Education and Oureach Officer Job Description

Job Description
Education and Outreach Officer (2.5 days per wk)

Responsible to: Director, Chiswick House and Gardens Trust
Responsible for: Casual paid and volunteer assistants, contracted events/arts organisers

Job Function:

To develop and implement a co-ordinated Education and Outreach Programme that seeks to encourage stake holding, interest in and enjoyment of Chiswick House and Gardens by the student population and wider community and to contribute to the sustainability of this historic site.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Management

The priority task is to develop, implement and manage a school education service at Chiswick House and Gardens including:

• Devising and maintain a ‘one stop shop’ information and booking’ service for schools
• Providing education input into facility development
• Developing a partnership with Chiswick Community School and with
     local teachers and education providers 
• Contributing to the management of a co-ordinated programme of education/lifelong learning activities involving internal and external providers
• Monitoring and managing education budgets and developing income streams

Additional tasks will be to:

• Recruit and manage external Arts/events organisers
• Facilitate  and encourage involvement by schools in less advantaged areas of the Borough and develop opportunities for children with learning difficulties.
• Provide reports to the Director as required and reviews of the HLF Access, Interpretation and Learning Plan objectives and outcomes.

Organisational Development

Chiswick House and Gardens is a complex area with many stakeholders. A key organisational development will be to work closely with the Director, Head Gardener and other managers employed by the Trust, to ensure the wellbeing of  the  House and Gardens, and the overall service delivery to the public. This will entail:

• Liaising and maintaining good communication with site staff and other resident organisations to develop and implement a co-ordinated Education and Outreach programme
• Liaising with business, Trust Fund and other education sponsors as appropriate and contributing to education fundraising initiatives alongside the Trust Director
• Contributing to the formulation and delivery of the Chiswick House and Park Events Diary

Operations

Main tasks will be:

• Devise, develop and deliver creative cross-curricular class sessions, which adapt and develop to meet new opportunities
• Create sustainable interest in education services at Chiswick House and Park for the future including developing after school clubs, pre-school and further education learning opportunities
• Promote Chiswick House and Gardens and the restoration project to schools
•  Conduct guided walks/tours and provide lectures in the community.
• Acquire, devise and develop education resources, both artefacts and printed material.
• Organise creative workshops and special events, including large scale school events
• Provide training for teachers, house staff and volunteers

In addition you will be expected to attend and when required give presentations at relevant meetings and to monitor, evaluate and review education programmes and provide statistics of usage and other Best Value indicators.

Other

You may be asked to carry out other duties as may arise from time to time and which may be reasonably accommodated within the posts grading level and. You will be required to act in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to take reasonable care for the health and safety of any person who may be affected by your acts of omissions at work.
 
Note
Some evening and weekend work will be required.
CRB Clearance required

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

Essential
• Educated to degree level
• PGCE
• GCSE or equivalent Maths & English
• Minimum 3 years experience of classroom teaching
• Effective management of other staff or volunteers

Highly desirable
• Excellent and demonstrable track record of education provision in a museum, historic garden or historic environment
• Community event management

Skills and Ability

Essential
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, verbal and written
• Team player as well as self-motivated
• Ability to work with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
• Creative and Inspiring person
• Committed and responsible

Highly desirable
• Interest in historic properties and the ecological environment
• Highly organised, focused and result driven
• First Aid training
• Driving Licence