B irm ingham  B otanical Gardens is look ing for an experienced and enthusiastic
Engagem ent A ssistant to support the Engagem ent &  Learning Team .

The Gardens are in a period of change and have recently secured a Round 2 National Lottery
Heritage Fund (NLHF) grant towards a £19m capital project. The project aims to restore the
historic glasshouses, upgrade site infrastructure and displays, and improve the visitor experience for
all.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds
and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city.  The Gardens
look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive
recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to
ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will
reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.

R ole Title

Contract Ty pe

Team

R eports to

Salary

 Engagement Assistant

 0.6FTE (3 days per week)

 Fixed-term for 3.5 years

 Engagement & Learning

 Engagement Manager

Salary £25,552 pro-rata

Date issued/revised

 January 2025

This post is funded by  The National Lottery  Heritage Fund as part of the Gardens ’
Major P roject.

R ole P urpose
This important post has been created to support BBG’s planned £19m major National Lottery
Heritage Fund ‘Growing Our Green Heritage’ project and is needed to support the Engagement
& Learning Team and essential to BBG’s charitable purpose, objectives, and development.

The Engagement Assistant will support the delivery of BBG’s innovative and developing Engagement
and Learning (E&L) programme.

The postholder will work with the Engagement Manager, and the wider team, to support the
delivery of strategic projects which engage new and existing audiences and contribute to delivering
our capital project.  These programmes will nurture inspiring opportunities for audiences and
communities to connect and create meaningful interactions with the Gardens and associated
heritage stories, whilst also contributing their voices to ‘Growing Our Green Heritage’ project.

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The postholder will support the delivery of five specific strands of the of the ‘Growing Our Green
Heritage’ project Stage 2 Activity Plan:

•  B irm ingham  B otanical Gardens for all: engaging and supporting targeted community
groups in Birmingham to engage with BBG so that they feel confident visiting the Gardens
for the long term without staff support.

•  Collaborativ e com m unity  events: Engaging and developing opportunities for

community and youth groups to deliver community picnics and Music in the Gardens to
ensure that everyone involved has a dynamic experience at the Gardens.

•  Strengthening our core business:  engaging and supporting families, young people and
adults in their exploration of the Gardens and the delivery of specific programmes to
encourage diverse people to feel comfortable and welcome in the Gardens.

•  A ctiv ating our stories: Developing and delivering opportunities for community groups,
families and youth groups to use the IRIS plant collection database and the BBG Archive to
reinterpret the stories about the BBG and the plants it holds to co-create stories, tours,
artwork and other experiences.

•  Work ing and v olunteering in horticulture  and heritage : engaging and creating

opportunities for local community groups, families and youth groups to volunteer in the
Gardens and across the site.

The postholder will support the ongoing documentation and evaluation of these projects to support
the ‘Growing Our Green Heritage’ project.

Reporting to and working closely with the Engagement Manager, the postholder will also provide
essential day to day operational and administrative support to the Engagement and Learning Team.

Job Sum m ary /Key  R esponsibilities

•  Support the Engagement Manager to initiate, build and sustain positive community

engagement relationships across the city and region.

•  Working closely with the Engagement Manager, deliver dynamic opportunities for groups
that are visiting the Gardens that are appropriate to their needs and interests, to include
tours, talks, workshops, events, and creative opportunities for example.

•  Working closely with the Engagement Manager, deliver community events in collaboration
with local community organisations, to include community picnics and a programme of
community music in the Gardens for example.

•  Working closely with the Engagement Manager, support the delivery of a dynamic

programme of co-created opportunities that explore BBG’s living collection and heritage,
using the IRIS Database and BBG Archives to inspire trails, tours and artworks in response
to community and BBG needs and interests.

•  Deliver ‘meet and greets’, Garden introductions, and Garden talks and tours for a diverse

range of audiences and community groups in an accessible and friendly way.

•  Support the planning and delivery of BBG’s Family programme, to include Family Explorers

and school holiday activities.

•  Support the recruitment, induction and supervision of E&L volunteers, ensuring the best

experience for all involved.

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•  Be responsible for overseeing E&L’s image and video bank, ensuring photography consent

forms and images/videos are used and stored compliantly

•  Support the team to collect data and feedback for documentation and evaluation, to include
preparing feedback forms/activities, and processing and storing data compliantly and taking
photos/video.

•  Set up/set down rooms, materials, equipment and catering for all engagement activity.
•  Work with the Engagement Manager to order and prep materials for all engagement activity.
•  Be the first point of contact for external Engagement enquiries via email, phone or in

person, handling all enquiries in a timely, efficient and friendly manner.

•  Support the Engagement Manager to communicate with community groups, participants and
external partners by preparing and sending pre/post-visit emails, preparing and sending
mailouts etc.

•  Working closely with the Communications and Marketing Manager and the Engagement
Manager, support the planning and delivery of effective Engagement communications and
marketing.

