Head of Learning and Civic Partnerships
Salary: £42,468 - £53,812
Contract type: Permanent
Reporting to: Director of Programme
Department: Learning and Civic Partnerships as part of Programme
Direct reports: Learning Manager - Schools, Young People & Families; Learning Producer – Communities, Access & Inclusion; Learning Programme Assistant; Outreach Programme Manager (vacant); three additional indirect reports plus freelancers
V&A Dundee is looking for an exceptional candidate to lead its Learning and Civic Partnerships programme. This role has a strong focus on the positive impact that V&A Dundee and design can have by developing strong relationships with residents and communities, including those who currently visit the museum and those who don’t. The ideal candidate will be a creative, collaborative and experienced individual with deep knowledge of design, education, learning, equalities, community liaison, civic engagement and museums, with outstanding people and partnership skills. This is a very exciting opportunity to join the team at V&A Dundee - Scotland’s design museum - with our mission to inspire and empower through design.
Learning is at the heart of V&A Dundee, from the dynamic pre-opening engagement programme, to the nationwide schools programme and in-museum events, with over 2000 events and projects delivered and over 270,000 engagements in our first few years, creating impactful design experiences, changing lives and contributing to local and national outcomes.
This appointment comes as we look to develop a new civic and learning strategy, as well as reimagining the Scottish Design Galleries as we head toward the museum’s first decade in 2028. We are looking for someone with a passion for people and community, who can develop and deliver an inspiring, innovative and strategic programme that generates joy, curiosity, positive social impact and champions design and designers.
The Head of Learning and Civic Partnerships has a central position in the organisation which seeks to deepen its role and reach in Dundee and across Scotland, and across the world, as part of the V&A family of museums.
V&A Dundee is a young, remarkable and unique organisation, full of possibilities to develop further. This is a very exciting opportunity to join us here at Scotland’s design museum and with people across the city of Dundee, firing imaginations and sparking curiosity in design.
This role is responsible overall for the development, delivery and evaluation of the Learning and Civic Partnerships programme, including leading a team to fulfil V&A Dundee’s vision and to achieve its strategic priorities. The role will have the opportunity to develop long-term strategic plans, driving the Learning and Civic Partnerships programme across the building, plaza, city and beyond. The post holder will work collaboratively across teams to consider holistic visitor and audience experience to support V&A Dundee’s ambition to reach the broadest audience possible. This role will contribute directly to the strategic development of the wider programme which fulfils and builds upon the vision and mission for V&A Dundee. The post holder will form part of the Programme management team which comprises the Programme Director, Head of Design Research, Head of Exhibitions, Head of Learning and Civic Partnerships and Head of Production who collectively ensure the coherent running of all Programme deliverables and resources.
The post holder will be creative, dynamic, collaborative and experienced with a deep passion and knowledge of education, co-production, design and museums. They will understand the pivotal role that learning programmes and museums play in terms of their cultural, civic, social and economic influence, and their unique role in leading positive social change. The successful candidate will have significant experience of delivering participatory learning programme, of extending reach and relevance a track record of collaborative practise and exceptional stakeholder relationships. With a clear understanding of the barriers for many in accessing museums, the post holder will bring their experience and innovative expertise to address these in their work.
Strategy and Evaluation
Deliver on all aspects of the Learning and Civic Partnership programme as an integrated part of the wider public programme
Lead and develop the Learning & Civic Partnerships Strategy for the museum, working closely with the colleagues to ensure that it coheres with the wider Programme Strategy and Audience Strategy development
Align strategy to local and national calendars, agendas and outcomes with a focus on education, equalities, skills development and health & wellbeing
Establish an evaluation methodology for the Learning and Civic Partnerships programme
Nurture existing and develop new partnerships to scale programmes and increase reach, relevance and impact
Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the strategy is widely understood, accepted and achieved, and that successful collaborations and co-productions result
Ensure that strategies and programmes enact the museum’s overall vision, mission and strategic aims and priorities and ensuring that all programmes meet targets for audience numbers, types of audience, income and budgets
Civic Partnerships, advocacy and networks
Work closely with colleagues to establish a Civic Strategy that presents significant opportunity to engage the widest audiences across Dundee and Tayside, showing commitment to generating positive outcomes for the region
Work in a networked way, aligning objectives with strategies across Dundee and nationally with the V&A family
Prioritise the museum’s ambition to become a point of local pride which has meaningful social impact, bringing positive benefits to Dundee
Re-establish the museum’s volunteer programme and in partnership with others, lead a skills development programme to provide benchmark training and volunteering opportunities
Develop strategic partnerships to enable learning and partnerships programmes to be realised across Scotland and potentially further afield, in fulfilment of the museum’s vision
Work with colleagues at V&A South Kensington and the wider V&A family to explore and potentially develop shared learning initiatives, programmes and national projects
Programme and visitor experience (including Schools, Young People and Family programmes)
Work with the Programme Director and colleagues across the Programme team to deliver a successful and integrated programme that meaningfully engages audiences from early years, families, schools, young people, students, adults and educators.
