Head of Learning & Public Engagement (HLPE)
| Job Title: | Head of Learning & Public Engagement (HLPE) |
| Position: | Permanent |
| Hours: | Full-time 35 hours per week (including regular evenings andweekend working) |
| Holidays: | 33 days including 8 public holidays, per annum |
| Responsible to: | Visitor Experience Director |
| Responsible for: | ● Public Programme ManagerCommunity & Youth Engagement ManagerSchools & Family OfficerDepartmental VolunteersFreelance Educators, Lecturers and Contractors |
| Salary | £44,000-45,000 |
| Location based at: | Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HS.Flexible working possible. |
1. Equal Opportunities
Chelsea Physic Garden is a place for everyone. As an equal opportunities’ employer, Chelsea Physic Garden is committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. If you are a suitably qualified applicant, we encourage your application whatever your age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
2. About Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden (CPG) is an independent charity set up in 1983 to promote and preserve the four-acre garden of the same name. The charity’s mission is to demonstrate the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of plants to the survival and wellbeing of humankind. We are open to visitors six-days a week, eleven months of the year. There has been a teaching Garden on our site since 1673, and today we hope that all our visitors leave inspired, having learnt something new.
4. Our Values
We have a set of five inter linked reinforcing values that support each other
5. About the Role
This is an exciting time to join Chelsea Physic Garden. We are at the forefront of delivering a new 10-year strategy and developing a refreshed approach to engagement.
The Head of Learning & Public Engagement (HLPE) will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering our new Learning & Engagement Plan, embedding it within the department’s strategic direction and guiding its impact over the next decade.
Our ambitions ‘to cultivate curiosity’, ‘create enriching experiences’ and ‘champion horticultural innovation’ will sit at the heart of this work. By introducing bold and innovative approaches to public engagement, this role will help transform how audiences connect with our charitable mission.
The HPLE is responsible for overseeing the delivery of all activity within the Learning & Engagement department, including schools, families, volunteers, community and youth engagement, as well as the public programme. The postholder sets the strategic direction of the department and leads the development and delivery of plans in collaboration with key stakeholders. The HLPE is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the team, ensuring that targets are consistently met or exceeded.
The postholder will develop and deliver a cohesive learning and engagement programme aligned with the National Curriculum, including the development of skills and programmes that support local, national and global social issues. Through this work, they will inspire and empower visitors, learners and communities to take meaningful action in support of our charitable mission.
The postholder will bring a strong understanding of education, community engagement and impact measurement. They will also demonstrate expertise in programme development, audience growth and effective project management.
The HLPE reports to the Visitor Experience Director (VED) who in turn reports to the Director. They line manage the Public Programme Manager, Schools & Family Officer, the Community & Youth Engagement Manager and the Volunteer Manager. Through the team, and directly, they coordinate and supervise a team of volunteers that support the work of the department. They coordinate and direct the work and output of Freelancers.
Key duties and responsibilities:
1. Programme delivery
The HLPE will shape and guide the direction of learning programmes delivered by, or on behalf of, Chelsea Physic Garden. They will lead and inspire the Learning and Engagement team to deliver a high-quality, ambitious programme that serves schools, families, communities, volunteer and public audiences.
In collaboration with the Schools & Families Officer, and in line with National Curriculum priorities and the Learning & Engagement Plan, the HLPE will support the design and delivery of a dynamic schools’ programme. They will help build strong partnerships with universities, schools, community groups and educators to deepen community and youth engagement, extending the Garden’s reach and driving projects that support our engagement goals.
Working closely with the Community & Youth Engagement Manager, they will expand impact through wellbeing and horticultural programmes, including the delivery of the community access scheme, much of which is supported by grant funding. With the Volunteer Manager, they will ensure a consistent, high-quality volunteer experience that supports development and training, while effectively managing any issues that arise. They will also identify and secure opportunities for funding and programme growth, enabling the team to deliver against an ambitious strategy.
Using our Audience Engagement Strategy and in collaboration with key SLT members support a public programme to help drive visitors increasing engagement with target audiences. Working with the VED to forward plan and using data insights to increase engagement. Through the Public Programme Manager, the HLPE will help develop a sustainable public events programme for families and adults generating over £130,000 in income (2026 budget), supporting them to lead the Public Programme Workgroup, and oversee projects such as the annual reopening, Easter, Halloween and Christmas, Chelsea History Festival and other initiatives with Chelsea Heritage Quarter partners.
The HLPE will also ensure that all activity is consistently evaluated, with and insights used to improve and adapt future programmes.
2. Fundraising and budget management
The HLPE will work closely with fundraising colleagues to champion the work of the department and the Garden. They will help to identify funding opportunities and support the development of applications for learning and engagement roles and programme
They will ensure funders’ objectives are met, preparing and submitting and reports as required, and will provide updates for the Director and/or fundraising colleagues and as required for Trustees and Advisory Committee.
The postholder will lead the departmental budget-setting process in alignment with the organisational business plan, and will monitor and report on key performance indicators, including income and participation.
They will also take a strategic, forward-planning approach to ensure delivery of the Garden’s long-term vision and masterplan.
3. Strategic management and innovation
The HLPE will play a key role in shaping the new Learning & Engagement Strategy, with a particular focus on developing a clear framework for how learning and engagement activities are designed and delivered to support priority areas and target audiences.
