At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategies to engage communities with their heritage and promote Historic England's mission.
- Company: Historic England, a champion of heritage and inclusion.
- Benefits: 28 days holiday, competitive pension, corporate discounts, and free entry to English Heritage sites.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by connecting people with their heritage and shaping community engagement.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams and delivering community-focused projects in arts or heritage.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
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. To view our full range of benefits please follow the link.
What you will be doing
You will be responsible for developing and embedding strategies and programmes that help people across England to discover and connect with their heritage, increasing engagement with Historic England (HE) and the historic environment through our nationally important Archive collections and engagement programmes, which include learning (Heritage Schools), community engagement, inclusion grants and participation programmes (e.g. Blue Plaques). Through the power of partnership, storytelling, capacity building and audience led approaches, you will lead your teams to unlock the power of heritage for people and places, embedding inclusive practice and centring social impact.
Reporting to the Director of Communications and Engagement and working as part of the Communications and Engagement Leadership Team, you will help shape the direction of Historic England's engagement and participation activity, ensuring our vision and mission are well understood and supported in society, and by key stakeholders. As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, you will work together with senior colleagues across Historic England to embed our strategic priorities for people and places, including delivery on government priorities and income generation opportunities. You will share your expertise and passion, ensuring the organisation's knowledge, resources and voice are leveraged beyond Historic England, and we are actively working together with more people and partners to the benefit of people and places.
Working closely with the Marketing & Digital Director, Philanthropy & Income Development Director and Communications Director, you will ensure that our presence continues to grow and gain positive recognition on a national stage, with new and current audiences, and that we are in an open conversation about how we can all work together to take action for heritage and the historic environment. You will work with a range of internal and external senior stakeholders and community partners.
Qualifications
- Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams in a participatory engagement discipline
- Experience of successfully creating and delivering integrated engagement activity in an arts, culture, or heritage setting
- Experience of project delivery including community led approaches, and co-creation with communities
- Experience of initiating and leading projects within a strategic framework
- Excellent leadership and management skills, including culture change
- Strategic thinking skills
Equal Opportunity and Diversity
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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Participation Director in Swindon
✨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
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at HISTORIC ENGLAND. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Participation Director in Swindon
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 Director, 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!
