Post Title: Head of Curiosity
Line Manager: Director of STEM Strategy
Salary: £32,000 - £35,000 per annum depending on skills and experience
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Annual leave: 150 hours per annum plus bank holidays
Closing Date: 17 September 2019 09:00
Interviews: 24 or 25 September 2019
Core hours will be 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday however a strong degree of flexibility will be required to suit business needs, to include some early mornings, evenings, bank holidays and weekends.
1. The Organisation
Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium (WSC) is an independent educational charity dedicated to sparking curiosity and building science capital for all. Boasting two floors of hands-on interactive exhibits, the UK’s largest standalone planetarium and a wide-ranging events programme, the Science Centre is an important regional hub for informal science learning and a popular visitor attraction for families, schools and the general public. WSC has recently been successful in raising funds to redevelop the visitor experience to include a new exhibition, live science demonstration area, invention studio, sensory space and reimagined welcome area. WSC is on a mission to make STEM accessible to all and the upcoming project is a major milestone in the strategic direction of the charity.
Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is situated on the outskirts of Winchester within the South Downs National Park. The centre enjoys a stunning rural location with excellent road links from London and across the South of England. This enviable location, the charity’s clear mission and its team of highly motivated staff and volunteers, makes Winchester Science Centre a great place to work. Visitor numbers are set to exceed 190k this year and with huge potential for further growth, this is an exciting time to join the team.
2. The Role
We are currently seeking a Head of Curiosity to be responsible for all public facing STEM activities delivered at our Science Centre in Winchester and the role exists to deliver the charity’s core aim of sparking curiosity and building science capital for all. The Head of Curiosity will curate, develop, deliver and evaluate STEM engagement for all visitors to the centre, by collaborating with key STEM partners, ensuring the Centre is a national beacon of best practice throughout the science communication sector.
The Head of Curiosity drives excellence within the organisation, bringing quality, awe and innovation to the visitor experience. This includes a diverse range of inspiring activities and events designed to entice intrigue in science participation across different audiences such as schools, youth groups, families, adults and more.
The Head of Curiosity will be instrumental in working with external contractors on exhibition design and interactivity through their extensive subject knowledge. The post-holder will also work with our Innovation Officer to develop partnerships with external contributors such as universities.
The Head of Curiosity will work in collaboration with the Head of Widening Participation to engage with underrepresented audiences and will work with the Fundraising team to ensure impact evidence is best used to raise future funds and demonstrate the charitable value of the Centre.
The post-holder will liaise closely with external partners across the international community to share expertise and resources, further establishing the organisation as a leader in public engagement and raising Science Capital.
The post-holder will be a role model to the wider STEM team, responsible for driving forward a diverse and talented team of Curiosity Officers and Inspirers who deliver the content curated by the Head of Curiosity. We are looking for a candidate to hit the ground running, offering dynamic and energetic leadership. At every stage the successful candidate will lead by example, drive the Science Centre forward and set high standards for the Curiosity team and wider organisation.
Winchester Science Centre is a unique and exciting place to work, with an exceptional team of creative and motivated individuals. Our energetic and enthused team have a genuine passion for their day to day duties, and are committed to the objectives of our charity and seeing it succeed. A hard-working, open culture is encouraged, where cross-departmental working is embedded in everything we do. We are looking for a positive, self-starting and energetic Head of Curiosity to fit this culture and drive the team to the next level.
3. Job Description
· To be responsible for all aspects of a remarkable public engagement programme for families, schools, youth groups and adults
· To seek new opportunities and maintain key relationships to help support the charity’s offer
· To be an essential member of the management team, directly contributing to the day to day running and future direction of the centre
· Directly line manage Curiosity Officers and have overall responsibility for public facing science communicators
· Ensure consistent, concise and accurate communication within the STEM team at all times
· Deal with difficult and challenging situations in a professional manner
· Deliver quality training to team members
· To plan and manage the Curiosity budget, with the support of the Director of STEM Strategy
· To take overall responsibility for reporting and meeting project deadlines for STEM engagement activities implemented by Director of STEM Strategy, external partners and trustees
· To represent the organisation at STEM communication conferences and meetings, to network and seek out innovative opportunities for development
· To analyse and evaluate STEM activity delivery data to ensure targets are met and evaluate the impact of public interactions as per strategy.
· Overall responsibility for COSHH regulations including implementing control measures and drawing up plans and procedures to deal with accidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances used in STEM activities
· To work with the Director of Operations to ensure risk assessments are created for all public facing STEM activities
· To work with the Director of STEM Strategy to plan and review progress against targets and to agree actions
· To manage and expand the use of volunteers, interns and work experience individuals
· To undertake other tasks as should reasonably arise within the remit of Head of Curiosity
· The above should not be considered an exhaustive list and other project support will be required by Director of STEM Strategy
Flexibility is essential as Winchester Science Centre relies on a small team of dedicated individuals working closely together to support and develop the charity, so occasional additional support duties will be required in other areas of its business. Applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS check and be required to hold a full UK driving licence and to have access to a car for business travel use for which expenses will be paid.
4. Person Specification
E = Essential D = Desirable
Qualifications
· E - BA or BSc (Hons) or equivalent qualification in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
· D - MSc Science Communication
Experience
· E - Managing and supervising staff including delegation, support and training
· E - Working in a STEM related field, STEM teaching or STEM delivery in the informal learning sector
· E - Event delivery, public speaking and training delivery
· E - Project management
· D - Forming and maintaining effective partnerships with external organisations
· D - Evaluating process and analysis of data to and produce relevant reports
· D - Budget management
· D - Written communications including signage and content
Practical skills and knowledge
· E - Excellent leadership and team working skills
· E - High level communication skills, both verbal and written, to enable excellent communication with educators and STEM professionals at all levels
· E - Competence in the use and application of Microsoft office software
· E - Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise effectively
· D - Excellent knowledge of cutting edge research and developments in science
· D - Good knowledge of the UK STEM skills agenda
· D - Good knowledge of local and national STEM industry
· D - Good knowledge of UK school systems STEM curricula
Personal qualities and skills
· E - An organised and analytical approach to working in a target driven role
· E - An ability to enthuse and inspire colleagues
· E - An ability to engage and motive young people within STEM
· E - A strong team player who can work effectively with colleagues across the organisation
· E - An ability to adapt to changing priorities and to respond quickly to requests
· E - Willingness to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends with reasonable notice
· D - An interest in STEM education and enrichment
5. Application procedure
An application form is available on www.winchestersciencecentre.org, please complete the form and return to lauraollis@winchestersciencecentre.org with a covering letter attached. Please clearly state your previous experience that links to the requirements of the role. Candidates whose experience does not match the Essential Criteria will not be considered.
The deadline for application is 17 September 2019 9am. Interviews will take place on 24 or 25 September 2019 and will include a series of tasks, demonstrations, tests and formal interview. For an informal conversation about this role please contact Emma Diserens, Director of STEM Strategy (maternity cover) by emailing emmadiserens@winchestersciencecentre.org
