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Director of Public Engagement - External Relations

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
£60,000 - £70,000
Closing date
Aug 12, 2019

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Job Details

This newly created leadership role will make a significant contribution to ensuring the University capitalises on the unique opportunity offered by our new city-centre facility, The Exchange. It will offer both a city centre location (from 2021) and a catalyst to bring together and expand the significant and broad public engagement agenda which already exists in the University.

The role is a senior post within the External Relations function. The post holder will have strategic oversight of a portfolio of Public Engagement activity (engagement with research and cultural engagement) across the University and will be a senior champion to align our Public Engagement activity with institutional and partner priorities. The post holder will be accountable for the development, funding, delivery and evaluation of our public programmes, on the main Edgbaston campus and in the new Exchange building, ensuring these are integrated across the University. Specifically the post holder will lead on engagement with funders, external organisations, local communities and internal partners to develop an exciting opening season and year-long programme at The Exchange in the run up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games (being held in Birmingham) as well as to drive the long-term success of The Exchange and a step change in the delivery of Public Engagement across the University.

The post holder will provide leadership and line management for a small team whilst influencing academic and professional services staff across the broader university in a way which reflects the strategic vision of the University.

The Director of PE will report to the Director of External Relations, and will also have a dotted reporting line to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Knowledge Transfer) and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Head of College of Arts and Law), who will continue to take lead responsibility for Public Engagement with Research and Cultural Engagement at University Executive Board level. These 4 people will meet periodically to discuss the strategic direction and monitor progress on programme development and delivery. It is also expected that the Director of PE will work with the Professor for Public Engagement with Science (Prof Alice Roberts) in the promotion and development of the University's Public Engagement activities.

The post holder will work with the Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Impact to ensure our public engagement, research and culture, deliver research impact for REF submission and are fully embedded in our approach to impact.

The new role offers the opportunity to open a new flagship public venue, to capitalise upon the rich cultural assets and research of a global university, and to influence the development of a sector- leading public engagement programme.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

Strategic:
  • Working with key stakeholders, develop the Public and Cultural Engagement strategy which reflects the vision and ambition of the University, the needs of The Exchange, the priorities and needs of our partners, and is fully aligned to our Birmingham 2026 strategy.
  • Further develop strategic relationships regionally, nationally and globally with funders, external organisations and internal partners to support the global ambition.
  • Be a member of the Exchange Project Board, chaired by the Provost.
  • Bring together diverse strands of public and cultural engagement activity behind a shared vision.
  • Direct a portfolio of cross-cutting activity that straddles both a number of professional services departments and also the academic breath of disciplinary areas and research interests in the University, and links together academic units with other centres of engagement activity, such as the museums. Work closely with a range of key internal stakeholders including College Research Boards, Research Panning, Cultural collections, Research Support Services, University Graduate School and Development and Alumni relations.
  • Ensure there is an integrated approach to manage relationships with partners and funders that support PE activity undertaken across the University and the delivery of The Exchange programme.
  • In conjunction with The Exchange Venue Manager and Project Manager, work closely with the Provost, as Chair of the Project Board to ensure the successful delivery of agreed business plan.
  • Provide a unified voice for public engagement and lead the approach to communication and engagement, aligned to the overall Public and Cultural engagement strategy.
  • Work closely with the Director of External Relations, The Exchange Venue Manager and the Director of Hospitality and Accommodation Services to ensure all internal and external client needs relating to Public Engagement at The Exchange are met, whilst ensuring co-ordination and integration with the multiple users of The Exchange.
  • Oversee the evaluation strategy for The Exchange.

Programme and Audiences:
  • Play a key role on the Public Engagement Programme Board to develop a university- wide rolling programme which maximises the potential of The Exchange and the broader university.
  • Lead on the development of an audience strategy for the University and The Exchange, working in partnership with internal stakeholders and national bodies such as Audience Agency, Arts Council etc.
  • Lead the creation of a launch season for The Exchange and an initial 12 month public engagement programme leading up to the Commonwealth Games in August 2022.
  • Negotiate and deliver funding opportunities to ensure long-term financial viability of the Public Engagement programme.
  • Lead on identifying emerging opportunities and developing proposals for new initiatives that will further extend the funding and profile of the University and its engagement activities in the UK and overseas.
  • Work closely with the Venue Manager to maximise footfall to the building and ensure business/financial targets are met.

Management:
  • Lead a small team of direct reports and a broader team within the University through matrix management, to ensure the public engagement activity is aligned, focused and maximises the potential.
  • Establish and maintain strong working relationships with senior academic and professional services colleagues, as well as partners locally, regionally and internationally.
  • Provide regular, high quality reporting on existing and planned activity, drawing on evaluation of activities where appropriate, for both University and external stakeholder use, including the University's governing body (Council) and major funding partners, taking into account existing practice.
  • Work in partnership with senior colleagues across the University to develop a capacity and capability building programme around public engagement to increase the skills and confidence of academic and professional services colleagues in delivering this agenda.
  • Work closely with the University's cultural assets and collections (Barber Institute, Lapworth Museum of Geology, Winterbourne House and Botanic Gardens, Research and Cultural Collections and Cadbury Research Library Collections) to identify opportunities to engage new audiences and link into wider public engagement.

Staff Leadership:
  • Lead and manage directly and indirectly a range of staff undertaking and supporting public engagement activity.
  • Exhibit positive behaviours in line with the External Relations values and behaviours framework.
  • Provide support and opportunity to direct reports, taking responsibility for development of the team's capability (ensuring training and development where needed - internal or external).
  • Ongoing development through coaching and mentoring of direct reports.
  • Conduct regular team meetings and one to ones and ensure that annual review processes are completed in a timely manner.
  • Ensure high levels of customer focus and monitoring of customer experience.

General:
  • Other duties as requested by the Director of External Relations.
  • Some travel as required both in the UK and internationally.

Person Specification
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably with an additional professional qualification
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to influence at a senior level with a positive and empowering approach
  • Ability to develop and deliver a vision for public engagement across the university through thought leadership and a partnership approach
  • Track record of delivering large scale, innovative public engagement programmes appealing to a broad range of audiences
  • Evidence of a strong track record in fundraising and able to demonstrate strategic and business planning expertise for the development and financial stability of long term projects
  • Demonstrable relationship building skills across multiple audiences and stakeholder groups
  • Ability to influence a broad range of internal stakeholders
  • An appreciation of the technical requirements of running a high quality, high profile programme
  • Able to operate flexibly within a busy work environment, shifting focus when required and providing support beyond normal work hours when a need arises. Dynamic, outgoing and practical. Can work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet all deadlines
  • Able to demonstrate evidence of working collaboratively within their team and across the University with all stakeholders to achieve goals in a respectful manner in a busy working environment and fostering a collegiate environment
  • Proven ability to produce quality Management Information
  • Proven ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Able to present to senior audiences and having a proactive and positive approach to work
  • Can demonstrate agility and ability to problem solve
  • Experience of and relationships with international stakeholders would be advantageous


Provisional interview dates:

First round - 5 September 2019

Second round - 17 September 2019

For informal enquiries regarding this role please contact Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Relations at +44 (0)121 414 4130.

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