At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting programmes to engage communities with heritage and promote wellbeing.
- Company: Historic England, a public organisation revitalising heritage for a better future.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and free entry to English Heritage sites.
- Other info: Flexible working options available, fostering a healthy work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by connecting people to their historic environment and promoting inclusion.
- Qualifications: Experience in participatory programmes and community engagement in heritage or cultural settings.
The predicted salary is between 39590 - 42624 £ per year.
Historic England is the public organisation that brings new life to heritage to build a better future for every place and everyone. This is a full time, permanent contract. The location of this role is either York, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Cambridge, Swindon, Bristol, or Portsmouth, inclusive with hybrid working. Salary is National £39,590 pro rata Greater London + £42,624 pro rata. We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive defined benefit pension scheme to which we make 28.97% employer contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.
What you will be doing:
- This role will support colleagues, and HE’s partners, to deliver participatory activity to encourage more people to engage with the historic environment.
- Working with the Head of Participation Programmes to create exciting programmes of activity that help people connect to and act for the historic environment, contributing to their overall wellbeing, and social impact and supporting our commitment to inclusion and diversity.
- The role will also build skills and capacity within the organisation to embed participation in our processes.
Who we are looking for:
- Experience designing and delivering participatory programmes in a heritage, arts or cultural setting.
- Partnership development and stakeholder management.
- Knowledge and experience of community-led and inclusive practice.
- Programme management, budget management and project assurance.
- Experience of using evaluation, research and evidence to assess programme effectiveness, demonstrate impact and support continuous improvement.
Please note your application will be scored and assessed against the above criteria. We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having won the Gold Award from MIND for workplace wellbeing in seven consecutive years, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone.
We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can. We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working.
Why work for Historic England:
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.
Historic England wants all of our candidates to shine in the recruitment process. Please tell us what we can do to make sure you can show us your very best self. You can contact us by email if you have any recruitment queries.
At Historic England we use a hiring system called Applied. Applied is a behavioural science-backed recruitment platform that reduces bias, improves quality of hire and increases diversity. We do not use CV application for the majority of our hiring processes. You will answer a selection of questions that allow our hiring teams to test your skills and suitability for the role.
At Historic England, we value the expertise and individuality each candidate brings and want to hear about this in your own words. If you require the use of AI tools or other resources to support your application, we ask that all information is factually accurate, original, and reflects your own experience. To best represent yourself, we encourage you to write in your own words and use AI-generated content only as inspiration—not as direct input.
Provisional interview dates: 13th September 2026.
Please follow the link for a full copy of the Job Description: Job Description
Participation Programmes Manager in Portsmouth employer: HISTORIC ENGLAND
Historic England is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to heritage research while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work culture in Portsmouth. With a commitment to employee growth and a hybrid work model, we provide competitive benefits that promote a healthy work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those passionate about osteoarchaeology to thrive and make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Participation Programmes Manager in Portsmouth
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by HISTORIC ENGLAND.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like HISTORIC ENGLAND.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at HISTORIC ENGLAND.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
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We think you need these skills to ace Participation Programmes Manager in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of HISTORIC ENGLAND. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Participation Programmes Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at HISTORIC ENGLAND
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of HISTORIC ENGLAND. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
