Building Craft and Conservation Programme Manager

The Role:

The Building Craft and Conservation Programme Manager will have overarching and day-to-day responsibility for leading The King’s Foundation’s Building Craft and Conservation programme, including the Summer School at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland and the annual Live Build (venues TBC).

The Building Craft and Conservation Programme is an exceptional training programme which has been a flagship programme for the The King’s Foundation for nearly two decades. It has consistently and successfully trained the next generation of crafts people to enter the heritage building craft sector. It is highly respected within the industry and attracts talented and committed students. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to lead this vital and progressive programme.

The post holder will take an operational role in the development, delivery and implementation of programme activity, and any associated events. They will ensure that the programme links to the priorities laid out in the organisation strategic plan and ensure delivery of relevant and up to date best practice within the sector is achieved. The post holder will manage internal and external (NVQ) evaluation and be responsible for producing a number of reports in line with funding requirements. The post holder will be responsible for managing a small team of external tutors, and consultants to effectively deliver excellence against the strategic aims.

Drawing on the experience and knowledge of the King’s Foundation and the Harmony approach in delivering education, the post holder will be responsible for assisting in the maintaining and developing a network of affiliate educational institutions, industry partners, placement providers and supporters, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality education experience to students.

Key Tasks
Specific Duties will include:

Curriculum

• Deliver The King’s Foundation’s Building Craft and Conservation Programme to include the Summer School at Dumfries House and the Live Build and review against aims annually.
• Support the Senior Education Manager in the wider Building Craft Education Strategy.
• Responsible for managing tutors involved in the delivery of the relevant programmes.
• Oversee pastoral care and progression routes for students on the course as well as maintaining alumni database.
• Manage the Level 3 NVQ Heritage Skills Certification for the Building Craft Programme with support of the Vocational Qualifications Coordinator and the external assessment provider.
• Managing the delivery of a series of Live Builds, overseeing freelance practitioners tasked with the administration and day to day running of the Live Build.

Stakeholder and Funder Relationships
Liaise with external stakeholders and consultants utilised in the delivery of the programmes and key organisations in the heritage craft sector, such as English Heritage, Historic Scotland, QEST and other relevant built environment agencies, and with building contractors and placement providers.

• Where appropriate represent The King’s Foundation as a subject expert.

Administrative
Maintain effective administrative systems, policies, and procedures to provide an organised and efficient structure for the delivery of the programme. These systems will include:

1. Timetables /programming
2. Student Recruitment
3. Attendance records
4. Resource management and budget planning
5. Evaluation of programme delivery
6. Annual and funding report content

Budget and Finance

• Alongside the Senior Education Manager, plan and manage the budget for the King’s Foundation’s Building Craft and Conservation Programme, the Summers School and the Live Build.
• Manage tutor agreements and contracts.

General

• Where appropriate represent the Foundation as a subject expert.
• A willingness to travel throughout the UK and occasionally internationally.
• Ensure facilities and resources are appropriately maintained at Highgrove, Dumfries House and other locations, as needed.
• Work with other King’s Foundation departments to ensure links between theory and practice are integrated with education.

It is in the nature of the work of the King’s Foundation that tasks and responsibilities arise that can be unpredictable and varied. All staff are therefore expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises.

Person Specification
The essential skills, knowledge and experience required are:

• Qualification or experience within a building craft or related sector
• Relevant and up to date industry experience/knowledge in building craft/urbanism/heritage sector. Alternatively, qualification or experience within a building craft, architecture or related discipline.
• Knowledge of the Education environment in relationship to further and higher education, as well as alternative routes into the heritage building craft sector.
• Excellent project management experience, overseeing projects including experience of educational and/or apprenticeship programmes.
• Experience in delivering educational or training workshops to a variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent understanding of principles of conservation and sustainability, and how these relate to the industry and education sectors.
• Excellent network of stakeholders within the sector.
• A positive and can-do attitude in a fast paced and highly rewarding environment.

Desirable –

• Experience managing grant or foundation funded programmes, including reporting and financial management requirements.
• Ability to work proactively and flexibly under pressure and to achieve set objectives.
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrable innovation in approach.
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Understanding of and support for the ethos and principles underlying The King’s Foundation and Harmony Education.
• Competencies necessary for the role include strategic thinking, teamwork, performance management, budget management, working to deadlines, organisational and leadership qualities, research and writing skills and influencing skills.
• The ability to communicate efficiently and clearly in spoken and written language with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Confident use of computers, and ability to create high-quality presentations. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).

Other:

• The post will be based at Highgrove, Doughton with the requirement to travel to other King’s Foundation sites as part of this role on occasion, particularly to Dumfries House, Scotland.
• Your working hours will be 37.5 hours per week (including occasional evening and weekend working).
• You must have the legal right to work in the UK.
• This post is considered to be a regulated activity therefore any offer will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure check with the Disclosure Scotland.

Applications
Please submit a cover letter and CV to Gordon Watson using our online form (please note one A4 page maximum each for CV and letter. Word docs and PDFs only, no external links e.g. Google Drive). For any questions, please contact us at hr.recruitment@kings-foundation.org.