They will champion this strategy across the organisation, embedding it within the Garden’s culture, and work closely with the Visitor Experience Director and learning and engagement team to implement a refreshed and cohesive approach to engagement.
They will have a strong understanding of the competitive learning landscape across London’s cultural sector and will be able to position the Garden effectively within key networks and forums, ensuring its work and profile remain visible, relevant and highly regarded.
4. Staff and volunteers
Recruit, train, manage and develop staff across the department. Ensure that all team members have clear work plans and objectives aligned with the organisation’s mission and departmental priorities.
Oversee and, where necessary, review resource allocation to support efficient and effective delivery. Identify and secure appropriate training and professional development opportunities to support the growth and performance of both staff and volunteers. Ensure the Volunteer Manager and departmental managers are equipped with the tools and systems needed to support a high-quality volunteer journey. Have oversight of the delivery of training programmes, ensure effective management of systems, and drive the ongoing development and improvement of the volunteer programme.
5. Safeguarding and Health & Safety
The HPLE is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Garden and will take ownership of the policy and reporting processes. They are responsible for the annual review of risk assessments and ensure that colleagues provide information to groups relevant to their needs in connection with onsite and off-site visits and activities.
Ensure that working practices of departmental staff and volunteers have due regard to their safety and security particularly in respect of lone working and working with children and adults at risk.
Ensure that work practices promote and protect the Garden’s resources in connection with fire safety and the security of buildings and equipment and sustainability.
Be an active member of the Fire, Health & Safety and Biosecurity Committee. Helping to ensure that the Garden demonstrates best practise across all areas of H&S.
Person Specification:
| Knowledge Skills and Experience | Essential/Desirable |
| An accomplished manager and a confident, experienced leader, able toinspire and motivate a team of staff and volunteers. | E |
| Suitable qualification in a relevant subject area (e.g. botany,medicine, ecology, conservation, art history, ICT, teaching ormuseum studies) or relevant recent experience. | E |
| Experience of managing and leading volunteers, inspiring support andresolving issues | E |
| Ability to be pro-active and to initiate projects | E |
| Knowledge of the National Curriculum and experience of working withteachers | E |
| Knowledge of community and youth engagement | E |
| Experience of delivering an income generating Public Programme | E |
| Ability to think strategically, write and present proposals and reports | E |
| Confident and well-developed interpersonal skills and an excellentteam player | E |
| Excellent communication skills to a variety of audiences | E |
| Experience as a DSL or an understanding of safeguarding principles | E |
| Experience in developing website and digital learning materials | D |
| Experience delivery a NLHF project of equivalent | D |
| Experience of managing learning programmes in a museum or similarinstitution | D |
| Experience of fundraising and the ability to pursue fundraisingopportunities and follow reporting procedures | D |
| Experience of undertaking Risk Assessments | D |
7. Competency Framework
We have a set of eight competencies that are common to all employees and within the framework each competency has four levels which relate to the level at which individual roles need to operate. The competency assessment for this role is set out below and more information will be provided to support this assessment.
| Competency | Descriptor | Level for thisrole | |
| 1 | Leadership | Setting the pace and behaving with integrity | 3 |
| 2 | PeopleManagement | Making clear what you expect and what is to beachieved, enabling and supporting your staff todeliver | 3 |
| 3 | Analysis anduse of Evidence | Collecting, analysing and using informationand evidence, assessing risk and takingdecisions | 3 |
| 4 | Communication | Communicating with colleagues, visitors andstakeholders | 3 |
| 5 | CollaborativeWorking | Working together with people within andoutside of CPG to help us achieve our goals | 3 |
| 6 | DeliveringResults | Organising and managing the work to deliverresults | 4 |
| 7 | Using andManagingResources | Using resources cost effectively | 3 |
| 8 | Know How | The knowledge, skills and expertise you needto do your job and help others to do theirs | 3 |
8. Terms and Conditions
The post holder will be required to work 35 hours a week, an average of five days per week, but the nature of the role means that flexibility over the days and hours worked is required to meet the needs of the business. There is a requirement to work some weekends and bank holidays as part of a Duty Management roster to cover public opening of the Garden.
The Garden operates a salary exchange pension scheme currently with Royal London. The equivalent contribution rates are 6% employer and 3% employee at the end of the probationary period.
33 days including 8 statutory holidays
9. Benefits of working at CPG
Staff receive a 20% discount in our on-site shop, and our catering partner currently offers a generous 50% discount on food and soft drinks. We offer in-role training, including on site talks and workshops as we want our staff to grow in their role as much as our Garden. We have a hybrid working policy with the expectation that staff will spend 60% of their time on-site including a Monday or Friday, this will be subject to on-site programming which may require additional on-site support.
We are keen for you to show off the Garden to your family, and we therefore give you free admission to the Garden for yourself and your immediate family. Free admission for you individually is also given (on production of the annual membership card that will be issued to you) to our partner gardens, Great Dixter, Borde Hill and Oxford Botanic Garden and the chargeable gardens run by the Royal Botanic Gardens
Edinburgh. We hold a membership card for Historic Houses Association which can be used to visit properties open under their scheme.
10. Application Dates:
Closing Date: 11:59pm Sunday 26 July 2026
1st Interview date: Week commencing 3rd August
Please complete the job application form and equal opportunities form and email them to jobs@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk