Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance Job Description

Job Title: Heritage Champion (12 month fixed term contract for full time hours or up to 16 month fixed term contract for part time hours)

Reporting The post holder will report to the Project Team, via the Borough arrangements: Archivist ( Borough of Barking and )

Salary: £23,000 to £25,600p.a. pro rata, subject to skills, experience and qualifications Working Hours: Full time and part time working will be considered A full time contract will be for 35 hours per week Part time hours will be considered, with the option for a longer fixed term contract (e.g. for up to 16 months)

Purpose Statement

The Heritage Champion will enable and inspire outreach and community engagement activities, so that many people (especially local residents) will be able to encounter and discover the long and important history of .

Reporting Structure

The post holder will report to the Project Team, via the Borough Archivist (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham).

Nature and Scope

A thousand years ago Barking Abbey was one of the great places of – and had already been so for nearly 400 years - and would continue to be so for a further 400. There is a wealth of archaeology and history here to celebrate.

We are a partnership of four organisations: -

• The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (owner of most of the site, including the Abbey ruins, a scheduled Ancient Monument), • St Margaret’s church (a remaining original building and an active church still), • the Diocese of Chelmsford (who the post holder will be employed by), and • the Archaeology team.

1 Our project “A magnifying glass on Barking Abbey’s Archaeology” has been awarded funds by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will run through 2020, as a preliminary to a very much larger project to follow in years to come.

The Magnifying Glass project will see previously discovered archaeology sorted, assessed and catalogued by MOLA; so we can see what just what we have and how we can use the emerging history in the next round of bids for major funding.

Alongside that research work, we will begin to promote the story of Barking Abbey. The sharing of our history and significance will be led by our new postholder, the Heritage Champion. The role will be to reach out to new audiences, and to celebrate the heritage through St Margaret’s, across the surrounding site and through off-site local volunteer-led micro-events. The role will be responsible for the arrangement and delivery of the pop up mobile exhibitions and the Academic Conference Event (ACE) to attract a national academic audience to engage with the new discoveries about Barking’s heritage.

Principal Outcomes and Accountabilities

1. To create and establish an engaging and informative public exhibition at St Margaret’s Church in Barking. 2. To ensure Pop-up exhibitions have appeared at public buildings across the borough and been seen by at least 1500 people. 3. To arrange for approximately 20 volunteers to have been trained and actively involved in research and delivery of the project. 4. To successfully arrange for publicity and marketing to have reached new and diverse audiences. 5. To ensure a well-attended academic conference is arranged to share the share findings of the post-excavation assessment. 6. To ensure the successful evaluation of project activities throughout

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Promotion and Outreach a. To be proactive at engaging with people in the wider Barking community about the “A Magnifying Glass on Barking Abbey” project b. To be a point of contact for the project c. To engage with, and build strong relationships with the local schools d. To identify and actively target community groups, networks and contacts with a view engaging them in the project e. To represent appropriately, positively and effectively the partnership, the partners and the project at any external meetings and events f. To oversee volunteer involvement in managing the new Facebook page

2. Project Development a. To manage the production of project displays and exhibitions, ensuring they are accessible and to different audiences b. To work with the MOLA archaeological team to collate information to be used as part of project exhibitions

2 c. To manage Pop-Up the Past and other outreach events, ensuring sufficient volunteers and promoting and engaging with the wider community d. To work with the schools and Heritage Education team to coordinate and facilitate the creation of the children’s Trails of Discovery leaflets e. To work with the schools, and Valence House Museum Heritage Education team and professionals to coordinate and facilitate the creation of the educational booklet f. To recruit and manage volunteers to support the delivery of the project g. To work with the various partners, stakeholders and community, business and other local groups involved in this project

3. Management a. To oversee the day-to-day running and management, ensuring the project runs within budget and meets agreed outcomes b. To liaise with HLF project officers to provide updates and reports on project progress and ensure that evaluation and monitoring is carried out in line with HLF requirements c. To keep accurate and up to date records on routine matters including: I. Individuals and groups visiting project activities and participating in the project II. Financial records III. Volunteering and participation d. To attend Heritage Group meetings where requested and to provide regular update reports on the project

In addition, to undertake other such reasonable duties as may be required by the line manager and partner organisations.

Key Relationships • Relevant representatives from all four partner organisations: - o The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (owner of most of the site, including the Abbey ruins, a scheduled Ancient Monument), o St Margaret’s church (a remaining original building and an active church still), o the Diocese of Chelmsford (who the post holder will be employed by), and o the Museum of London Archaeology team. • Project volunteers • National Lottery Heritage Fund Project Officers

Person Specification Essential

• Relevant professional experience and/or relevant qualification within the heritage or related sectors • Experience of supporting projects (such as administration support) and/or running small scale projects • Experience of historical research and/or ability to interpret local heritage • Experience and/or interest within the heritage sector, including outreach interpretation.

3 • Experience of working with community groups and/or volunteers • Experience and/or interest in archaeology • Experience using social media to engage the public and promote events • Strong administration skills • Excellent team working, communication and organisational skills • Strong oral and written communication skills • High level of literacy and numeracy • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office • Able to work on own and use initiative • Able to work to agreed targets and outcomes • Ability to work with and in the church context • Able to communicate to a range of audience types, needs and ages • Enthusiastic and able to transfer that passion to visitors and audiences • Creative and able to come up with ideas for sharing heritage and engaging new audiences

Desirable

• Able to find creative and innovative ways to engage people from a low knowledge base • Knowledge of the local area • Appreciation of the Christian Heritage of the Barking Abbey site • Knowledge and understanding of exhibition design and accessibility requirements • Experience managing project budgets

4 Outline of Terms and Conditions

Role Heritage Champion

Contract Duration Fixed term contract for 12 months

Responsible to The post holder will report to the Project Team, via the Borough Archivist (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham)

Salary £23,000 to £25,600p.a. pro rata, subject to skills, experience and qualifications

Hours Full time and part time working will be considered A full time contract will be for 35 hours per week Part time hours will be considered, with the option for a longer fixed term contract (e.g. for up to 16 months) The normal hours are 0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday. Consideration will be given to flexible working arrangements. The post holder will be entitled to time off in lieu for attending meetings outside of office hours. The post holder may also be required to work additional hours to meet the reasonable requirements of the role.

Pension Enrolment in the Church Workers’ defined contribution scheme (a non- contributory scheme with an 11% contribution by the Board) or an equivalent contribution to another pension scheme.

Annual Leave 25 days plus 8 public holidays pro rata (calculated on a pro rata basis for part time members of staff).

Probation Period 3 months.

Notice Period After service of one month 1 weeks’ notice for the first six months. Upon successful completion of the probationary period you will be required to give 1 months’ notice.

Expenses Working expenses are paid at the Diocesan rates.

5 Base Valence House Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 3HT or St Margaret's Church Centre, , North Street, Barking, IG11 8AS The organisation may move the normal place of work. You will also be required to work at other locations within the Chelmsford Diocese in line with the requirements of your role.

Contract The contract of employment will be with the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF).

Pre-employment The contract is subject to 2 satisfactory references Checks

Right to work Proof of eligibility to work and reside in the UK

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