Belper North Mill Trust seeks Craft Project Co-ordinator

This page will tell you what you need to know if you are interested in applying for the job of Craft Project Co-ordinator at Strutt’s North Mill.  It includes the following:

1.Overview – brief details of the post.

2.Strutt’s North Mill – a brief description of the museum/visitor centre.

3.The 2017 Craft Project – a detailed summary of what the current Project is about.

4.Person Specification – what we are looking for in the successful candidate.

5.Job Description – an outline of the post’s main responsibilities.

6.Application Process – how to apply for the post.

Overview

  • The Belper North Mill Trust, which runs the Strutt’s North Mill museum/Derwent Valley Visitor Centre, is currently seeking to fill the position of Craft Project Co-ordinator.
  • The position is for 250 hours throughout 2017 (which equates to approximately 5 hours per week, for 50 weeks), at £10.26 per hour, plus statutory holiday pay.
  • The closing date for applications is 3pm on Thursday 2nd February 2017. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 14th February 2017.

Strutt’s North Mill

  • Strutt’s North Mill is a small, independent, Accredited museum with collections related to Belper’s cotton spinning and hosiery industries and is a key component within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, which extends from Cromford to Derby.
  • The Museum and associated Derwent Valley Visitor Centre are open 11am-4pm, Wednesday-Sunday (plus Bank Holiday Mondays) from March to October, and Sunday and Saturday during November and February; it is closed December-January.
  • The Trust employs a part-time Manager and a Fundraising & Volunteer Support Officer, but the Museum/Visitor Centre is staffed by volunteers.

The 2017 Craft Project

  • The Trust has been awarded funding from the Foyle Foundation to extend and expand its award-winning 2016 Community Craft Project, funded by the Postcode Community Trust.
  • The new project will build on the achievements of the 2016 Project within a framework that aims to fulfil the overall objectives of the Trust.  These encompass:
  1. Sustainability – the Project is intended to make the Strutt’s North Mill operation more sustainable in the long run and the Project’s activities therefore need to be made sustainable beyond the end of its present funding.
  2. Capacity – the Project needs to create greater capacity within the Strutt’s North Mill operation by undertaking relevant activities that would not otherwise be possible.
  3. Embedding – the Project should help with embedding the Strutt’s North Mill operation within the local community and the World Heritage Site.
  4. Enhancing – the Project should interpret the cotton spinning and hosiery industries represented by the Museum and thereby enhance the Museum’s offer.
  5. Increasing footfall & revenue - the Trust is dependent on visitor income to fund many of its operations and the Project should therefore seek to raise revenue wherever feasible.  Equally, visitor numbers are an important indicator of the Museum/Visitor Centre’s role in the local economy so the Project should also seek to increase footfall.
  • In more detail it is envisaged that the 2017 Project will concentrate on the following:
  1. Craft Team – to further establish an on-going volunteer craft team to develop and run craft activities in the long term and as part of this to develop a Craft Club to operate within the Museum/Visitor Centre.  One aspect of this would be to develop and manufacture new high quality product ranges for the Museum/Visitor Centre shop.
  2. Education Offer – to build on the relationships Strutt’s North Mill have been developing with local schools and community groups through craft activities in order to encourage them to make visits to the Museum.  In addition, to create new craft activities to incorporate within the core offer for schools.
  3. Programme of Events – to stage a programme of on-site activities or workshops for the public when the Museum is open in order to increase footfall/revenue.
  4. Temporary Exhibition – to create a high quality temporary exhibition (October-November 2017) to illustrate how craft activities can be used to interpret the industrial processes showcased within the Museum and make them more accessible.
  5. Marketing – to create publicity materials and implement marketing for the Project in order to maximise uptake.
  6. Measurement – to develop a robust methodology for measuring the success of the Project’s activities against the criteria 1-5 above and to produce a report at the end of the Project incorporating these measurements.

Person Specification

The Craft Project Co-ordinator is the key appointment for delivery of the 2017 Craft Project to the template outlined above.  The successful candidate will be a talented and enthusiastic individual capable of creating a sustainable project.  Guidance will be available from the Manager and the Fundraising and Volunteer Support Officer when required but it is expected that the Project will be driven and delivered by the Co-ordinator.  As such they will have experience in developing and running craft activities, working with children and young people, and with the ability to enthuse volunteer participants.

Essential skills and / or qualifications:

  • A good general standard of education.
  • Experience of running craft activities, particularly activities which relate to heritage.
  • A good understanding of how to promote events and activities.
  • Experience working within the context of schools.
  • Experience working within the context of community groups.
  • Experience organising events and initiating new projects.
  • Experience measuring the success of projects and writing summary reports.
  • A demonstrable interest in history and heritage.
  • Due to the nature of the role involving working with local schools, the appointed Craft Project Coordinator must complete a DBS check with Belper North Mill Trust.

Personal qualities:

  • Self-reliant, with the ability to think creatively and work on your own initiative.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent organisational skills.

Job Description

The Craft Project Coordinator will be responsible for:

  • Further establishing an on-going volunteer craft team.
  • Building on the relationships Strutt’s North Mill have been developing with local schools and community groups and encouraging them to make visits to the Museum.
  • Developing new craft activities to incorporate within the Museum’s general provision and Education Offer.
  • Organising and delivering, either directly or indirectly, a programme of on-site activities or workshops for the public, in order to increase footfall/revenue.
  • Creating a high quality temporary exhibition (October-November 2017) to illustrate how craft activities can be used to interpret the industrial processes showcased within the Museum and make them more accessible.
  • Creating publicity materials and implement marketing for the Craft Project in order to maximise uptake.
  • Developing a robust methodology for measuring the success of the Project’s activities against the criteria 1-5 above and to produce a report at the end of the Project incorporating these measurements.

Application Process

Applications can be made by e-mail, or by post. Please send your curriculum vitae and a one (1) page accompanying letter outlining your interest and relevant expertise for this position, together with the names and contact details of two (2) referees who are acquainted with your work. Please include the name, phone number, e-mail and address of your chosen referees.

Applications should be by e-mail to the Fundraising and Volunteer Support Officer: tom.wyke@belpernorthmill.org.uk
Or by post to: Tom Wyke – Fundraising and Volunteer Support Officer, Belper North Mill Trust, Strutt’s North Mill, The Derwent Valley Visitor Centre, Bridgefoot, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1YD.

The closing date for applications is 3pm on Thursday 2nd February. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 14th February. If you would like any additional information concerning the position, please telephone 07814 609196.

The Belper North Mill Trust reserves the right not to make an appointment if no suitable applications are received.

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