NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Director of Participation and Learning
Background
The National Portrait Gallery’s overall aim is ‘to promote through the
medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and
women who have made and are making British history and culture, and
…to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all
media.’
The Gallery has an increasingly high public profile and now attracts over
2 million visitors to its galleries and regional partnerships.
Wing, opened in 2000, provides more
public
The Ondaatje
and exhibition space
including a Balcony Gallery, Tudor Gallery, IT Gallery, Lecture Theatre
and roof-top restaurant.
Introduction
Participation and Learning are central to the work of the National Portrait
Gallery.
The Learning department is responsible for developing and
leading delivery of an integrated vision for participation and learning onsite, off-site and online. The Director of Participation and Learning is
responsible for leading and developing participation and learning practice
across different areas of Gallery activity.
The department develops a wide range of programmes, projects and resources
for formal and informal audiences, including schools, adult learners,
families
and
specialists.
This
includes
national
curriculum-related
activities and resources for schools, FE and HE; an extensive public
programme of lectures, courses, and conferences; provision for families and
young people aged 14-21; as well as targeted outreach services and
community engagement and participation projects.
The department leads and develops interpretation and digital participation
initiatives for the permanent Collection displays and varied programme of
temporary exhibitions. Beyond the Gallery, the department leads a range of
larger scale national participation and learning projects across England
and the UK. It also supports and advises on a wide range of other
participation and learning work undertaken at a wide range of regional
partners, museums and galleries.
The department has a specific objective to develop and sustain new and
diverse audiences, including visitors with disabilities and people currently
under-represented in the Gallery’s visitor profile. The department’s work is
supported by core funding and also by a range of project grants.
The department is committed to an approach that is creative, stimulating
and inclusive by working with both audiences and expertise to develop
approaches that represent the diversity of Britain today.
Purpose
To lead, develop and deliver the vision and strategy for Participation and
Learning at the National Portrait Gallery increasing its ability to expand
its reach and develop and sustain new audiences in innovative, creative
and relevant ways. To lead and champion an improved understanding of
participation and learning across the Gallery’s planning and practice to
ensure we build on and develop our leadership of this work within the
sector. As part of this ambition, the Director of Participation and Learning
is expected to enable opportunities for critical review and evaluation to
further improve practice and increase the impact of this activity.
Main tasks and skills
Leadership, strategy and management

Lead and formulate the Gallery’s Participation and Learning policies
and strategies.

Develop and implement aspects of the Gallery’s Digital Participation
strategy in collaboration with the Head of Digital Programmes.

Overseeing
the
development
and
implementation
of
the
Gallery’s
Interpretation strategy in collaboration with the Chief Curator.

Contribute to, collaborate on and deliver aspects of the Gallery’s
National Programmes strategy.

Develop new partnerships with relevant organisations and institutions to
extend expertise and develop new audiences.

Managing annual budgets of c £300-£500k pa, including projectspecific
budgets.
Programme development

Lead and manage major Gallery cross platform participation and
learning projects.

Lead and coordinate all participation and learning projects and an
overview on programmes of activity for different audiences.

Lead
and
coordinate
the
participation
exhibitions, displays and research.
and
learning
input
into
Fundraising and sponsorship

Work with the Development team to identify external funding sources
and developing major funding bids, particularly those related to young
people, families and new audiences.

Work
with the
Development
team
on
funding
bids
for sponsors,
corporate, trusts and foundations to support identified priorities for
participation and learning.

Contribute
to
major
Gallery
project
bids
for
capital,
revenue
or
acquisition.
Advocacy

Represent the Department and Gallery’s work on participation and
learning to the Trustees.

Represent the Gallery externally and to bodies such as DCMS, NMDC
and DfE, to the wider museum, gallery and education sectors, and at
appropriate conferences.
Working relationships

Contribute as a member of the Senior Management team and the
Planning Team and Programme Group.

Work closely with Chief Curators and Curatorial team to develop best
practice in participation and learning and support the development of
interpretation in exhibitions, display.

Work closely with the Head of Security and Visitor Services to develop
approaches that improve the visitor experience, particularly that for
schools, families, young people and under-represented audiences.

Work closely as needed with the Head of Research to support strategies
for fundraising and research dissemination activity.

Work closely with Communications to ensure an overview on a wide
range of communications, marketing and press activity.

Work closely with Development to develop a direction and priorities for
needs and opportunities for fundraising activity.

