The Auckland Project 6 th Floor, Vinovium House, Saddler Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7BH Curatorial Department Post: Head of Interpretation Reports to: Curatorial Programme Director Scope This is a unique opportunity to join a passionate and committed team and help deliver a number of projects within The Auckland Project (TAP) and realise moving and inspiring experiences. Job Role Joining the Curatorial team at a crucial stage in the development of a number of projects, you will function as a high-level manager, developing, coordinating and implementing an Auckland Project Interpretation Strategy across all relevant visitor facing activities, as well as ensuring that audience needs are taken into account at all stages. This position will play a key role in supporting the organisation s commitment to creating powerful, audience-centred experiences that transform the ways our audiences connect with our unique sites, collections and loans, our values and purpose and the north east of England. This role has particular responsibility for the oversight of interpretative content and delivery through displays, graphics, audio visual displays, interactives, publications, etc. A keen eye for content, design and audience engagement is essential. Job Description 1. The post-holder is responsible for the following key deliverables and accountabilities: a. Ensure that all public offerings of TAP are strategically coordinated and integrated by actively promoting collaboration, efficiency and shared strategy between exhibition design & content, learning, public programming, community development and visitor experience efforts. b. Prepare an interpretive strategy for TAP that sets out the principles and approaches that will guide the organisation s interpretation practices in order to create a unity of presentation standards whilst providing market relevant visitor experiences across all attractions that help deliver TAP s brand. 1
c. Work with Senior Curators, the Head Curator: Spanish Gallery, project curatorial teams and wider staff, to ensure interpretive plans are put in place that encapsulate the intended visitor offer and audience engagement opportunities so that these can be promulgated across the organisation and mobilise others, internal and external, in their delivery. d. Support the exhibition design process across all projects and temporary exhibitions by ensuring that exhibition design briefs are fully informed by a robust interpretive planning process that puts the visitor at the heart of the design process, inputting to exhibition planning, visitor routing and design development and delivery. Actively promote creativity and innovation in all permanent and temporary exhibitions and act as brand champion and audience advocate in the design process. e. As required, advise, devise, develop and deliver interpretive content new exhibitions and displays, supporting the Curatorial team to transform facts into narrative storytelling that delivers identified and agreed objectives. f. To lead and/or support the delivery of project work streams (internal) and work packages (external) as identified within individual projects, overseeing the interpretive design delivery process across appointed contractors and managing delegated budgets. g. To lead on the development and delivery of TAP s guidebooks and trail publications, working closely with Curatorial, Learning, Engagement, Marcomms and Commercial colleagues. h. Lead on the further development of interpretive tone of voice guidance for all TAP projects and produce and deliver ToV guidance, a writing style guide and training in advance of, or line with, project delivery to ensure the delivery of a holistic but differentiated visitor offer that brings the TAP brand and attractions to life. To act as visitor advocate in the generation of interpretation materials, including oversight of writing, copy editing and proofing of all interpretation materials: graphic panels, interactives, audio visual scripts, leaflets, signage, etc). i. Maintain excellent relations and communications with the Marcomms, Commercial and Development Departments to ensure that teams are informed about projects progress, and provide information and assets to support implementation of the new TAP brand, attractions opening planning and fund-raising. j. Work with the Engagement Department to ensure consistency of content and integrated approaches across education (formal) and interpretation (informal) provision and develop joint projects and mutually supportive projects and initiatives, where appropriate. 2
k. Provide advice and guidance on best interpretive practice to TAP staff in respect of all new interpretation and ensure quality and consistency in the standard of new provision across the organisation. l. Undertake research and evaluation to inform and improve the quality of interpretive provision, as required. m. Support the Curatorial Programme Director in establishing and motivating an effective Curatorial team capable of delivering high-quality outputs and outcomes commensurate with TAP s vision, strategy and future business plan, ensuring their ongoing professional development. n. Participate as an active and responsible member of the Curatorial team and contribute to the development of TAP s policies, strategies, business and operational plans, ensuring they are efficaciously delivered and resources are used appropriately. o. Monitor and control budgets and resources to ensure best value. p. To represent TAP at agreed external events, ensuring that TAP s work in the innovative display of its sites, collections and loans is promulgated locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. 