Learning and Engagement Manager External Relations 106342 Grade 7

Position Details

External Relations

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36636 to 46049 with potential progression once in post to 48822

Grade: 7

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to January 2030

Closing date: 2nd November 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham

Background

A university museum without walls.University Collections (UC) is an accredited university museum made up of historic and contemporary collections - from the arts and sciences - that are housed in many locations across the University of Birmingham (UoB) campuses. The collections reflect a rich history of ideas discovery and creativity at the University of Birmingham that inspires audiences on a local and global stage.From ancient pottery to contemporary sculpture via anatomical waxes pacemakers and African textiles the objects in the collections play an invaluable social cultural and educational role. UC is organised into several discrete collections that cover a breadth of disciplines and reflect academic work at the University.

Collections include: African Collection Archaeology Collection Campus Art Collection Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Collection University Heritage Collection Medical and Dental Collection Physics Collection Silver and Plate Collection. As custodiams of the UC our remit includes balancing the practical care and stewardship of the collections with making them accessible and supporting the Universitys commitments to research teaching and public engagement.

We believe that objects in the collections have the power to change perspectives outlook and understanding. We are deeply committed to sharing this power as widely as possible supporting staff students and public to use collections to discover untold stories and to write new ones.

UC is an outward facing university museum. As part of the Public and Cultural Engagement (PACE) division of External Relations (ER) we are positioned to support research and public engagement agendas through the most relevant mechanisms. Our current work on accessibility and community research is forefront in our practice.

We provide a research support service including a study centre reading room research enquiries and image request services. Our exhibitions and events are open daily and free to all.

University Collections forms a key part of the Universitys portfolio of cultural resources. Other museums / archives include The Barber Institute of Fine Arts Winterbourne House & Gardens Lapworth Museum of Geology and the Cadbury Research Library.

Role Summary

AsLearning and Engagement Manager you willplay a key role in the development and delivery of University Collections public engagement activities on campus and will create and deliver a vibrant and relevant public programme that engages existing and new audiences with the Universitys Collections.

As part of a dynamic academic environment you will work collaboratively with University staff students external partners and creative practitioners. You will ensure our public engagement activity reflects key priorities and projects supports co-creation and co-production and delivers authentic experiences to strengthen public and community engagement.

Teaching and research with collections is at our heart and you will ensure that programmes and activities support our work on campus but also serve the wider research community and include community research community engagement and accessibility for new audiences and will mean working with community groups artists academics and partner institutions outside of the UoB.

Our vision is to make object-based learning mainstream empowering people across Birmingham to see objects and collections as essential tools for unlocking potential sparking ideas and deepening their understanding of themselves others and the world.

Main Duties

• Create manage and deliver brilliant accessible creative and thought-provoking public engagement activities in order to help more people engage with the University Collections whilst supporting staff students and publics from outside of the University to contribute to the life of the collections. This will include but not be limited to:
  • Understanding current audiences and work with the UC team to develop ways to work with new ones.
  • Design and development of programmes of work that will engage audiences with the collections such as co-curation projects workshops learning programmes and working with schools.
  • Deliver effective management of all Learning and Engagement activities by preparing and managing the activities and overseeing delivery including working with casual or freelance staff health and safety and other technical requirements.
  • Produce accessible and high-quality interpretation and learning resources for and with various audiences.
• Work with the University Collections team to create and support engaging content generation for web presence and social media profile to increase awareness foster discussion and promote accessibility of the UC and UC activity and manage social media platforms through working with colleagues where appropriate.
• Use consultation facilitation and networking to understand the needs of our communities and bring this insight into the design and delivery of programmes.
• Actively contribute to the University Collections team developing policies and practices to remove barriers to public engagement. Represent the University Collections at external events to promote UoBs research and activities and uphold the Universitys reputation.
• Evaluate activities for continuous improvement and maintain detailed records to ensure high standards. Work with the University Collections team to prepare reports and presentations for reporting and funding applications.
• Be proactive in identifying and applying for funding opportunities through internal and external sources and to ensure the sustainability of creative programmes.
• Manage a delegated budget and monitor and record agreed KPIs to report on effectiveness.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Supports the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the post.
• The post holder must be prepared to work occasional evenings weekends or Bank Holidays.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
• Relevant practical experience of working in a museum cultural/heritage/creative sector environment.
• Understanding of a range of audiences and public engagement through effective programming.
• Demonstrate ability to manage programmes of work and deliver objectives contributing to strategic aims.
• Excellent communication skills with proven ability to apply them in a wide range of contexts and settings.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and to work effectively across different teams including those inside and outside of the University.
• Significant experience of administrative support within a busy and evolving environment.
• Excellent organisational skills including attention to detail time management and working to deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and strong teamwork skills.
• Demonstrate energy motivation determination and resilience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to engage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively to persuade and influence and engage across the University.
• Ability to think creatively about opportunities and threats to face conflict and look for common ground on which to build.
• Network across the university to draw on the skills knowledge and experience in different departments.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy with the ability to write clearly and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Budget management experience to include responsibility monitoring and effectively reporting income and expenditure.
• Ability to adhere to legislation policies and procedures e.g. health and safety legislation risk assessment procedures safeguarding policies and procedures financial protocols and GDPR.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
• Demonstrate the External Relations Values and Behaviours.

Desirable

• A teaching qualification.

DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Clare Mullett email:

View our staff values and behaviourshere

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.