NORTON PRIORY MUSEUM & GARDENS
JOB DESCRIPTION
12 month fixed term contract with the possibility of extension
Job Title:
Activity Planner
Reporting to:
Learning and Community Manager
Responsible for:
Consultants
Salary:
£22,000 p.a.
An Activity Planner is required to work on a capital project at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.
Initially the contract is offered for 12 months to cover the first round of work on the project. The post
may be extended, dependent on a successful second round application to the HLF and the suitability
of the successful applicant to the challenges of the capital phase of the project which includes the
delivery and evaluation of learning and participation programmes.
About us:
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens is a 47 acre site that boasts excavated abbey ruins, a 12th century
undercroft, museum, 18th century walled garden and grounds which include the UK’s national
collection of tree quinces, an 18th century ice house, garden loggia and 19th century tea house. The
museum’s extensive collection includes a spectacular twice-life sized 14th century statue of St
Christopher and artefacts excavated from the site, including important examples of medieval stone
carvings, glass, tiles, pottery, metalwork, wood and leather items as well as skeletal remains and
burial markers.
1.
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens capital project, Monastery to Museum 900
In July 2012, Norton Priory was awarded a round one pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund to
develop its plans covering the museum building and the late12th century undercroft¸ and the
pedestrian approach from a public car park. It will replace the 1980s museum building, reusing
its steel frame and foundation slab, and upgrades the Norman undercroft in order to provide a
focus and a gateway for the 47 acre site. The project is due for completion in 2016. Running
alongside this capital project will be a programme of participation, utilising a range of activities
from public consultation to school programmes and events.
2.
The Activity Planner
The post holder will be a member of the staff of Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, and will be
responsible to the Learning and Community Manager.
Main duties and responsibilities of the Activity Planner.
The Activity Planner will be integral to the second round HLF application, delivering an Activity
Plan for Norton Priory in 2013. The plan will involve extensive public consultation and the post
holder will be required to maintain and develop existing relationships with community groups
and stakeholders as well as foster new ones. He/ she will develop a strategy that will ensure
participation from as wide a community as possible as well as an action plan of events and
activities that will ensure the continuing engagement of a variety of audiences.
The Activity Planner will:
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Research the operating environment and strategic context for the project, including local,
regional and national strategies
Undertake an audit of the existing Norton Priory Museum & Gardens activities and users
Review the participation activities at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, and the delivery of
formal and informal learning through interpretation, training and events.
Research the potential market for Norton Priory Museum & Gardens activities, locally and
further afield
Undertake primary research to test demand for the project
Research similar organisations in order to learn about best practice
Identify barriers to involvement
Liaise with the Access Consultant at regular stages to ensure that activities are inclusive of
as many people as possible
Develop aims and objectives for involving people
Identify and quantify target audiences
Write an Activity Plan according to HLF guidelines, which will include fully costed action
plans for volunteering, community participation, and audience development
Produce appendices to the Activity Plan with details of the consultation, a volunteering
policy and a training plan
Introduce new policies and programmes for volunteering, community participation and
audience development to staff and stakeholders
Assist with the delivery of learning and participation programmes
Market the programmes effectively
Evaluate the programmes
Keep up to date with local and national funding opportunities
Produce policy documents, training programmes, and action plans for volunteering
community participation and audience development
Develop the activity programme of Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, in collaboration with
members of the Learning and Community team
Person Specification
Essential skills and attributes.
 Ability to develop and implement creative approaches to access, audience participation and
engagement
 Engage audiences socially, intellectually and virtually
 Work with museums and/or visitor centres to make their collections more accessible to the
public
 Enthusiasm for dealing with the public and consulting with the public on an individual or group
basis
 Researching background information and analysing data
 Working with museums, local authorities and facilitating partnership working
 Experience of volunteer/staff management
 Experience of working in an educational context
 Excellent communication and advocacy skills, and being able to talk to and inspire people with
a wide range of backgrounds and skills
 Excellent written skills
 Ability to be self motivated and work unsupervised
 Ability to work as part of a team
 Interest in / experience of working with hard to reach individuals and groups
 Enthusiasm for heritage and community events
 An understanding of and experience in marketing
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A willingness to undertake flexible working including unsocial hours and weekends
A willingness to travel to meet groups and stakeholders
Desirable skills and attributes.
 Experience of working in a heritage or arts organisation
 Experience of activity planning for HLF applications
 Experience of making funding applications
 Experience of training staff/volunteers
 Experience of monitoring budgets
 Experience of audience development
 Experience of managing and developing digital technologies such as updating websites
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3.
Project structure of trustees, staff and consultants
HLF Casework Manager
The Board of the Norton Priory Museum Trust
(Chair)
HLF Monitor
Halton Borough Council
representatives
Project Board
(Chair)
Museum Director
Architect
Project Manager
Finance &
Administration
Manager
Exhibition
designers
Access consultant
Senior Keeper
Head Gardener
Learning &
Community
Manager
Activity Planner
Learning and
Participation Officer
(Development
phase)