Project Officer Job Description and Person Specification Particulars and Selection Procedure Introduction Thank you for your interest in the post of Project Officer (PO). This application pack is intended to provide you with all the information you need to decide whether to apply for the role but if you need any further information or have any queries, please contact; Ben Stoker (Church Development Officer, Diocese of Lincoln) Tel: 01522 504049 Email: [email protected] Dr Matthew Godfrey (Historic Churches Support Officer, Diocese of Lincoln) Tel: 01522 504048 Email: [email protected] Contract This post is offered as a 2-year freelance project contract paid for by funds secured from a successful stage one application to the HLF under the Heritage Grant scheme for £1.8 million. The Project Officer (PO) will be accountable to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and Priest in Charge of Algarkirk, St Peter and St Paul’s but will not be directly employed by them. Therefore, no pension or holiday entitlement will be offered. There is the potential for the post to be extended by two years into the delivery phase at the same rate, subject to a successful second stage funding application.

Working Hours The PO will be required to deliver on all project outcomes over a two-year period, commencing from a date agreed by the PO and the project group. There will be no prescribed working hours; however, the PO will be expected to meet targets agreed with the project group at the outset of the project; these will be subject to regular review. It is also expected that the PO will be on-site as regularly as is appropriate to deliver the outputs/outcomes of the project. Budget This post will not be salaried. There will be a set fee for project delivery, which will include all travel, sustenance, labour, communications and material expenses. The maximum fee available for this is £20,000/year (£40,000 - 2 years development, £40,000 - 2 years delivery, subject to a successful HLF Stage 2 pass). The outputs and outcomes of the project may be delivered by either an individual or company. Please note: For clarity the role will be referred to as a single post, that of Heritage Engagement Officer, throughout the Job Description and Person Specification. Application Process If you would like to be considered for this work please submit a CV or company profile, a covering letter detailing why you are the best person/company to complete this project and your proposed fee for the work. Applications are invited from all suitably-experienced individuals and companies. (Please refer to the Person Specification.) Assessment of Applications Applications will be assessed on a price/quality basis. Shortlisting will take place immediately after the closing date. Closing Date: 23 January 2015 Interview Shortlisted candidates will be invited to St Peter and St Paul’s for interview on 6 February 2015. Candidates will be asked to deliver a short presentation on a subject related to the project. Details of this will be made available to shortlisted candidates. Decision It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded within one week of the interview date.

Context The Church The grade I listed Anglican parish church St Peter and St Paul’s (hereafter referred to as ‘the church’) is described by many locally as ‘the mini cathedral of the fens’. It is a large medieval church that was substantially restored in the 1850s; it is situated adjacent to a scheduled monument relating to a medieval shrunken settlement of Algarkirk. It is a Fenland church of cathedral-like proportions with a aisled nave, clerestory, aisled transepts, crossing tower, and large chancel. The earliest parts of the building date from the late 12th century; with phases of development following in 13th, 14th, and late 15th centuries. It was extensively restored by R C Carpenter 1850-54 and the chancel was elaborately painted by J G Crace (a colleague of Pugin). The magnificent stained glass windows are highly significant; those at the cardinal points of the building are each filled with an intricate curvilinear decorated tracery, whilst the stained glass is by Hardman & Co and Clayton & Bell, important Victorian craftsmen. All this was done under the patronage of one man, Revd Basil Beridge. The Project The church is undertaking a bold conservation and restoration project to rescue and reinstate the painted chancel and scheme of stained glass windows, which have both been described as being close to complete loss. Along with this, the outstanding urgent repairs to the church building will be carried out. This project represents a unique opportunity to share the heritage and art that is embodied in the church building. This will be done through an ‘open’ restoration project where members of the public will be invited to view the work being done on the church; the establishment of a programme of heritage skills workshops; and the installation of facilities such as a kitchenette and lavatory, the latter being housed in a new north porch extension, to make provision for visitors and members of the local community who will be encouraged to use the church for a variety of activities and events. To enhance visitors’ learning experiences, a new exhibition and interpretation scheme will be introduced into the church. This scheme will display objects, such as tomb effigies, and provide a range of engagement opportunities—from 3D modelling on a touchscreen facility to a new guidebook—that will help to tell the story of the church in an accessible and inspiring way. A research facility, containing facsimiles of historic documents and a range of published material, will also be established at the church for use by amateur and professional historians, as well as members of the general pubic. The next two years will constitute the development phase of this project. During this time it will be necessary to prepare for the delivery phase. This will require that a detailed activity plan is written, ideas are ‘tested’, consultations are carried out and a strong case for the continuation of the project prepared.

Once additional funding has been secured through a stage 2 application to the HLF and other funding organisations, the delivery phase will see the procurement of a specialist conservation company; contractors and workshop facilitators to deliver a new scheme of interpretation and learning opportunities; the display of objects and artefacts related to the church in a permanent exhibition; the undertaking of further urgent repairs to the church building; and the implementation of a complementary programme of temporary exhibitions and workshops relating to the progress of the project. Please see ‘Project Information’ and ‘CMP’ for further details about the church, its conservation and this project.