2. Resource Management a. The post has no immediate direct line-management responsibilities. b. Responsibility for delegated elements of TAP project budgets and programmes. 3. Internal Relationships a. The post-holder will need to work collaboratively with colleagues across TAP but particularly with the Curatorial Department (Curatorial Programme Director; Curatorial, Conservation & Exhibitions Director; Senior Curators; Head Curator Spanish Gallery and Head Registrar), the Engagement Department, Marcomms Department and Commercial Department. b. The post-holder will be asked to liaise as appropriate with wider TAP staff, Executive Committee, Trustees, supporters and partners. 4. External Relationships and Partnerships a. Establishing and maintaining a wide range of partnerships including maintaining good relations with the project managers, Design Teams and other consultants/contractors, as required. 3
b. Establishing and maintaining a wide of external relationships, particularly with priority and new audiences for The Auckland Project. 5. Health & Safety a. Be committed to good health and safety and equality practices, ensuring familiarity and compliance with TAP policies, procedures and guidelines and the health and safety of visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors at all times. 6. In addition, the post-holder is required to: a. Act in every way so as to preserve the Museum s reputation and good name in all areas of its work and be fully committed to openness and transparency in all its dealings. b. Ensure that the TAP s accounting and financial procedures are strictly adhered to and embed a culture of control and financial discipline. c. Effectively manage delegated budgets and projects and be responsible for the proper exercise, as instructed, of any delegated financial powers; following TAP budget process and financial procedures accordingly; promote efficient and costeffective methods of working to keep strictly within planned budget allocations, as set by TAP. d. Travel to and operate from TAP attractions or locations where the collection, or parts of the collection, or other TAP property or services are held or carried out, as and when necessary. UK and some foreign travel may be required. The postholder will be required to work off-site including at TAP s attractions. Travel to contractor offices may be required. e. The post-holder must co-operate fully with the Management of TAP in pursuance of the organisation s aims, and enhance TAP s standing and reputation through its contacts with the public and the media. This will include membership of various development and other teams set up from time-to-time and reporting to the Curatorial Programme Director and Executive Committee. f. Chair TAP working parties, as delegated by the Curatorial Programme Director, and represent TAP on external committees, as required. g. Support presentations to TAP Trustees, Executive Committee and members of staff as requested. h. The appointment is permanent (subject to a six-month probation period) and pensionable, working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days out of 7. Additional evening and weekend working may be required. The salary is 35-40K subject to experience. The post-holder is required to give three months notice in resigning. 4
i. This job description sets out the key responsibilities and tasks of the post and is not exhaustive. It may alter with the changing needs of the organisation. This job description may be reviewed and updated annually. j. TAP is an equal opportunities employer. k. TAP operates a no smoking policy. Person Specification Experience, training and qualifications Minimum five years experience in developing and delivering interpretive exhibition and display projects within heritage attractions, museums or galleries Minimum five years experience in initiating and/or delivering projects with an audience development agenda Minimum three years experience in the creation of written/visual materials for visitors Minimum three years experience of budgetary responsibility Demonstrable line management/volunteer management experience Educated to degree level, preferably in an historical or other relevant discipline. Skills and knowledge Efficient time management, the ability to work on several projects at once and set and meet deadlines Excellent project management skills and the ability to plan, prioritise and work effectively under pressure Good resource management, both personnel and financial Excellent written and verbal communication skills Computer skills and familiarity with word processing, Excel spreadsheets and database packages Excellent creative thinking abilities and good aesthetic judgement capabilities Understanding of communication techniques and the psychology of cognitive understanding Understanding of the requirements of the Equality Act and approaches to compliance, ideally within heritage attractions, museums or galleries. Interpersonal skills and qualities Ability to motivate self, act on own initiative and require minimum supervision Ability to work both individually and as a member of a team and to manage relationships at all levels within TAP, balancing different views and priorities Ability to think strategically, with a pragmatic sense of what is both relevant and appropriate Target oriented attitude Energy, intellectual curiosity, motivation, creativity Resilience and adaptability. 5
This post requires a confident individual who is able to champion projects and work with senior colleagues, providing authoritative advice and guidance to colleagues within TAP. Some travel will be required and a current driving licence is preferable. Signature: Date: 6