information about this position and to apply, please visit: https://careers.nationaltrust.org.uk/OA_HTML/a/#/vacancy-detail/70225