Candidate Information Pack
Project Coordinator – REF -PC/14
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation
Trust (SMBPT)
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 1 of 11
28th March 2014
Dear Applicant
Project Coordinator – Sion Stables Heritage Education Centre
Thank you for expressing your interest in the post of Project Coordinator with Sion
Mills Buildings Preservation Trust (SMBPT) in partnership with Hearth Revolving
Fund and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This candidate information pack includes the following documents which you should
refer to when completing your application:




Job description and Person Specification
Conditions of Service Summary
Guidance notes on completing and submitting your application
Application deadline information
We look forward to receiving your application.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 2 of 11
Job Description
Job Title:
Responsible to:
Salary:
Contract:
Project Coordinator- Sion Stables Heritage
Education Centre
Chairperson, Stables Project Sub-Committee,
£25,000-£30,000 p.a. depending on experience
Full-time, fixed term for 2 years with the possibility
of extension, subject to availability of funding
Background
Sion Mills Building Preservation Trust (SMBPT) was established in September 1999
with the objective of securing for the public benefit the preservation, protection and
improvement of buildings of historic, architectural, or industrial merit within the
designated Conservation Area of the village of Sion Mills, in County Tyrone.
The Stable Block, formerly belonging to Sion House, is listed as Grade B+ and dates
from 1884, designed in an Elizabethan revival style by William Unsworth. The Stable
Block was vested by the DoE in 2008, and since then the Stable Block has
undergone a programme of major conservation-led repair works. The works were
managed by the Hearth Revolving Fund (Hearth) and once completed the Sion
Stables will be operated by the SMBPT under a lease from Hearth. SMBPT has
established a sub-committee, comprising representatives from both SMBPT and
Hearth, to supervise all aspects of the Stables project which has received both
Heritage Lottery Fund and EU/NI Rural Development Programme funding along with
a number of other grants.
Planned to open in Spring 2014, the building will house a tearoom, small museum
and an education room, which will be used to raise awareness of the unique heritage
of the village. Themes to be explored within the museum include the history of the
village and its establishment by the Herdman family in 1835, whose utopian vision of
fostering good community and working lives was at the cutting edge of nineteenth
century social inclusion, and helped to create a self-sustaining community which
flourished with the growth of the mill.
Job Purpose
To be responsible for the successful operation and development of Sion Stables as a
sustainable and attractive facility from which to promote awareness of the unique
heritage of this model industrial village to visitors, the education sector and the
community.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 3 of 11
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Lead-on and undertake the efficient operation and sustainable development of
the Sion Stables Heritage Education Centre Project in line with the conditions
of current and future grant offers.
2. Prepare and manage a detailed personal work plan in liaison with the SMBPT
Stables Project Sub-committee and the Sub-committee’s Chairperson. The
work plan should focus on:
(a) developing the Stables as a successful visitor attraction,
(b) developing the Stables as an education facility used by schools, colleges,
special interest groups and community organisations
(c) developing the Stables as a repository for artefacts, ephemera and stories
connected with the heritage of the village, and ensuring regular
development and rotation of the Museum displays
(d) contributing to the conservation and development of the heritage of the
Village as a cultural and economic resource.
3. Provide regular reports, which describe, review and monitor progress towards
the delivery of the Project’s milestones, outcomes and financial targets, to the
Sub-committee and the Sub-committee’s Chairperson and any external
funders as required.
4. Manage all aspects of the Project’s budget, providing regular financial reports
to the Sub-committee and the Sub-committee’s Chairperson and any external
funders as required.
5. Devise and implement health and safety procedures and any other
procedures to comply with national and EU legislation for the safe operation of
the Stables and any internal or off-site programmes of activity.
6. Coordinate the recruitment, training and management of any volunteers
involved in the Project.
7. In conjunction with the Stables Project Sub-committee, recruit and manage
any other necessary staff, ensuring that sufficient income or grant is in place
for their employment by the SMBPT.
8. Negotiate and manage contracts for tearoom operators and any other service
providers undertaking work on behalf of the SMBPT, relevant to the Project.
9. Maintain liaison between current and future funders and the Stables Project
Sub-Committee to ensure delivery and further development of the Project.
10. In conjunction with the Stables Project Sub-committee, prepare and
implement an income generation and fund-raising strategy to ensure that
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 4 of 11
