Job Description
Job Title: York Castle Museum Interpretation and Content Manager
Reporting To: Chief Operating Officer (Castle Museum Project Director)
Pay: YMT SCP 34 - 37, £32,122 - £34,608 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (37 hours per week)
Main Purpose of the Job
Ensure delivery of exhibitions that reflect York Castle Museum (YCM) vision and themes.
Deliver content for York Castle Museum’s major capital transformation that reflects the
importance of both site and collections and engages a wide range of audiences.
Inspire and facilitate curatorial team to make the most of collections and site in the
delivery of the Castle Museum capital transformation.
Uncover the wealth of strong personal stories and potential for visitors to have very
personal experiences in their visit to York Castle Museum.
Maximise public engagement in YCM and YMT buildings and collections.
Core Responsibilities
York Castle Museum Capital Project
Work closely with Chief Executive, Project Director, Head of Visitor Experience, Senior
Curator History and Archaeology, curatorial teams and colleagues across YMT, to
develop and deliver an Interpretation Strategy for the Castle Museum development
project in line with the Castle Museum project vision.
Deliver exhibition content for the Castle Museum development project, contributing to a
major HLF application Round 1 to be submitted December 2018 and continuing
feasibility work to Round 2 submission and delivery.
Establish frameworks which allow content teams to build effective working relationships
with design and creative consultants.
Ensure formative evaluation feeds into the interpretation strategy and exhibition
content.
Act as Client for Exhibition Designers ensuring design feasibility plans communicate
YMT’s creative and interpretive vision and that design provides excellent audience
access and collections care.
Ensure appropriate research and academic input is planned and carried out to inform
the Castle Museum content.
Lead the development of detailed interpretation and content plans.
Working alongside Senior Curator History and Archaeology, guide curators in the process
of developing key messages, learning outcomes and text hierarchies.
Take responsibility for development, communication and timely delivery of storylines,
1
texts, objects lists, and content for interactives, films and digital engagement working
creatively with curators, designers and the capital project team.
Develop and contribute to creative briefs across a range of media, liaising with internal
and external teams.
Coordinate all aspects of history exhibition delivery, in close liaison with the Project
Director and Senior Curator, working with colleagues across YMT and external teams.
Report on progress of all aspects of content development to the Project Steering Group.
Work with other key stakeholders and develop understanding of relevant perspectives
including academic advisors, community representatives, funders and statutory bodies
including City of York Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England.
York Castle Museum exhibitions, interpretation and audience development
Working closely with internal and external colleagues, curators, experts and the public,
develop and deliver exhibitions and experiences that will attract and engage both
visitors to and residents of York.
Work with colleagues across teams including curatorial, volunteering and Visitor
Experience to ensure high quality interpretation for a range of audiences throughout the
Castle Museum.
Work with Marketing and Communications team to understand audiences and use
audience information to create exhibitions and experiences of relevance and interest to
target groups.
Project manage individual exhibition projects, liaising with external and internal teams.
Lead and curate individual displays and exhibitions as appropriate.
Lead and support the delivery of exhibitions that are co-produced with communities to
increase York Castle Museum’s reach into local audiences working alongside learning
and curatorial staff.
Contribute to audience evaluation and consultation and creatively involve audiences in
the development of ideas for future exhibitions.
Maintain an audience evaluation cycle to inform high quality interpretation and
programming.
Contributing to capital project teams as appropriate.
Management
Line manage the Castle Museum HLF Project Researcher and other staff as appropriate.
Lead cross-departmental teams to deliver interpretation and exhibitions projects, liaising
with learning and curatorial colleagues.
Manage contracts with external designers, technicians, experts and contractors.
Manage individual exhibition and other delegated budgets effectively ensuring all
financial procedures and appropriate procurement is followed
Undertake risk assessments where appropriate, liaising with YMT Health and Safety
Advisor.
2
Other duties/responsibilities
Promote and develop equality and diversity in line with YMT Equality Statement.
Other duties may be required from time to time which are consistent with the grading of
this post
Key Relationships
Chief Executive Officer
Project Director
Head of Visitor Experience
Curatorial Teams
Learning Team
Castle Museum/York St Mary’s Manager
Exhibitions Programming Officer
Facilities Manager
Health and Safety Advisor
HR Manager
Skills and Experience
Essential

Degree in a relevant subject

Experience in delivering high quality visitor-focussed exhibitions and museum or
heritage interpretation best practice

Ability to lead multi-disciplinary and creative teams with evidence of successful
project delivery

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work within a team and across
teams demonstrating collaborative leadership and ability to build coalitions and
effective networks

Experience working with exhibition designers to deliver large-scale permanent
exhibitions

Demonstrable understanding of project management principles and best practice

Strong understanding of audience development and audience research within
and beyond the museum sector (including families, tourists, and local residents)

Strong understanding of the potential of digital technology in interpretation

Line management experience

Excellent communication skills written and verbal including ability to present to
key stakeholders and write reports

Demonstrable creative flair and ability to influence and inspire those who may
3
not see your creative vision

Experience of financial management

Excellent organisational and planning skills including the ability to prioritise
effectively, adapt to changing demands, overcome obstacles and remain calm
under pressure

Commitment to equality and diversity and an understanding of how this
commitment applies to this role.

YMT has a strategic commitment to increasing its digital skill base. The post
holder should be able to demonstrate competence in one or more of the
following areas:
Digital recording – e.g. photography, sound, video
Social networking – e.g. twitter, Facebook, Flickr
Desirable

Subject specialism in a relevant area

Proven ability to lead creative workshops

Experience of working on large capital projects

Strong research skills
4
York Castle Museum Interpretation and Content Manager
Terms and conditions of service
Reporting line
This post reports to the Chief Operating Officer (Castle Museum Project Director)
Health
Prospective employees must be cleared by the Occupational Health Service as
medically fit for employment by the Trust.
Probationary period
Appointments are subject to the successful completion of a six month probationary
period.
Salary
The salary for the post is YMT SCP 34 - 37, £32,122 - £34,608 per annum
Annual leave
The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum, increasing by five days after
five years continuous service with the Trust, plus public holidays.
Pension
The Trust belongs to the Local Government Pension Scheme and all new employees
are enrolled. It is possible to opt out of the pension using forms available at
www.nypf.org.uk.
Hours of work
The hours of work are 37 hours per week.
Period of notice
The period of written notice required for you to terminate this post is 1 month. The
Trust will give you 1 month’s notice.
5