Work closely with Development to support sponsor relations and effective
relationship management.
Learning department resources
The Learning department is structured into three teams, Young People,
Participation and Learning Services. Programme and project managers
within these teams are responsible for the planning and delivery of
programmes, evaluation and consultation practice related to history, art
and photography for adults, families, young people, schools, communities
and outreach. Department, programme and AV technician support is led by
the Learning Services Manager and delivered by a team of three within
Learning
Services
who
manage
group
bookings
and
coordinate
all
Department activities and statistics. There is also a full time Interpretation
Editor who works collaboratively across the Learning, Exhibition and
Curatorial teams to develop interpretation in different formats and the
Gallery
audio-visual
guide.
In
addition
to
its
staff
members,
the
Department uses a wide range of freelance teachers, practitioners, artists
and lecturers to develop and deliver the wide programme of activity.
Organisational Structure
As a key member of Planning team and the Senior Management team the
Director of Participation and Learning reports to the Director.
He or she
will also be expected to liaise closely with colleagues across the Gallery
including:
-
Chief Curator to develop an overview on programme planning,
interpretation developments and champion working practice between the
Curatorial team and Learning department
-
Exhibitions and Collections Management on the exhibition programme
and regional partnerships
-
Communications and Development for branding, marketing, press and
leading the overview of fundraising and sponsorship for all activity and
projects involving participation and learning
-
Digital Programmes on the overview of digital participation initiatives,
e-learning and digital resources ensuring close working practice between
teams to deliver these programmes.
Headline priorities for development and delivery in 2013
Project leadership

Lead and deliver ‘Making a Mark’* the National Portrait Gallery’s new
project working with Tees Valley museums which is part of the Arts
Council’s
Museums
Education
Programme
2012-2015
working
collaboratively with the Head of National Programmes and partner
museums.

Lead
and
deliver
‘National
Memory
Local
Stories’*
a
UK
wide
participation project, funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation working with
young people and artists using digital media to unlock local perspectives
on the Great War.

Support relationship management and overview planning for ‘Creative
Connections’, a four-year participation project working with targeted
schools in East and West London to integrate artist-led work into GCSE
courses, producing an annual summer display and associated digital
interpretation.

Develop and co-manage ‘Picture the Poet’ (working title), a three year
literacy and photography programme for schools and young people
working with regional museums, galleries and libraries. Activity will
include a travelling exhibition of photographs of living poets from the
Collection and an innovative literacy programme involving poets and
photographers. The project is currently in development with funding
options and delivery partnerships being finalised.

Lead review of current schools offer working closely with Head of Young
People and Schools team to develop an outline strategy for the next 3
years. Ensure development of the provision across all key stages (growing
KS3&4)
and
considering
impact
of
proposed
curriculum
changes
including E-Bacc.
*Projects include management of associated project staff.
Programme development and activity

Ensure
effective
development,
planning
and
delivery
of
excellent
programmes and projects and set up relevant external partnerships for
key/
priority
audiences
associated
with
forthcoming
temporary
exhibitions including Catlin, Man Ray Portraits, BP Portrait Award,
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Award, Elizabeth and her People.

Develop overview for programme of activity associated with the Great
War for all audiences and integrate findings and practice as relevant
from National Memory Local Stories, the Great War project funded by
Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Work with the schools team in a new
partnership established with IWM, to manage the development and
marketing of a joint new schools offer for Great War for KS3&4 due to
be launched in January 2014.

Support and maintain an overview of a range of external funded project
work as required including.

Build on recent work to develop a future plan for freelancers for the
Department for the next 3 years. Review the current use of freelancers
and
analyse
future
need
across
different
programmes,
ensuring
opportunities for developing expertise, training and further recruitment
to address any skills gaps for future programme priorities.

Set
and
monitor
Department activity.
the
income
generation
across
agreed
areas
of
Project 20:20

Contribute to future strategies, policies and plans for audiences,
participation and learning that will form part of the Gallery’s vision
for renewal of spaces, facilities and programme.

Contribute to outline plans for the new Learning Centre and
associated specification for the facilities.

Participate in shaping a new Gallery vision for digital content and
programmes.
Management and planning

Member of Management team and Planning team.

Member
of
Programme
Group
-
contribute
participation
and
learning plans to create overview of all Gallery public facing
activity.

Chair the Gallery’s Interpretation Group.

Attend Subject Specialist Network Steering Group, National Trust
Partnership Group, Visitor Experience Group and a number of other
Gallery working groups.

Lead
and
work
closely
with
Learning
Services
Manager
on
Department meetings and Department financial planning.

Lead
Department
and
line
manage
core
and
members of staff in 1:1 meetings and team meetings.
external
funded
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Director of Participation and Learning
Person Specification
Qualifications

Candidates should have a degree in a discipline relevant to the Gallery’s role or
collections, and an appropriate qualification in education or equivalent
educational experience.
Experience

A demonstrable track record working at a Board or Senior level in leading the
development and delivery of participation and learning policy, strategy and
practice within a museum, gallery or similar institution.