sufficient resources are in place for the operation and development of the
Stables and the delivery of its on-site and off-site tourism and heritage
education activities.
11. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of issues and developments, at local and
national levels, relevant to the operation of heritage centres and to keep the
Stables Project Sub-committee advised on these matters.
12. Maintain good relationships with partner organisations, relevant to the
success of the Project.
13. Promote the Stables Project and its objectives through press releases,
promotional materials, public meetings and other events in conjunction with
partner organisations, marketing teams and current and future funders.
14. Organise and record relevant meetings of the Stables Project Sub-committee.
15. Attend meetings as required during working hours and with a minimum of 24
hours notice for out of hours meetings.
16. Comply with the SMBPT’s constitution and policies.
17. Undertake any other duties as may be allocated from time to time in
accordance with the general purpose of this post.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 5 of 11
Person Specification
Job Title:
Project Coordinator- Sion Stables Heritage Education Centre
Criteria
Qualifications
Experience
Knowledge
Skills
Essential/Desirable
A degree or equivalent third-level qualification i.e.
*level 5 or above Or
In the absence of a degree or equivalent, 5 years
relevant experience of managing people, facilities or
services.
It is desirable that the degree or equivalent third-level
qualification should be in a discipline relevant to the
job purpose i.e. development or management in
business, tourism, heritage, education, culture,
community.
At least two years practical experience of coordinating
or managing a multi-dimensional
project/initiative/programme with an annual budget of
at least £15,000
Experience of at least two of the following:
 managing a heritage/tourism project
 managing a venue
 organising education programmes
 organising cultural events
 applying for or managing grants/sponsorship
 researching heritage
 securing/managing community/volunteer
engagement
E
Knowledge of business management techniques &
ability to apply them
Knowledge of staff management techniques and the
ability to apply them.
Knowledge of Health & Safety regulations and other
statutory requirements/best practice in managing a
building open to the public or in running events or
other outreach activities.
Knowledge of local and national organisations
relevant to heritage, tourism and education
Knowledge of local and national sources of funding
and sponsorship
Knowledge of architectural heritage, industrial
heritage
Excellent written and communication skills, including
the production of reports, promotional material and
giving talks
Use of computers for word-processing, spreadsheets
and website updating.
Self-motivation: aptitude for working on your own
initiative.
Organising and prioritizing a competing workload.
E
D – although this may
be used if necessary for
shortlisting for interview
E
D – although this may
be used if necessary for
shortlisting for interview
E
E
E
E
D
E
E
E
Tested at interview
E
Tested at interview
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 6 of 11
Constraints
Other
Able to demonstrate good working relationships with
others, both inside and outside of their usual team.
Ability to work 37.5 hours per week
Ability to work outside normal working hours as
required, which may from time to time include
evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
**Full current driving license and access to a vehicle.
Alternatively access to a form of transport to enable
the duties of the post to be carried out in full.
Applicants are advised that since the post will involve
access to children and/or vulnerable adults the
appointment will be made pending receipt of an
Access NI clearance certificate.
E
Tested at interview
E
E
E
D at application stage;
E prior to appointment
* as per the *National Qualifications Framework - http://ofqual.gov.uk/help-and-advice/comparingqualifications/
**Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability
who cannot hold a licence.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 7 of 11
Conditions of Service
Summary
Job Title:
Centre
Project Coordinator- Sion Stables Heritage Education
Salary
The salary range for this post will be £25,000 to £30,000 pa. Appointments
are normally made at the lowest point in this range.
Contract
period
The contract will be offered on a fixed term basis for two years from the
date of appointment. There is the possibility of an extension for a further
fixed term period dependent on additional funding or income generation.
The probationary period will be 3 months.
Hours
The normal working week will be 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday,
9am to 5pm. However as required by the project delivery needs, some of
these hours may need to be worked at evenings, weekends or during public
holidays.
Leave
The annual leave entitlement is 25 days with an additional 11 NI public
holidays.
Pension
The SMBPT does not operate a pension scheme.
Notice
The notice period for this post will be one calendar month on either side and
thereafter as determined by statutory requirements.
Office
location
The office location for the Project will be in the Sion Stables Heritage
Centre, Sion Mills, County Tyrone
This post is part funded by:
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 8 of 11
Guidance notes on completing your application form

Please complete the application form provided, to ensure an equitable
recruitment process CVs in lieu of the application form cannot be accepted.

The application form is designed to ensure that applicants provide the
necessary information to determine how they meet the requirements of the
role and the short-listing criteria.

You should ensure that ALL sections of the application form are completed.

You should ensure that you provide evidence of your experience in your
application form, giving length of experience, examples and dates as required.

It is not sufficient to simply list your duties and responsibilities or to simply
state that you possess the criteria as this must be fully demonstrated in
response. SMBPT will not make assumptions from the title of the applicant’s
post or the nature of the organisation as to the skills and experience gained.

Write down clearly your personal involvement in any experience you quote.
Write “I” statements e.g. I planned meetings, I managed a budget, I prepared
a presentation. It is how you actually carried out a piece of work that the panel
will be interested in.

The examples you provide should be concise and relevant to the criteria. This
is very important as the examples which you provide may be checked out at
interview and you may need to be prepared to talk about these in detail if you
are invited to interview. It is your unique role the panel are interested in, not
that of your team or division.

If you do not provide sufficient detail, including the appropriate dates needed
to meet the eligibility criteria, the selection panel will reject your application.

ONLY the details provided by you in your application form (the employment
history and eligibility criteria) will be provided to the selection panel for the
purpose of determining your eligibility for the post.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 9 of 11
Monitoring and Criminal Convictions Disclosure
Please complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form and Criminal Convictions
Disclosure Form, these forms will not be disclosed to anyone involved in short-listing
your application.
ACCESS NI (Criminal Conviction Checks)
The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Access NI check
Disability
In accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act a person is disabled if they have,
or have had, “a physical or mental impairment which has, or has had, a substantial
and long term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities”.
If you consider yourself to have a disability relevant to the position for which you are
applying please contact Sector Matters Recruitment so that SMBPT can process
your application fairly, make any specific arrangements for your interview, and make
any necessary reasonable adjustments or adaptations, or provide any aids to assist
you in completing the duties of the post.
Equal Opportunities
SMBPT is an Equal Opportunities Employer and all applications for employment are
considered strictly on the basis of merit.
Additional Information
Short-listing
SMBPT may decide to interview only those applicants who appear, from the
information available, to be most suitable in terms of relevant experience and ability.
The desirable criteria may be used for short listing.
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 10 of 11
Application Deadline
The deadline for completed applications is 12 noon, Friday 11th April 2014
Your completed application should be sent as follows:
Hardcopy Applications
Sector Matters Recruitment
61 Duncairn Gardens
Belfast
BT15 2GB
Electronic Applications:
recruitment@sectormatters.com
SMBPT cannot accept incomplete application forms; application forms received after
the closing deadline or reformatted application forms.
Applicants using Royal Mail should note that 1st class mail does not guarantee next
day delivery. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient postage
has been paid, normally a large letter stamp, to return the form to SMBPT via Sector
Matters.
Applicants submitting by email should submit their application form as an attachment
and not as a Skydrive file.
Interviews
Interviews are planned for Wednesday 23rd April 2014
Contact Details
If you have any queries regarding the recruitment process, please contact: by e-mail
recruitment@sectormatters.com or telephone 028 9087 5015
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, Project Coordinator Job Description and Person Specification
– March 2014
Page 11 of 11