Are you passionate about the power of museums to change lives?
Do you share our commitment to addressing inequality in science?
Are you an excellent communicator able to take a strategic approach to engaging a range of audiences?
Then we'd like to hear from you!
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is looking for a full-time Learning and Engagement Manager to take the lead on the development and delivery of a programme of activities aimed at increasing, diversifying and deepening audience engagement and participation both in person and online. The programme will draw on current research and researchers and have a strong emphasis on current themes in Earth, climate and environmental science, on addressing inequality and challenging stereotypes within the Earth sciences, and on the legacies of empire within the Museum's collections. The Museum is in the early stages of planning a major capital development, and we anticipate the Learning and Engagement Manager will contribute to shaping this project.
The Museum welcomes around 90,000 visitors a year, with staff of 17 and a valued team of volunteers. Its collections are of national and international historic and scientific importance, comprising more than a million rocks, fossils, minerals and associated archival material acquired over more than 250 years. The Museum is embedded within the active research community of the Department of Earth Sciences, and benefits from being part of the cross-disciplinary University of Cambridge Museums (UCM) consortium, an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
Key responsibilities of this role include:
- Development of an imaginative and strategic programme across a range of audiences, and developing projects, partnerships and networks to ensure it is relevant and audience-led;
- Ensuring delivery to a high standard, including planning, budgeting and evaluation;
- Contributing to the duty management rota for public opening of the museum, including supervising front of house staff and taking responsibility for safety and security;
- Management of the Learning and Engagement team (3 staff) and a wider team of volunteers and students.
The successful candidate will have previous experience of planning and running successful public programmes, and of working with a range of audiences. With demonstrable effective teamworking skills, they will be an expert communicator and confident engaging with Earth and environmental science and current global issues. An understanding of current good practice in museums or similar environments is essential for the role, alongside previous experience of managing staff and/or volunteers. Previous experience of reporting and advocating to funders and stakeholders would also be advantageous.
Please note the role holder will be required to contribute to the Museum's Duty Management rota, including working approx. 11 Saturdays a year and may be required to occasionally work out of hours / offsite to deliver activities or events, with prior agreement.
Limited funding: The funds for this post are available for 5 years in the first instance.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and covering letter, setting out how you meet the requirements of the role, in the upload section.
Please see the role description for more information. If you have any questions or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact the Director, Liz Hide on; eah12@cam.ac.uk
We understand that some applicants may want to use AI tools to help them draft their application. We are looking for a Learning and Engagement Manager who has very strong communication skills, so please make sure your own authentic voice, skills and communication style can shine through in your application.
We hope to hold interviews on Tuesday 01 December 2026.
Please quote reference LB51447 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.