York Museum & Gallery Trust
York
Full-time
Job description

Job title:

Community Participation Manager

Department:

Audience & Programme

Contract:

Fixed Term

Reporting To:

Participation & Learning
Manager

Hours per week:

37

1.  Job purpose

To develop and deliver the community participation programme for York Museums Trust. Take
responsibility for research, relationship management and project management under the
direction of the Participation & Learning Manager, in order to deliver the relevant areas of the
YMT’s community participation programme.

To identify and work with marginalised, underrepresented and minority individuals and groups
across York, the wider region and more widely, building and developing relationships to ensure
that the needs, perspectives and experiences of these groups inform the development of York
Museums Trust’s collections, public programme and the development of new ways of
participation in our public offer.

Embed best practice in engaging with marginalised groups in a museum and heritage context
across York Museums Trust from an operational and strategic perspective.

2.  Dimensions

Budgets – Responsibility for a Participation budget of c. £30k.

Line Management
•  Directly managing contractors or project personnel
•  Contractors and project officer(s) (subject to external funding)

Role Impact

•  Lead participation and community engagement programmes and initiatives to increase
passive and active participation, particularly by marginalised, underrepresented and
minority individuals and groups

•  Ensures all participation projects are informed by best practice in co-curating and

community engagement and reflect YMT’s vision, mission and values

•  Ensure that YMT’s programme and product development is informed by audience, market

and community intelligence

•  Manage relations for YMT with key public and third sector organisations
•  Raise the profile of YMT and manage the reputation of the Trust

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3.  Principal accountabilities

Core Responsibilities
•

Identify and manage relationships with key groups and potential partner organisations,
groups and individuals in York and the wider region, with a particular emphasis on
marginalised, underrepresented and minority communities and experiences
In partnership with other managers, develop, monitor and deliver YMT’s Audience
Development and Participation Plan (or equivalent)

•

•  Collaborate with Curatorial, Public Engagement and MarComms teams to develop YMTs

approach to engaging local underrepresented and underserved audiences, and to identify
and work with a range of partners to develop our approach to participation and
volunteering

•  Work with community partners and stakeholders to develop and manage the delivery of

Community Participation projects or programmes that deliver YMT’s Audience
Development and Participation Plan and Business Plan objectives.

•  Lead YMT pilot initiatives to attract and retain community partners and other volunteers to

collaborate on shared initiatives and projects

•  Provide expert support to the Audience & Programme and Visitor Experience teams in the

development and delivery of a diverse and inclusive public programme

•  Other duties may be required from time to time which are consistent with the grading of

this post

Management
•  To manage contractors or project personnel, setting plans, deliverables and workload
•  To ensure that HR is aware of CPD opportunities in co-curation and community engagement
•  To  maintain  a  CPD  programme  for  community  partners  and  volunteers  according  to

programme or project need

•  To  manage  project  and  programme  budgets  in  a  strategic  fashion,  ensuring  spend  is

allocated appropriately

•  To develop effective strategic partnerships with agreed organisations, including York CVS

Other duties/responsibilities

•  Promote, develop and advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism within the

Trust.

•  Work in accordance with Trust procedures and all relevant legislation e.g. Health and

Safety, Data Protection and Equal opportunities.

•  Other  duties  may  be  required  from  time to  time which  are  consistent  with  the

grading of this post

4.  Key performance measures

•  Key individuals, groups and potential partner organisations are identified.

Relationships are managed and sustained

•  Participation projects are identified, developed and delivered according to plan and

budget

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•  New and existing community participants are effectively targeted and measured using

data and insight
Increased participation by marginalised, underrepresented and minority groups and
individuals with York Museums Trust
Increased participation by volunteers and placement that deliver YMT objectives

•

•

5.  Knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours

Knowledge

•  Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
•  Professional qualification or relevant experience relating to community engagement or

development

•  Good understanding of best practice community engagement and development
•  Understanding of Audience Development and the ability to use evaluation to improve

programmes and project

Skills

•  Strong organisational skills
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills
•  Strong ability to manage complicated information and data sources
•  Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills
•  Good IT and digital skills
•  Good management skills including approaches to innovation, working in changing

environments and problem solving

•  Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, staff, external stakeholders,

consultants, trustees, and senior managers
•  The ability to multi-task while meeting deadlines

Experience

•  Experience of working with diverse communities
•  Experience of community co-curation work in the heritage, museum or arts sector.
•  Experience of project management including budgets of over £15,000

Behaviours

•  Committed to diversity and inclusion with demonstrable experience of making

programming and participation accessible

•  Places sensitivity and empathy with marginalised and underrepresented communities

at the heart of engagement work
•  Capacity for autonomous working
•  Proactive problem-solver
•  Excellent team worker
•  Commitment to Continuous Professional Development for self and colleagues,

including sharing of best practice

•  Commitment to and advocacy of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism and

understanding how these apply to the role
•  Commitment to environmental sustainability

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6.  Key relationships

•  Participation & Learning Manager
•  Senior Curators, Curators and Associate Collections Curators
•  Visitor Experience Team
•  Mar/Comms Team
•
•
•  Creative Learning Producers
•  Volunteer Coordinator
•  Audience Analyst

Identified priority geographic communities in York, North Yorkshire
Identified priority communities of experience

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