Jobs: Mill Project Officer – William Scott Abbott Trust, Peterborough

January 29, 2014

The William Scott Abbott Trust are seeking to recruit a Mill Project Officer to support their HLF funded Watermill Restoration Project at Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre, in Peterborough.

Salary: Circa: £30,000 pa
Contract type: 3 years from circa: April 2014 – April 2017
Working Pattern: The post holder will be required, on occasions, to work outside normal office hours, including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.
Closing date: Friday 14 February 2014

Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre, owned and managed by the William Scott Abbott Trust, is a popular Farm Attraction located  west of Peterborough, with 80,000 visitors a year.

The William Scott Abbott Trust has been awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the £1.7m Sacrewell Watermill Restoration Project at Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre. The Watermill is a nationally important Grade II* listed building and one of the few working watermills remaining.

The Mill Project Officer will play a key role in ensuring the project, and its associated aims and objectives, are delivered as detailed within the Project Execution Plan and Timetable.

The post holder will also be responsible for all aspects relating to the operation and management of the Sacrewell Mill complex (Watermill, Mill House, Bakery, Mill Pond and Mill Garden). These will include managing the delivery of the Activity and Interpretation Plan proposals for the project as well as recruiting and managing a team of volunteers.

The project will maximise the potential of the Watermill as an educational resource and area of enjoyment for schools, the local community and other visitors. This will include developing a programme of tours, demonstrations, events and activities that will bring this unique site alive

Working as part of the Management Team the Mill Project Officer will play an active role in the future planning and development of the Farm Centre.

Occasionally situations may arise that require the post holder to perform other duties or tasks as may be reasonably requested by the Trust. In addition, all employees are expected to work within the terms of their contract of employment and adhere to the Trust’s policies.

Main duties of the post

To undertake the day to day management of the Sacrewell Watermill complex as a key part of the overall Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre site including: Health and Safety, building maintenance, dealing with operational issues, managing staff and volunteers, liaising with contractors; and promotion and marketing of events and activities.

To manage the Learning and Interpretation Officer for the 3 days/week on which the post holder is dedicated to the Sacrewell Watermill Restoration Project.

The Learning and Interpretation Officer is responsible for diversifying the existing education programmes on site, with a particular focus on the Mill complex, the management of a team of specific ‘education volunteers’, the development of an outreach programme together with the learning and interpretation programmes within the Activity Plan.

To raise the profile of the restoration project, generate enthusiasm and encourage people to become actively involved including liaising with the Sacrewell Communications and Marketing Officer, attending public meetings, arranging events and consultation sessions and promoting volunteering opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

Finance

  • To collate returns and reports to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding partners
  • To be responsible for managing specific departmental budgets
  • To ensure the cost effective use of both material and financial resources
  • To apply for match funding for the project, grants etc; if required.

Staff and Volunteer Management and Development

  • To lead and manage the Mill Team of Staff and Volunteers and foster a climate of good team working
  • To be responsible for the development, training and appraisal of Staff and Volunteers
  • To ensure the efficient use of Staff and Volunteer resources by compiling work rotas
  • To ensure the principles of the Training Plan and Volunteer Plan are delivered
  • To participate in training as appropriate
  • To recruit and manage up to 75 volunteers to contribute to the delivery of the project. This will include creating task descriptions, induction and training, social events and opportunities to develop new skills as set out in the Volunteer Plan and the Volunteer Policy.

Health, Safety and Security

  • To observe all Health & Safety and statutory regulations
  • To undertake risk assessments and workplace inspections to maximise the safety of Visitors, Staff and Volunteers
  • To make all Staff and Volunteers aware of Health & Safety policy and good practice
  • To act as part of the Management Team undertake site security duties i.e. alarm setting and potential emergency call outs.

Learning and Interpretation

  • To be responsible for the development and delivery of a variety of educational activities
  • To promote the educational value of the Farm and its work
  • To work with a range of partners including Peterborough Regional College, University Centre Peterborough, City College Peterborough, Peterborough Learning Partnership and Peterborough City Council Officers to maximise the use of the site for learning, work experience, on the job training and heritage skills training for as broad and diverse an audience as possible.
  • To support the Learning and Interpretation Officer in the development of life-long learning and leisure learning opportunities including millwright, milling and bread-making courses, dry stone walling and hedge-laying in order to help to sustain these heritage skills
  • To review and comment upon interpretation design proposals
  • To manage the activity and interpretation works relating to the capital development project.

Activities and Events

  • To develop and deliver a programme of events and activities based in, and around, the Mill complex as detailed in the Activity Plan
  • To be responsible for running mill based activities and the planning of events
  • To be responsible for the day to day delivery and operation of the mill related activities along with ensuring high standards of customer care.

Capital Development

  • To review and comment upon design proposals
  • To monitor day to day works including H & S issues
  • To attend weekly communications meetings with building contractors
  • To represent WSAT at Project Meetings
  • To prepare reports for HLF purposes, including volunteer timesheets
  • To Take videos and photographic records of the works.

Building and Site Maintenance and Protection

  • To organise and undertake routine maintenance and servicing tasks
  • To oversee contractors and ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations
  • To be responsible for ordering materials and supplies as appropriate
  • To be responsible for maintaining high standards of site presentation and signage
  • To oversee the development and maintenance of the mill gardens including managing the team of garden volunteers.

To be responsible for the care of the collections within the Mill complex working towards the standards laid out in the Museum Accreditation scheme.

Communication

  • To build on existing links with other heritage organisations, such as the Peterborough Heritage Attractions Group, in order to share skills and information and provide mutual support.
  • To maintain accurate records of visitors, activities and the level of visitor satisfaction and provide monthly reports to the General Manager.
  • To report to the General Manager and the Trustees of the William Scott Abbott Trust on the project programme, finances and resources including monitoring information, risk assessments, evaluation, verbal and written reports as required.
  • To ensure clear communications between stakeholders, partners, contractors and consultants for the duration of the project.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential Desirable

Qualifications

Degree level or equivalent qualification Project Management Training or similar in a relevant subject such as heritage, museums, environmental or cultural studies.

Experience/Knowledge

  • Experience of site management, project management and managing staff and volunteers
  • Experience of working in a museum, heritage site or similar
  • Good knowledge of museum/heritage issues
  • Knowledge of Health & Safety practices.

Skills

  • High level of oral and written communication skills
  • High standards of numeracy and literacy
  • Report writing and budget management.

Experience

  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Ability to determine priorities, manage time and ensure deadlines are met
  • Ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, colleagues and contractors
  • ICT skills with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • Risk Management: predicting, avoiding and solving problems.

Other
Willingness to work some evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays and to travel off site for meetings, training etc.

This is a summary of the roles duties and responsibilities. However, it is not an exhaustive list and other duties may be required in accordance with business needs.

How do I apply?

Applications for this position should be made by way of a covering letter and accompanied by a CV and can be either posted or e-mailed to: mike.rooney@sacrewell.org.uk

FAO:
Mike Rooney, General Manager, Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre, Thornhaugh, Peterborough PE8 6HJ

The closing date for applications is Friday 14 February 2014, with interviews on Monday 24 February 2014.

Please quote University of Leicester, Museum Studies Jobs Desk in your application.

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