Advert for the post and job description below:
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Head of Adult Learning
Learning and Interpretation Division
£33,000 - £37,275 per annum
As an experienced, pro-active individual, you will lead the V&A¹s Adult
Learning team, maximising income generation in the context of a broad and
balanced programme.
Educated to degree level, you will be a confident teacher with at least five
years experience of working in a museum, arts or similar institution
demonstrating involvement in the development of educational programmes for
adults. Initiative, originality and creativity are essential in order to
lead the development of a first-class programme of courses and events for
adult learners. These range from year-long courses to weekend craft
workshops and evening lectures. The ability to work some evenings and 12
weekends per annum is also essential.
For further details and an application form, please visit the V&A¹s website
at www.vam.ac.uk and click on ³About Us² where you will find details and
application packs for all current V&A vacancies under ³Job Opportunities².
Details can also be obtained by sending a postcard, quoting reference HAL1
to: Clare Kyle , Personnel Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, South
Kensington, London, SW7 2RL or e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Closing date: 17 September 2004 5.00pm
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Head of Adult Learning
Department: Learning and Interpretation
Pay Band: 3
Reporting to: Head of Learning Services
Purpose of the Post
Learning is at the heart of the V&A’s mission. The vast majority of the
V&A’s 2,123,400 visitors are adults outside of formal education, visiting
either individually or in groups. Around 70,000 of these are direct
participants in programmes run by the Adult Learning team. There is a wide
variety of drop in and booked events ranging from gallery talks, tours and
demonstrations to study days and three part-time year-long courses covering
the history of art and design from the Medieval period to 1920.
Increasing the income raised by the team will be a key task for the post-
holder. S/he will have direct responsibility for a budget of around
£185,000 expenditure and £295,000 income. This income is critical to the
Division’s other activities and the post-holder will be expected to
actively develop the income-generating aspects of the team’s work, through
new programmes and improved marketing, within the context of a broad and
balanced programme that meets the needs of adult learners of a wide variety
of background and experience. A key opportunity is the planned opening of
the new Learning Centre in 2006, which will offer expanded facilities for
learning programmes.
The post-holder will lead the Adult Team within the Learning Services
Section, working with six other team members (two full-time and four part-
time staff) to develop and deliver services for adults. The team leader
will develop the team’s three-year strategy, ensuring that it meets wider
Divisional and Museum objectives, meets Funding Agreement targets, and
maximises both numbers participating and the quality of their experience.
All exhibition and gallery projects have a substantial accompanying
learning programme in which the Adult Learning Team is expected to play a
leading role. There are also a number of major externally funded projects
to which these programmes are central, for example Culture Online. In
addition, the Learning Section is critical in delivering many of the V&A’s
Funding Agreement targets with DCMS, as well as providing special
programmes for major funding bodies and sponsors.
As one of the V&A’s five major divisions, Learning and Interpretation has
extensive management responsibilities within the museum, and at a national
and international level, of which the postholder is expected to take a full
share. These may extend beyond the formal specifications of the job
description.
Main Tasks
1. Lead the development of the team's three-year strategy and appropriate
policies for adult learners, ensuring that Funding Agreement targets are
met. In particular, lead the development of two new part-time year courses
to start September 05.
2. Set and manage the budget of the Adult Team ensuring that income and
expenditure targets are met (c.£185,000 income/c.£295,000 expenditure).
3. Manage and develop the staff of the Adult Team, including freelance
staff, project workers and the Volunteer Guides.
4. To contribute fully as a senior member of staff to the development of
museum strategy, policy and planning, working with Heads of Departments to
ensure that key museum strategic objectives are met.
5. Lead the development and delivery of an innovative programme for adults,
ensuring a high quality, varied visitor experience that maintains and
extends the V&A’s international reputation as centre of excellence in the
field.
6. Plan and implement an expanded programme of courses and events for
adults in the new Learning Centre.
7. Assume management responsibility for specified issues across the whole
Learning Section, e.g. marketing.
8. Take personal responsibility for developing innovative and high profile
projects, with a strong research and evaluation element that give the
Museum and the sector a better understanding of how to meet the needs of
adult learners.
9. Ensure that the programmes for adults are soundly based on relevant
pedagogy; keep in touch with and contribute to current best practice in the
field in the UK and abroad.
10. Maintain a high profile with Government and the learning and education
communities by advising officials of DCMS and DfES serving on working
groups and committees, and speaking at conferences and events.
11. Act as an advocate and ambassador for the V&A as a respected national
centre for adult learning with specialist national bodies such as the
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. Develop an advocacy
strategy to support this.
