"Director of Culture, Collections and Public Engagement"

Role Summary

The Director of Culture, Collections and Public Engagement will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the University’s cultural and public engagement initiatives, supporting the University’s Strategic Framework 2030 and twin ambition of becoming a global top 50 university and an exemplary civic university. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep passion for culture, collections, education, research and community and public engagement. You will also need the knowledge and consensus building skills to bring together teams around a shared mission, encouraging innovation and creativity in public and cultural engagement. Working in partnership across the University and the city, you will ensure that public and cultural engagement is integrated into our research, student experience, and civic and global activities, and that the University is capitalising on its rich cultural assets and research to raise its global profile and reputation.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Work closely with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College of Arts and Law and with key stakeholders to implement the University’s new Public and Cultural Engagement Strategy (launched February 2025).
• Develop and implement long-term strategies to leverage our world-class cultural assets in a more co-ordinated way to make a tangible contribution to our global top 50 ambition and broader 2030 Strategic Framework.

Leadership and Management:

• Act as a champion and role model for the Public and Cultural Engagement Strategy and its importance to the University.
• Provide leadership and line management for the Public and Cultural Engagement team, encouraging continuous learning, and ensuring high levels of performance with a focus on audience and outcomes.

Integration and operational alignment

• Work with Heads of the cultural attractions to identify opportunities for sharing resources and services, while maintaining specialist skills and knowledge where required.
• Lead the University Museums Performances and Collections group to bring together cultural assets around shared agendas.

Programming and Audience Development

• Set the direction for a cohesive programming approach across the University ensuring alignment to University Strategy and effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Lead on the delivery of an annual programme of public engagement and exhibitions.

Person Specification

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably with an additional professional qualification.
• Experience of working at a leadership level in museums, cultural organisations or public engagement.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to influence at a senior level with a positive and empowering approach.
• Experience of developing long term strategies and an ability to develop and deliver a vision for public and cultural 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.

Informal enquiries can be made to Rhiannon Robinson at r.m.robinson@bham.ac.uk.