Project Manager

This project is a development from the first Realising the Benefits of World Heritage to Local Communities (RtB) project funded by Historic England. While the original project identified the problems faced by the World Heritage sector in engaging communities, this second phase of RtB is designed to help World Heritage UK (WHUK) and the wider sector in fully understanding who World Heritage Site communities are, and the challenges Sites and communities face in engaging wider and more diverse communities. Working with Sites, and their communities WHUK will co-create a sustainable platform in which to identify actions and solutions which will widen engagement and participation in World Heritage.

Through this collaborative approach which will inform every element of the work, the primary purpose of this 2.5-year project is to ensure WHUK can better support World Heritage Sites in the UK in engaging communities, growing audiences, enhancing community participation and growing a wider diversity of audiences and engagement within UK WHSs and the wider heritage sector.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

• Develop and improve relationships within the World Heritage sector and communities
• Develop an ongoing platform for a network of professionals who work within the World Heritage and community engagement field to come together to share and develop ideas and projects
• Develop digital resources
• Build a better understanding of who World Heritage communities are now, and use developed toolkits to understand and update this in the future
• Increase community engagement within World Heritage Sites
• Increase implementation of better community engagement

Key Accountabilities:

• Undertake a desktop audit of the users of World Heritage Sites, to include: defining the communities of interest and who key users are; what their motivations might be to engage with World Heritage; what the barriers might be to engagement; and subsequently identifying who any non-users might be and what barriers they may experience that prevents engagement
• Identify a minimum of 20% of Sites, of differing characteristics, to undertake an in-depth audience profile, applying the desktop audit findings in practice
• Produce a way of reporting on the impact and value of community engagement in World Heritage, which can be replicated annually and shared to all World Heritage Sites
• Develop a new way of capturing data from World Heritage Sites on community engagement to inform ongoing impact reports and create a baseline
• Create, or share, toolkits and examples of models of engagement for community engagement
• Create an online platform of resources that can be shared between all World Heritage Sites which might:
  • Highlight areas of exemplary practice in community engagement
  • Examples of projects
  • Template work
  • Evaluations of projects
• Create an evaluation toolkit to assess the needs and development of the World Heritage sector in improving community engagement practice
• Re-establish a professional Learning & Engagement (L&E) Special Interest Group to bring together L&E professionals in World Heritage, to facilitate inter-Site work and share best practice
• Deliver 4 L&E network events across the UK and in all 4 nations to promote and improve community engagement
• Oversee and manage project budget and report on KPIs

Capabilities, Skills and Experience:

Education/Qualifications/Knowledge

1.1 Educated to degree level in an appropriate heritage related field (or suitable equivalent experience)

1.2 Advanced knowledge of data capture, data analysis and impact assessment in relationship to community engagement and audience development

1.3 A good understanding of developing, delivering and interpreting primary and secondary research, including focus groups

1.4 Thorough knowledge of audience and community development, with a particular emphasis on participatory methodology and co-production

1.5 Knowledge of the World Heritage sector and UK World Heritage Sites

Experience

2.1 At least 3 years’ experience in managing complex, multi-site, projects in the heritage sector

2.2 Extensive experience of engagement in and with diverse communities, in community-based settings, empowering community to have a voice and influence direction

2.3. Experience of producing community and audience evaluation and impact assessments

2.4 Experience of managing external contractors/suppliers and budgets

2.5 Experience using social media in a professional capacity to encourage community engagement

2.6 Experience of managing essential health and safety, risk assessments and safeguarding, for community engagement work

2.7. Experience of planning and co-producing community projects and seeking community input to development of ideas

Skills and Abilities

3.1 Excellent communication skills, particularly in developing networks and partnerships at both a community and senior level           

3.2 Good project management and organisational skills

3.3 Ability to present complex ideas confidently and succinctly to diverse groups adapting delivery to diverse audiences

3.4  Able to work under pressure, show initiative and be able to prioritise their own workload (a self- motivator)

3.5  Experience of building meaningful professional and community relationships with excellent negotiation and persuasive skills to influence

3.6  Has good leadership skills and the ability to lead others in a vision

3.7 Ability to think and act strategically

3.8 Ability to use standard software, including Excel, Word, Outlook and  website  CMS such as WordPress with confidence

Personal Attributes

4.1 Good interpersonal communication skills

4.2 Ability to effectively engage with and influence a wide range of stakeholders

4.3 To be a key team player

4.4 Creative and innovative

Circumstances

5.1 Must be flexible and prepared to work outside normal office hours