Job Description
Job Title:
Development Officer (Learning)
Grade/Salary:
Staff Officer £27,835 - £30,825
Reporting Officer:
Director
Location:
NIMC Offices, Belfast
This position is being offered on a temporary basis on a contract of 51 weeks in
the first instance, with a view to establishing the post permanently thereafter.
NIMC is open to proposals to fill the position through secondment.
Closing Date for submission of applications: 4.00pm Friday 31st May 2013.
Applications must be submitted in hard copy form only.
Northern Ireland Museums Council
The Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) was established in 1993 to support the
local museums of Northern Ireland in maintaining and improving their standards of
collections care and public service. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, NIMC is
primarily funded by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In 2011 the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure launched the Northern Ireland
Museums Policy, which is now a key component in the Northern Ireland Assembly’s
Programme for Government 2011-15. This policy aims to develop the museum sector
across four areas – Developing Audiences, Education and Learning, Collections, and
Infrastructure and Resources. NIMC’s Corporate and Business Plans are structured
around these four strategic areas.
The Council aims to:
 Support local museums in maintaining and developing high standards
 Champion the development of museums and their collections in Northern Ireland
 Work with the sector to enhance access to museums as places of learning,
enjoyment and personal development
 Strengthen the skills and knowledge of the people working in the sector
 Demonstrate the benefits and impact of museums on the social, cultural and
economic life of Northern Ireland
 Run the Council in an effective and efficient manner
To these ends, the Council provides:
 Advice and information
 Training
 Grant-aid
 Support for collections care and public services
 Advocacy for museums and co-ordination of development
Overall Purpose of the Job
The overall purpose of this job is to assist the Northern Ireland Museums Council meet
its commitment to advance the goals of the Northern Ireland Museums Policy, by
strengthening the reputation and capacity of local museums as centres of learning and
excellence. A specific emphasis will be to assist local museums to maintain and improve
their standards across community-based learning, whole-life and inter-generational
learning, working with ‘hard to reach’ communities, as well as curricular-based
educational activity.
Main Duties
1. Contribute to the development of policies and strategies in relation to the NIMC’s
ongoing work and the development of the museum sector.
2. Provide advice and support to NIMC members on educational and learning matters,
especially in relation to the requirements of the Museum Accreditation Scheme.
3. Plan and deliver specific projects concerning the advancement of education and
learning across the museum sector, and when required secure the resources to
deliver such projects.
4. Devise and deliver a training programme that will strengthen the professional
development of the staff and volunteers working in the museum sector.
5. To maintain an up-to-date information resource on all aspects of the operation and
practice of education and learning in the museum sector, and disseminate such
information as is required.
6. Liaise with other professional bodies and organisations by way of informing and
developing museum education and learning services.
7. Maintain, develop and promote the NIMC websites concerned with education and
learning.
8. Provide support and input in the research and preparation of written reports for the
Board, and for other publications.
9. To contribute to the effective and efficient operation of NIMC and its other
programmes, including representing NIMC at meetings, as required.
10. Any other appropriate duties relevant to the grade.
The postholder must be prepared to travel around Northern Ireland, and where
necessary further afield, in order to fulfil the duties associated with the post.
Personal Specification and Selection Procedures
Job Title:
Development Officer (Learning)
Grade/Salary:
Staff Officer £27,835 - £30,825
Qualifications and Experience
It is essential that applicants have as a minimum, by the closing date:
 An honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject.
 At least two years working experience in education and/or community-based learning
(which includes, but is not restricted to, whole-life and inter-generational learning,
and working with ‘hard to reach’ communities) work gained within the last 5 years
 Access to transport and a willingness to travel to meet the needs of the post.
It is desirable that candidates have:
 Experience in education and community-based learning (which includes, but is not
restricted to, whole-life and inter-generational learning, and working with ‘hard to
reach’ communities) within the museum and/or heritage sector gained within the last
five years.
 A postgraduate qualification in a discipline related to education and learning, or
museum or heritage studies.
Applicants should note that for shortlisting purposes NIMC may apply the desirable
criteria in the order listed
Personal Qualities and Skills
NIMC is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, knowledgeable and confident individual for
the position. Applicants must provide evidence on the application form that they possess
the following skills and qualities.
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Have a good understanding of current museum policy matters, especially concerning
education and learning issues.
Have excellent organisational skills with the ability to work on your own initiative.
