Museum and Development Manager

Job Purpose

Working with the Head of Betteshanger Country Park and the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation, the Museum and Development Manager will lead on the ongoing development of the Kent Mining Museum.

The Museum and Development Manager will lead on driving forward and securing the museum’s future sustainability through fundraising, marketing and effective business planning.

The Museum and Development Manager will manage the Learning and Engagement Officer(s), Museum Curator and volunteers once appointed. They will be responsible for managing and delivering key strands of the project in line with remaining National Lottery Heritage Funding and any other funding secured.

In the first instance please email using the APPLY HERE button below, with a covering letter and CV.

Context

The Kent Mining Heritage Foundation (KMHF) was established in 2016, is a charitable incorporated organisation (Charity No. 1165403), and has three objectives:

• To record and preserve Kent’s mining heritage, and to further public understanding of old and new forms of energy
• To provide facilities that foster health and social welfare, especially for those who suffer due to age, disability, social disadvantage; and
• To enhance the quality of life in this disadvantaged community through the provision of education, skill-sharing and leisure activities.

The aims of the project are:

• To curate and conserve the stories and collections of the Kent mining communities, in an exciting and engaging new museum
• To enable a wide range of people to participate in, and learn about, Kent’s mining heritage
• To conserve the heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy
• To celebrate the coalmining industry in Kent and its wide economic and social impact
• To bring together the Kent mining communities, their stories and collections – specifically Aylesham, Tilmanstone, Chislet, Dover Museum and East Kent Railway
• To engage a minimum of 180,000 visitors per annum with Kent’s mining heritage, within the Museum and wider Country Park and act as a gateway to other heritage sites.
• To achieve Museum Accreditation within three years of operation

The Kent Mining Museum was opened in April 2022 after a £1.6 million NLHF grant and other key stakeholders supported the project through years of development.

Since opening the museum has welcomed over 30,000 visitors, tour groups, school visits and also taken part in various successful outreach projects as part of the museum’s core activities and excellent collections care.

Now that the museum has become more established it is important that its future is secured through sustainable fundraising and robust business planning.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

This is a diverse role encompassing project management, strategic business planning and delivery, marketing, monitoring and evaluation and effective fundraising. There is a requirement to manage and coordinate several project strands at a time involving:

• Use project management experience to deliver the Kent Mining Museum as part of the NLHF delivery phase
• Developing a business plan, identifying external funding opportunities and leveraging in core and project funding,
• Driving visitor figures according to the outlined targets. Developing and maximising commercial income streams in line with the Business Plan.
• Actively fundraising through grant giving bodies, sponsorship and fundraising events and activities.
• Training provision and requirements – ensuring that all staff and volunteers are trained to support the effective operation of the Museum and wider Visitor Centre
• Support the development of core events such as Kent Miners’ Festival to ensure they add commercial value to the museum as well as support our community engagement.

Dealing with these diverse strands will require effective and focused time management and an ability to deliver project outcomes to time and to budget.

The project will specifically require:

1. Managing a team of specialists on leading the development and delivery of the curatorial, educational and learning content of the Kent Mining Museum within the Betteshanger Visitor Centre. The post holder will have responsibility for line managing the Learning and Engagement Officer(s), Museum Curator and volunteers.
2. Research and develop a sustainable Business Plan for the museum, setting out how Kent Mining Museum will be sustained for the future.
3. Develop and manage future funding applications
4. Develop strategic relationships across the museum and heritage sector nationally and internationally.
5. Work with the Head of Betteshanger Park and the wider project team in delivering the Museum outcomes both physically and virtually.
6. Engagement with the other strands of Betteshanger Country Park to maximise the potential for shared marketing and fundraising on core activity and extra deliverables.
7. Develop and deliver the commercial aspects of the Kent Mining Museum within the context of the Strategic Learning Plan and Business Plan, including developing the shop offer, experiences and events with an agreed financial outcome.
8. Support the effective positioning and marketing of the Kent Mining Museum to ensure that awareness and profile is maximised.
9. Work within the governance arrangements in place for the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation.
10. Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in line with the Safeguarding Policy.
11. Reporting to regular meetings of the KMHF Board and Fundraising and Development Panel.
12. The post holder will regularly be required to work evenings and weekends, so a significant amount of flexibility is required.
13. To carry out any other duty as directed by the line manager in accordance with the level of the post.