12. Advise the Museum’s senior management and the Head of Learning Services
on all policy issues relating to adult learning in museums.
13. Be the main source of expertise for the V&A in South Kensington on
adult learning and the main source of expert advice within all V&A museums
in this field.
14. Identify sources of specialist funding and prepare funding applications
for potential sources of money for the adult programme, and (in
collaboration with the Development Department) write bids to Government
agencies including the AHRB, Trusts, Foundations and other external bodies
for funding. Achieve success in attracting funding in competition with
other national museums and leading arts organisations.
15. Provide regular reports to the V&A’s senior management, Management
Board and trustees on the adult programme.
16. Play a leading role in contributing to UK Government, national and
international reports and projects relating to adult learners in the museum
context.
17. Undertake research projects on adult learners in museums, and
disseminate the experience of the V&A’s adult programme through publication
and other means to relevant professionals in the cultural and education
sectors.
18. Develop strategic partnerships with relevant national organisations and
professionals responsible for provision of services for adult learners.
Liaise with key staff in these organisations.
19. Lead the team by example as an active educator, devising and running
courses and events; maintain your own skills as a reflective practitioner.
20. Manage the development of learning resources, e.g. web resources, and
adult trails, ensuring that they are appropriate for their target audience.
21. Represent the Division as a Learning expert on Museum project teams,
e.g. gallery re-developments, and act as principal advisor to other
departments which deliver adult services on the needs of adult learners.
22. Advise partner museums in the regions on the development of services
for adult learners.
23. Monitor the achievement of targets and take timely action if necessary
to ensure that they are met.
24. Be committed to health and safety and ensure that you are familiar with
all of the Museum's health and safety policies and procedures.
25. Be security conscious, ensure familiarity and co-operation with all
museum security procedures and ensure you wear a security pass at all times
when on museum premises.
26. Carry out other such duties as required by the Director of Learning and
Interpretation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential requirements
1. A degree in Art, Design, History, Art History or a similar discipline
related to the V&A and its collections.
2. At least five years experience of working in a museum, arts or similar
institution demonstrating involvement in the development of educational
programmes for adults. Preference will be given to candidates with
experience of working in a museum or gallery.
3. The ability to write and implement strategy.
4. The ability to manage staff and lead a team.
5. The ability to plan own workload, prioritise effectively and meet tight
deadlines across a range of project work.
6. Experience of developing educational resources such as publications,
videos, computer programs or hands on interactives.
7. The initiative, originality and creativity are essential in order to
lead the development of a world-class programme of activities for adult
learners.
8. An emerging profile within the museum/education community.
9. Excellent communication skills, written and oral.
10. Ability and willingness to work at times that are suited to the needs
of adult learners, including evenings and weekends as required (minimum 12
weekends p.a.).
Desirable requirements
11. Experience of working with a wide range of audiences in addition to
adults.
12. A post-graduate qualification in education, museum studies or similar.
OTHER INFORMATION
Hours/Salary
Net working hours (i.e. excluding meal breaks) are 36 per week.
The salary will be within V&A pay band 3 (£33,000 rising to £37,275 per
annum). Future pay progression will be in accordance with the V&A's Pay
Agreement(s). Normal level transfer and promotion rules will apply for
internal candidates.
Annual Leave
28 days plus 8 days public holidays
Age of retirement
The normal retirement age is 60.
Pension benefits
The Civil Service offers a choice of final salary and stakeholder pension,
giving you the flexibility to choose a pension that suits you best.
The ‘Premium’ pension is a final salary occupational pension scheme with a
3.5% member contribution rate. The ‘Partnership’ pension account is a
stakeholder money purchase pension with an employer contribution based on
age. Further details are available upon request or appointment.
Other benefits
Free entrance to all the major Museum's in London as well as many others.
An interest free season ticket or bicycle loan is available after three
months.
Subject to the society’s terms and conditions, V&A staff are entitled to
membership of the Benenden Healthcare Society. Further information is
available from Personnel or via their web-site on www.benenden-
healthcare.org.uk
To apply
Completed application forms should be sent to:
Clare Kyle
Personnel Department
Victoria & Albert Museum
South Kensington
London
SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2939
Fax: 020 7942 2933
E Mail: [log in to unmask]
Internet www.vam.ac.uk
Electronic versions of our application forms are available on the V&A’s
website at www.vam.ac.uk (please refer to the ‘About Us’ section,
under ‘Job Opportunities’).
Please mark your envelope Recruitment HAL1 on the bottom right hand side.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 17 September (5pm)
Please note if you have not heard from us by 1 October, you should assume
that you have not been short listed for interview. We regret that we
cannot acknowledge all applications due to the large number that we receive
and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
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