Learning Officer

Onion Collective is seeking an experienced, motivated learning engagement officer to work as part of a small team in planning and delivering exciting, creative learning opportunities to a wide range of community groups, ordinarily based at our new creative and cultural development, East Quay in Watchet, with occasional off-site work.

Post: Learning Engagement Officer

Full Time: 30-40 hours/week

Deadline for applications: 7th November 2025

Interviews: Week beginning 17th November 2025

Start date: January 2026

East Quay has a designated ‘CreatorSpace’, designed by young people from the local middle schools, an environmental psychologist and East Quay pod architects, Fearze Ltd., which puts creativity, fun and imagination at the heart of all activity. Our vision is to bring a range of high quality, interesting, inclusive creative opportunities to all age groups and members of the community, enabling greater access to quality arts opportunities.

The learning engagement officer will support the Head of Learning in enhancing East Quay’s creative learning offer, developing existing opportunities and establishing new ones. This role is for someone who is passionate about the arts and creativity, and who can contribute fully to ongoing audience development and community engagement.

East Quay opened in September 2021 and includes a contemporary art gallery, restaurant, 14 studios and workshops, holiday accommodation pods and an outdoor courtyard.

Purpose of the post:

To support East Quay’s Head of Learning in enhancing our creative learning offer, developing existing opportunities and establishing new ones. This role is for someone who is passionate about the arts and creativity, and who can contribute fully to ongoing audience development and community engagement.

Job Description

This job description is a guide to the nature of the work. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed as required; other responsibilities may be added depending on experience and need.

• Work closely with the Head of Learning, the General Manager and as part of the wider Onion Collective team to deliver high quality creative learning experiences.
• Work with the team to explore and develop our collective approach to learning and education including neuro affirming; more radical programmes; alternative approaches; challenging embedded learning practice.
• Help us to explore how we can develop our work with young people through youth work or learning activities.
• Develop stronger links with input to other parts of the Onion team particularly with the Understory team on their community connections work, and with the culture team in the new print studio delivery.
• Provide administrative and practical support on the development and delivery of our Creative Teacher Network project, working closely with teachers from local schools and managing freelance artists.
• Maintain strong links with our closest schools and develop new links with schools and education establishments further afield, manage enquiries and bookings from schools including for Creativity Boxes, and assist with the planning, facilitation and delivery of regular school visits.
• Design, develop and deliver a program of art sessions for after-school art clubs for preschool, KS1, KS2 and KS3, and support with the development and delivery of Family Workshops for School Holidays. Produce learning resources relating to the arts programming and exhibitions at East Quay, suitable for a range of ages.
• Support with the promotion of the learning program and East Quay programming through social media scheduling and other marketing materials and including populating website, social and ticketing platforms with information.
• Support the ordering and sourcing of materials and equipment for Learning projects and activities, while adhering to budgetary constraints.
• Assist in the development and delivery of live projects in collaboration with freelance artists, schools, and museums including helping to plan and deliver creative opportunities in new and different settings.
• Attend and deliver activities at special events as required (for example Minehead Bay Festival, Light Night, Somerset Day etc).
• Facilitate positive and effective communication with the whole team including the restaurant, cultural and Understory teams as well as the wider East Quay team, attending staff meetings and training as required.
• Ensure highest standards of health and safety, complying with risk assessments, maintaining compliance with all relevant legislation and standards including Safeguarding, Health and Safety, First Aid, COSHH, safe working practices and fire safety.
• Other duties as may be required by the Head of Learning, the General Manager and other Onion Collective Directors.
• Complying with Onion Collective policies and procedures and supporting the team to do the same.

Person specification

• Creative and passionate about experimenting with art
• Ability to work with a wide range of ages and abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Great time management and organisational skills.
• Reliable, patient and flexible, keen to learn and develop.
• Aptitude for collaborative working, open dialogue and non-hierarchical approaches to development and delivery.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities and work to deadlines.
• Enthusiastic, motivated and keen to fit in with the ethos of East Quay and Onion Collective.
• Available to work in the School Holidays and on some evenings and weekends.

• Professional experience in arts education.
• Knowledge of education/arts engagement landscape.
• Knowledge and understanding of the arts, techniques and processes

To Apply

Please send a CV including two referees and a letter of application (maximum 2 sides) detailing:

• Your suitability for the position
• Relevant experience
• Why you want to work at East Quay
• The impact of a creative learning experience you have previously delivered.

Interviews will take place week beginning 17th November and the appointed postholder will preferably commence duties on 5th January 2026.

Contact

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role, please contact Thea Sanders on 01984 263103.

We want our company to be representative of all sections of society and welcome applications from everyone. Equality and diversity considerations are not an ‘add on’ to the work that we do, rather enabling access and engagement to the broadest range of people from and beyond our community is the very reason for our existence. Weare committed to achieving a truly inclusive environment for all, providing an atmosphere where everyone can take part, learn, work and engage free from prejudice, discrimination, harassment and violence.

References and DBS

All appointments are made subject to satisfactory references, satisfactory enhanced DBS check, andthe right to work in the UK. Caring responsibilities or other personal circumstances that may impact role and availability. We have a dynamic and flexible internal culture that gives employees control over the way they work and supports wellbeing. This role may require staff members to work at weekends and evenings. The position is advertised as a full-time role, but please do talk to us if caring responsibilities or other circumstances may mean you would like to discuss possibilities in this respect.

Let you know

We will contact all unsuccessful candidates to tell them they have not been short-listed for interview.

Onion Collective CIC registered in England & Wales Company Number 08323538, Harbour Studios, East Quay, Harbour Road, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0AQ

Contains Art CIO, registered charity in England & Wales number 1193931, Harbour Studios, East Quay, Harbour Road, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0AQ