Families & Young Peoples Programmes Manager

A pro-active and consultative approach, with a love of art and history is vital to design activity for families and young people using the Gallery’s exciting exhibition programme and Collection as a springboard to creativity and learning. The post-holder will have an excellent understanding of priorities for families and young people within the cultural sector; safeguarding considerations; sensitivities and considerations when working with these audiences; and be agile, caring and responsive.

Working closely with all Programme Managers in the Learning and Engagement department, and colleagues across the Gallery, you will play a key role in championing and integrating the experiences of families and young people to inform practice for these audiences in different contexts and make strong connections between Early Years provision, schools, FE and HE audiences, ensuring the Gallery is a friendly, welcoming and inclusive space for these key audiences.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, develop and manage the programme of activity for families and young people (14-18) at the National Portrait Gallery ensuring these key audiences are engaged and motivated through programmes, resources and initiatives.
• Develop creative and collaborative partnerships with artists, arts organisations and agencies to deliver innovative, fun, relevant and exciting programmes.
• Position the Gallery as a sector-leader in family and youth practice – including championing peer-led practice, consultation, delivery and evaluation to inform the development of activity and ensure these audiences have a voice in the Gallery.
• Work collaboratively with the Early Years Programme Manager to design and deliver Little Explorers, the public Early Years programme.
• Work closely with the Young People’s Programme Manager to design and deliver the wider public programme for Young People.
• Design creative programming in response to exhibitions, displays, the Collection and key national initiatives ensuring the family and youth provision forms an integrated part of the wider public programme and responds to inclusivity.
• Manage the development and integration of the use of digital and social media in consultation with young people across film, apps, streaming, mobile technologies and social media platforms and digital learning resources, increasing their voice and skills.
• Support the development of effective learning opportunities for families and young people outside London, through existing regional partnerships as part of the Gallery’s National Programme.
• Work closely with Comms. to ensure family and youth promotion is relevant, targeted and effective. Writing effective copy for publicity and promotion to increase profile and engagement with audiences and encourage greater participation.
• Effective budget management.
• Work across the Learning and Engagement department and across the Gallery to develop and implement the Learning Policy and Strategy.
• Chair the cross-departmental Family Working Group to improve the offer for families and implement family-friendly policies and practices at the Gallery, and be an advocate and champion for families at NPG.
• Maximize opportunities for vocational learning, skills development and progression routes for young people through involvement in the wider Gallery policy and strategy activity for internships, placements, takeover events and volunteering across projects and programmes.
• Champion young people across the Gallery to ensure a ‘youth culture and voice’ thereby increasing the profile of the Gallery as youth-friendly in its aims, outlook and activity.
• Provide effective leadership and development for the team of freelancers, artists and creative practitioners.
• Develop strong relationships with Visitor Experience to ensure the implementation of the programmes at weekends and in school holidays are effectively produced in Gallery spaces.
• Work closely with the Learning and Centre Planning Manager and Learning and Planning Coordinator to advise on and inform the effective development of booking systems and processes.
• Manage and monitoring risk assessments for all programmes on-site and off-site ensuring health and safety of participants both onsite at the Gallery in liaison with Programme Managers and other in-house expertise.
• Work closely with colleagues in Development to identify opportunities for programme and project funding.
• Line management of project posts as required in relation to externally funded projects and programmes.

Additional information:

Flexibility with regard to working hours is necessary, as the post-holder is required to work onsite in the Gallery at weekends, during the school holidays and occasional evenings in response to programme needs. Annual leave needs are usually agreed, but must be coordinated with colleagues to ensure that there is sufficient cover in the Department and ensure adequate coverage of this activity during the school holidays.

The above list is indicative but not exhaustive. As such, in addition to the key accountabilities and responsibilities listed the post holder may be required to perform other duties commensurate with the scope and/or level of the role.

Key Experience, Skills and Criteria:

• A degree (or equivalent) in history, art, liberal arts or education.
• Experience of developing and sustaining partnership projects with and for families and young people within a strategic framework to develop, build and embed new practice and ways of working.
• Strong track record in commissioning and managing the production of different programmes, small and large-scale events and partnership projects for families and young people in cultural settings.