•  Locate and prepare material for reports in a timely manner, as requested by the Engagement

Manager and Senior Leadership colleagues.

•  Manage the Engagement diary, using Outlook and BBG’s venue management software

YesPlan.

•  Assist with set up/set down for E&L meetings and take minutes when required.
•  Provide back-up administrative and delivery support to the Learning Team when required.
•  Take part in the wider professional community for example by being a part of sector

networks, attending webinars etc.

P rincipal A ccountabilities

•  To work in accordance with BBG’s Values and Behaviours.
•  To adhere to all BBG policies and procedures.
•  Positively contributing to ensuring that the BBG work environment is one that supports

Equalities, Diversity, and Inclusion for all – including, but not restricted to: staff, volunteers,
trainees and apprenticeships, members of the public.

•  Be an enthusiastic and positive ambassador for BBG, enhancing the visitor experience by

contributing to public engagement, interpretation, and marketing.

•  Keep abreast of relevant developments in botanic gardens, and the engagement, heritage and

cultural sectors, maintaining up to date knowledge and understanding.

•  Proactively engage in continuous CPD, seeking out opportunities and positively engaging in
learning and development opportunities in consultation with the Engagement Manager.

This job includes the following haz ards or safety -critical activ ities:

•  Lone Working (infrequent)
•  Work in hot or cold environments
•  Manual handling (infrequent)

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P ER SON SP ECIFICA TION

A rea

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge

•  Working understanding of learning and

engagement practice in an
outdoors/cultural/heritage setting

•  A passion for engaging diverse audiences and
communities with the outdoors, nature and
heritage

Experience

•  Experience in supporting the delivery of learning

or engagement activities and events

•  Experience in supporting work with audiences,
community partners or external stakeholders

•  Experience in completing administrative tasks

•  Demonstrable experience of working to a brief,
establishing priorities and delivering to deadline

•  Knowledge of Birmingham
and it’s communities

•  Working understanding of

engagement with a STEM or
STEAM focus

•  Delivered a successful

engagement project with a
focus on garden, heritage,
culture, museum,
horticultural or related
subject matter

•  Experience of designing and
planning an engagement
event or project from start
to finish

•  Experience of delivering

talks and tours

•  Experience of working with
a wide range of age groups
and a diverse range of
different demographic
groups

•  Experience of working with

volunteers

•  Experience of contributing
to communications and
marketing outputs

Qualifications

•  English and Maths to GCSE/ Level 2 or

•  Degree or post-graduate

equivalent demonstrable skillset

qualification in engagement,
education, heritage or
culture

•  Specific qualifications in
engagement and learning
practice

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Sk ills

•  Ability to nurture and sustain positive

•  Ability to create a warm

relationships with diverse audiences, community
partners and colleagues

welcome, put people at ease
and inspire others

•  Ability to convey scientific
information in an accessible
and engaging way

•  Ability to identify the
opportunities within a
collection or heritage asset
and translate them into
engaging and appropriate
projects/activities

•  Ability to understand the opportunities within a
collection or heritage asset and translate them
into engaging and appropriate projects/activities

•  Ability to deliver high-quality engagement

events, workshops and activities

•  Creative and flexible approach

•  Person-centred, collaborative, friendly approach

•  Exemplary communication skills; ability to

effectively listen and verbally communicate with
a diverse range of people in a range of settings

•  Ability to work with volunteers

•  Skilled in use of IT/systems information

management.

•  Excellent organisational skills; attention to detail;

•  Ability to multi-task and prioritise, and meet

deadlines

•  Ability to work independently and in a team and

know when each approach is appropriate

Term s of appointm ent:

•  The Engagement Assistant will be required to work in person at Birmingham Botanical

Gardens to deliver onsite engagement activity with our audiences.

•  The Engagement Assistant will be required to work offsite in community locations as

required.

•  The Engagement Assistant will be expected to work at times that suit the audiences they
are engaging.  Flexible weekend, bank holiday, and after-hours working is required in this
role.

•  The Engagement Assistant will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service

(DBS) check.

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What we can offer:

•  Pension through Royal London

•  24hour Employee Assistance Programme through BUPA

•  An extra day of annual leave for your birthday!

•  Company sick pay

•  Free parking is generally available onsite

•  Tea/Coffee and cold drinks provided during the working day

•  Discounts & Tickets: 20% discount in the gift shop; 10% discount in the Cafe; tickets for

immediate family into the Gardens and special offers for one-off events throughout the year

Enquiries:

If y ou hav e any questions, wish to hav e an inform al discussion about the role, or
would lik e access support to apply  for this role in a different way , please em ail
jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

T o apply : Please send your CV and covering letter to jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

A pplication deadline: 30th September 2025, midday
Interv iews: Likely to be 14th October 2025

Alternative dates for interview will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Online interviews will be considered on request to accommodate specific travel or access needs.

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