Be Information technology literate
Possess strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
Selection Procedures
Applicants should note that canvassing is not permitted and will result in the application
being disqualified.
It is the responsibility of all applicants to ensure that sufficient information is given on the
application form concerning their qualifications, experience, qualities and skills. The
candidates who appear from the information provided to satisfy the requirements will be
invited for interview.
NIMC is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and selection will be on the
basis of merit. Applications are welcome from all suitable qualified applicants
irrespective of their religious beliefs, gender, disability, race, political opinion, age,
marital status, sexual orientation or whether or not they have dependants.
Applicants should note that any information supplied could be released under the
process of discovery to form part of the evidence in a Fair Employment or Industrial
Tribunal hearing.
Applications received after the closing time and date will not be considered.
Development Officer (Learning)
General Conditions of Employment
This position is being offered on a temporary basis on a contract of 51 weeks in
the first instance, with a view to establishing the post permanently thereafter.
NIMC is open to proposals to fill the position through secondment.
Should the position be filled through secondment, NIMC will establish a Memorandum of
Understanding with the postholder’s employers regarding the retention of their General
Terms and Conditions of Appointment commensurate with their current post, including
annual leave entitlement and pension contributions, and the operation of the
secondment.
Should the post be filled through direct recruitment, the following terms and conditions
will apply.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
The person appointed will be subject to the main Terms and Conditions of Service as
summarised below and detailed within the Northern Ireland Civil Service Conditions of
Service as they are applied by NIMC. The NICS Conditions of Service Codes and the
NIMC Staff Handbook (which gives details of other conditions of service currently in
operation) are available for consultation at the NIMC offices.
The position of Development Officer (Learning) is full-time and thus additional work
outside the Council may not be undertaken without the prior permission of the Director.
Such permission will not be unreasonably withheld.
Your Employer
Your employer will be the Board of the Northern Ireland Museums Council. You will be
directly accountable to the Director of the Council.
Salary
The salary for the post is directly linked to the Staff Officer Grade scale. You will be paid
monthly in arrears by direct debit to your bank account through the BACS system.
Hours and attendance
You will be expected to work a 37-hour week, excluding the lunch break. NIMC operates
a flexi-time agreement, which allows you, with the agreement of the Director, to
determine your own starting and finishing times within defined limits.
Probation
You will serve a probationary period of 1 month and confirmation of the appointment will
be dependent on satisfactory completion of this period of service.
Annual Leave
In addition to public holidays (currently 12 per year), the annual leave entitlement will be
25 days. The ‘leave year’ runs from 1 February to 31 January. In any incomplete year of
service, annual leave entitlement will be in proportion to the length of service in the year.
Up to five days of your annual leave entitlement may be carried forward into the next
leave year. This may be increased under special circumstances.
Sick Leave
There is provision for granting sick leave with pay. Details are set out in the Northern
Ireland Civil Service Conditions of Service Codes.
Pension
Your appointment may be pensionable from the outset and you may choose to join the
Principle Civil Service Pension Scheme (NI) upon appointment. If you are not already in
a Principal Service Pension Scheme, you will be able to choose between two pension
arrangements:
Membership of NUVOS, a final salary occupational pension scheme with a member
contribution rate;
Or
a PARTNERSHIP PENSION ACCOUNT, a stakeholder pension with an employer
contribution based on your age. You do not have to contribute, but if you do, your
employer will also match contributions of up to a set rate of pensionable pay.
Alternatively you may wish to maintain your own private pension arrangements, or seek
to transfer existing pension contributions to the Civil Service scheme. NIMC will provide
all relevant information on this matter to allow you to make an informed decision.
Notice
You will be entitled to receive and required to give one month’s notice to terminate your
employment with NIMC, except under circumstances when the Council is entitled to
dismiss you summarily. Such circumstances are detailed in the NIMC Staff Handbook,
and are covered under the Council’s disciplinary procedures.
Work Location, Travel and Expenses
The post is based at the Council’s headquarters at 6, Crescent Garden, Belfast. You will
be expected to travel throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the United
Kingdom and possible elsewhere on official business.
You will be paid a mileage allowance in accordance with the Northern Ireland Civil
Service rates in respect of motor travel undertaken in the course of your duties. All other
out of pocket expenses relating to NIMC work may only be incurred with the prior
approval of the Director.
Variation to the Terms
NIMC reserves the right to vary the terms of this arrangement subject to prior notification
being given and after appropriate consultation has taken place.