Experience of leading and managing a comparable size department.

Proven experience in relationship management at a senior level.

Excellent understanding of audiences and track record in developing the visitor
experience within museums and galleries.

Proven understanding in the use and application of digital media within
participation and learning activity.

Proven
experience
in
complex
project
management
involving
multiple
stakeholders and partners.

A good knowledge and demonstrable interest in learning theory and pedagogy.

A good knowledge and understanding across all formal and informal education
sectors:
post-graduate,
higher,
secondary,
primary,
special
needs
and
community education.

A good knowledge and understanding of current government policy priorities for
cultural learning and museum and gallery education.

Demonstrable financial and budget management experience across revenue
funding and project budgets.
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
 Proven ability to lead, motivate and manage teams and individuals.
 Proven ability to work across multiple priorities and projects effectively.
 The ability to work under pressure showing calmness, tact and judgement.
 A highly collaborative approach to multi-disciplinary working across an
organisation.
 Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
Other

A lively interest in portraits, portraiture and British history.
National Portrait Gallery
Learning
Corporate
Development
Manager
(Communications
and Development
Department)
Director of Participation
and Learning
Participation
Project Manager
Head of Young
People
Family
Programmes
Manager
Learning
Manager Art
Learning
Manager
Young
People’s
Programme
Manager
Young
People’s
Programme
Assistant
Head of Participation
Art Resource
Developer
Learning
Services
Manager
Interpretation
Editor
Learning and
Access
Manager
Learning
Services
Coordinator
Learning
Services
Assistants
Participation
Project
Manager
Digital
Participation
Producer
Adult
Programme
Officers
AV
Technicians
Participation
Project
Assistant
Adult
Programmes
Assistant
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Director of Participation and Learning
Terms and conditions
Details of the post are given below and in the job description. You should take
care to show in your application how you can fulfil the requirements of the job.
Term of appointment:
This post is for a fixed period of 6-12 months to cover maternity leave
arrangements.
Hours
Your contracted hours of work are 40 gross (5 days) per week including a lunch
break of one hour.
Pay
The salary for this post will be circa £50,000 per annum.
Annual Leave
The annual leave allowance for this post is 25 days per annum.
Place of Work
Most of the work is based in the Gallery at St Martin’s Place, but all staff are
required to work at other locations if necessary.
Equality
The Gallery believes in the employment and advancement of people solely on their
ability to do the job required. When recruiting people, we will therefore disregard
their gender, marital status, race, age, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion
and sexual orientation. There will be no unfair discrimination on the basis of
disability. If you would like to submit your application in a different format we
are happy to allow this. Please contact us (telephone: 020 7306 0055 email:
[email protected]) so that we may discuss suitable alternatives.
Pension
Pension benefits are provided under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
(PCSPS).
Probation and Trial Period
All appointments are subject to satisfactory employment and character references
and security clearance. There is a probationary period of 1 year for all permanent
posts. For fixed term appointments the probationary period may be less than 1
year. The probationary period for this post is 3 months.
Data Protection Act
Information provided by you as part of your application will be used in the
recruitment process. Any data about you will be held securely with access
restricted to those involved in dealing with your application in the recruitment
process. Once this process is completed the data relating to unsuccessful applicants
will be stored for a maximum of 6 months and then destroyed. If you are the
successful candidate, your application form will be retained and form the basis of
your personnel record. Information provided by you on the Equal Opportunities
Monitoring Form will be used to monitor National Portrait Gallery’s equal
opportunities policy and practices. By signing and submitting your completed
application form you are giving your consent to your data being stored and
processed (if you submit your application by e-mail and the application form is
un-signed we will assume that consent by you is given) for the purpose of the
recruitment process, equal opportunities monitoring and your personnel record if
you are the successful candidate.
Season Tickets
Interest free loans are available for the purchase of a season ticket for travel to
work.
Please return your completed application form to:
Personnel at: [email protected]
Or by post
Caroline Wynter
Head of Personnel
National Portrait Gallery
2 St Martin’s Place
London
WC2H 0HE
by 9.00am on Friday 19 October, 2012.
We are expecting to hold interviews on Monday 5 November 2012. Please indicate
on the form if you are not available on this date.
If you are delivering your application by hand, please take it to the reception desk
at 39-45 Orange Street.
For practical reasons we are unable to respond to every application. Therefore, if
you have not had a response to your application by 19 November 2012, please
assume that, regretfully you have not been successful on this occasion.