Initiate and deliver displays that responds to and shape the wider programme in collaboration with the Head of Exhibitions and Head of Production
Embed Play throughout museum spaces from plaza to building, ensuring it comprises a core part of visitor experience
Contribute to the museums ambitious plans to reimagine the Scottish Design Galleries
Collaborate with colleagues from across the organisation to ensure Learning programming is delivered cohesively in the context of wide-reaching museum events ranging from Public Programme to commercial activities
Work closely with other colleagues who are programming events in the museum to ensure congruency and to maximize the use of shared spaces such as the auditorium and the learning studios
Work closely with Head of facilities to ensure that the learning programm is complying with all H&S requirements
Work with colleagues to develop digital learning engagement programmes
Keep abreast of national and international developments in participatory, education and community work and design, to include ongoing awareness of the impact of in/equalities, ensuring that this knowledge is shared and applied in the development of initiatives as appropriate
Budget, resourcing and general responsibilities
Maximise opportunities for income generation and contribute to funding bids, liaising with colleagues in other teams as appropriate
Delegated authority for the department budget and responsibility for operational management of all resources for the team
Contribute to the development of V&A Dundee overall, and be a part of the collective responsibility for this
Work as part of the Programme team in leading on cross organisational projects
Work closely with colleagues on the development of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the Safeguarding Policy and act as V&A Dundee’s safeguarding lead
Leading, supporting & managing people
Lead and support a team of learning professionals and specialists in the continuing development and implementation of a participatory learning and partnerships programme, to inspire and provide opportunities for V&A Dundee’s diverse range of audiences
Lead and manage a team of staff, freelancers and volunteers to deliver the programme, working closely with the Programme Director and Heads of Programme team to ensure staffing resource allocation is effectively implemented across the wider Programme team
Promote equality and diversity in all aspects of work by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and with respect/ dignity and actively contributing to developments that support the museum’s strategy for widening access, inclusion and diversity
Promote and advocate for the work of V&A Dundee at national and international conferences and meetings
Essential
Experience of working in a leadership role with a strong track record of developing and delivering participatory learning, education and community programmes
Experience of delivering relevant strategies, evaluation and familiarity with delivering outcomes and working with models such as theory of change
Evidence of initiating and working in strategic partnerships
Experience of implementing and utilising evaluation tools and embedding outcomes and learnings into future activity
Knowledge and expertise in design and/or degree in, Design, Art, Art History or a similar discipline related to art or the Creative Industries
Familiarity with the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence as well as initiatives such as The Promise, the Fairness Commission, Family Inclusive practice and Social Prescribing and how these can be applied in a museum setting
Considerable expertise and experience with the following audiences: schools and teachers, community groups, adults, students, young people, families and creative industries
Demonstrable experience in running participatory projects with the broadest range of people and significant awareness of EDI and the museum sector
Experience of developing digital learning resources and content
A flair for dynamic and innovative, accessible and impactful learning programming, enabling V&A Dundee to continue to offer a world-class learning programme
Demonstrable ability to write and implement strategy, manage staff and lead a team
Evidence of prioritising effectively and meeting tight deadlines
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Deadline for applications: no later than 17.00, 12 July 2024. Interviews will take place week commencing 22 July 2024.
This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week working in a hybrid flexible environment with a mixture of home working and working from our museum in Dundee, with a minimum of three days on site. We offer a generous package including 38 days holiday, pension scheme, company sick pay, entry to V&A Dundee paid exhibitions and many more discounts and benefits.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristics.
V&A Dundee is aware that working more flexibly is a central element of attracting and retaining disabled people in the labour market. We encourage you to apply if you define yourself as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (including deaf or neurodivergent).
If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, such as receiving the interview questions in advance or documents in an alternative format, please let us know via the email below.
If you have any issues with your application, please email: hr@vandadundee.org