Public Programmes Manager

Public Programmes Manager

3 days a week. To start September 2026

£21,290 (FTE £35,483) p.a.

Background

Sir John Soane’s Museum was created by the great neo-classical architect Sir John Soane. It displays his collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models, important paintings by Hogarth, Turner and Canaletto and over 30,000 architectural drawings. It’s a vast, extraordinary collection, full of curiosities and surprises, housed within Soane’s labyrinthine and theatrical interiors.

Soane intended the Museum to be an ‘academy’ of architecture, sculpture and painting. Today, we maintain this vision through an inspiring, diverse and high-impact programme of exhibitions, events and collaborations. The programme embraces both historic and contemporary inquiry and debate about architecture, art and design to appeal to a broad online audience and a targeted physical audience.

Reporting to the Head of Exhibitions, the Public Programmes Manager is responsible for a focused range of events and activities which attract new audiences and encourage audiences to engage deeply with the Museum and its themes. These include events relating to exhibitions and collections and talks featuring leading artists, designers and architects.

The Public Programmes Manager is responsible for the delivery of the programme including planning, budget management, on-the-day event management and evaluation.

Job Purpose:

To organise and deliver the Museum’s programmes of events for adult audiences

1. Under the direction of the Head of Exhibitions, organise and deliver an innovative and engaging programme of events including, but not limited to talks, tours, symposia and masterclasses.

2. Take the lead on all areas of logistics and planning, for events on-site, off-site and online

3. Administer events and special projects budgets accurately and efficiently, and support as required the Development Department in securing charitable donations and corporate sponsorship

1. Key Responsibilities

1. Develop a Public Programmes Strategy to deliver an inspiring, high-impact, busy programme.

2. Lead on all aspects of public programme organisation and delivery, including:

Overseeing the programme schedule

Charing the quarterly programming meeting

Helping create event guest lists (working with the CRM database)

• Inviting contributors and collaborators, and arranging travel and accommodation when necessary

Research and book external venues and suppliers when necessary

• Working closely with internal stakeholders, external partners and collaborators

• Writing copy and sourcing images for publicity

• Preparing event briefs, attending relevant meetings and liaising with internal teams, including curatorial, conservation and operations

Manage events: oversee venue set up, AV provision, guest lists, etc.

• Manage the production of publications, film and online content in connection with the Public Programme

• Occasionally manage the work of Public Programmes focused volunteers

3. Manage Casual Public Events Assistant(s) / volunteers:

• Organise working schedules

• Assign duties and oversee at events

4. Work with Museum’s Development Team and Digital Communications Manager on inviting the appropriate stakeholders and publicising events and other special projects and maximising reach of the programme.

5. Ensure internal teams are fully briefed and up to date on programme and project development

6. Budget tracking and invoice management to ensure events and special projects are delivered within budget

Person specification

Essential

• A BA or equivalent experience in Architecture, Architectural History, Art History, Museum Studies or a closely related subject

Experience of organising public events

Experience of writing copy for publicity purposes

Collaborative working style

• An understanding of key issues and trends in Historic and contemporary architecture, design and visual culture

• Ability to use audio-visual technology (including projector systems, audio delivery, online and hybrid event management, event recording etc.)

Strong research skills

Excellent general IT, administrative and organisational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects concurrently

Knowledge of CRM databases

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels

Desirable

• Knowledge of British architecture, art and design from the 18th century to the present

Experience of Introducing and chairing events

Experience of organising revenue-generating events

• Good working knowledge of programme evaluation

• Awareness of Sir John Soane and the Soane Museum

Experience of event promotion using digital and social media

• The ability to write for a wide range of audiences

• Project management experience

• Experience of devising and delivering events aimed at targeting specific audience groups

Pay and Benefits

3 days (21 hours) a week permanent contract with hybrid working one day a week after the 6 month probation period.

Our standard working hours are 9.30-5.30pm but we also offer flexible start and finish times between 8.30 and 10.00 am and 4.30 and 6.30 pm.

There will be evening and weekend work for which time-off-in-lieu (TOIL) is offered.

There is a generous annual leave allowance of 16 days (FTE 26.5 days) and all bank holidays (prorata)

Applications

The Museum is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Applications in the form of a CV and supporting letter, together with the names and addresses of two referees, should be emailed to recruitment@soane.org.uk

The closing date for applications is Monday 25 May 2026
Interviews will be held in the Museum on Tuesday 9 June 2026

Sir John Soane’s Museum is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) whose prime sponsor is the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Website: www.soane.org