Management Structure

The role of Project Officer (PO) This role is vital to the success of the project. The PO will take responsibility for the delivery of key strategic aims of the project as well as coordinate all project activity. Principal duties During the 2-year development phase of the project the PO will: Communications  Act as a point of contact for contractors working on and off site.  Support a publicity and marketing strategy for the church; begin to implement this.



Carry out public engagements to raise the profile of the project

Partnerships  Recruit volunteers from the local community, and further afield where appropriate, to act as church stewards; researchers; maintenance team members; church guides; or any other appropriate role at the church  Develop formal and informal partnerships with organisations and individuals who will contribute to the enhancement of the visitor offer at the church, including but not limited to universities, schools, local history groups, independent amateur and professional historians, workshop facilitators, and other heritage sites with complementary schemes of decoration (eg. Cheadle, St Giles)  Organise, in partnership with the Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln and others, a range of ‘taster’ workshops to establish a model for the delivery of a successful programme of heritage activities in the long term  Organise and deliver a programme of talks and tours at the church. These should focus on the project and the significance of the church as an exemplar of the Gothic Revival in Lincolnshire Consultation  Conduct an ongoing consultation with local and wider communities to ensure the project delivers what is needed and desired Evaluation  Conduct an ongoing evaluation to ensure all proposed outcomes for the development phase are delivered on time and within budget; this should include an audience review to ensure activities are properly targeted during the delivery phase  Prepare a report for the project team detailing the progress of the development phase; the achievements to date; and an assessment of the viability of each project component. Project Development  Help to ensure that all output targets are met.  Contribute to a detailed activity plan in preparation for the delivery phase of the project in collaboration with the Project Group  Contribute as appropriate to the preparation of the stage 2 application (delivery phase) to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding applications  Contribute to the strategic aims of the project through meetings with the project team

Accountabilities and Responsibilities During the delivery phase the PO will; 

Be ultimately accountable to the Priest in charge and PCC. However, s/he will be accountable to the project team on a day-to-day basis.



Manage all volunteers and take responsibility for all training, including Health and Safety.



Conduct a Risk Assessment for each aspect of the project delivered at the church.



Ensure that Best Practice, as agreed with the project team, is adhered to at all times

Key relationships Internally  The PCC, Priest in charge and Project Group  Volunteers Externally  Economic, tourism and heritage partnerships in the Boston area, particularly other churches  Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln  Relevant Statutory amenity bodies such as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)  Universities and colleges  Local schools  Independent historians  Local history groups  Any other appropriate organisation or individual Note: The identification of key external partners and development of these relationships is a key responsibility of this post Working practices  To work in a confidential and sensitive manner at all times  To encourage good relationships with immediate colleagues, other staff, volunteers and external contacts  To be aware of and act in accordance with Safeguarding Policy  To be aware of and act in accordance with Equal Opportunities policy  To be aware of and act in accordance with Data Protection legislation and procedures

Key Challenges  The ability to engage with numerous stake holders all of whom will have a differing view of the church, the project and its proposed outcomes  Establishing a model of best practice for the delivery phase  Working within the development phase budget  Communicating with a broad audience with a variety of interests  Managing expectations locally  Establishing the church as a centre for learning about the Gothic Revival in Lincolnshire  Understanding that the church is a living community which needs to preserve its religious uses whilst balancing the need to establish itself as a heritage destination for long term sustainability

Person Specification / Required Skills and Experience This role will be both challenging and rewarding. In order that all proposed outcomes are successfully delivered on time and within budget the individual or company should possess the following attributes;

Essential Experience and skills  Experience of project management  Knowledge of the heritage sector or visitor attractions  A demonstrable knowledge of marketing techniques and income generation  Experience of working with young people  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills  A high level of advocacy and negotiating skills  The ability to recruit, lead and motivate a team of volunteers  Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively and forge effective working relationships  Ability to identify appropriate advice and information  A willingness to engage with the wider community  Demonstrable ability to solve problems  Good time-management skills  Experience of budgets and accounts, including managing funding from grantgiving organisations and other sources  Excellent IT skills  A good standard of written and spoken English

Attributes and aptitudes  A current DBS check  Driving Licence and access to a vehicle  Public Liability Insurance  Leadership

   

Self confidence Enthusiasm and energy Ability and willingness to work outside normal office hours Sympathy with and ability to work within the ethos of a Christian organisation; however, Christian Faith is not a requirement of this post.

Desirable  

An interest of architectural history and/or historic places of worship Knowledge of Church of England organisational structures

Outcomes During the development phase of this project it is expected that the PO will meet the following targets as a minimum: Heading Heritage Skills taster days Welcome team (minimum 8 volunteers) formed and trained Heritage / research group formed and trained Tours and talks about the project / church Interpretation plan (in conjunction with the Project Group) Volunteers across all activities

Feasibility study for heritage activities Public consultations Evaluation of Development phase activities Activity Plan (in conjunction with the Project Group)

Number to be achieved 4 1

1 4 1

Equivalent to 30 unskilled hours; or 15 skilled hours; or 10 specialist hours per month. Or a combination of the above. 1 4 1

1

By the completion of the delivery phase of the project (pending a successful Stage 2 application to the HLF) the following should have been achieved or bettered. Heading Visitors Trained participants Full-time equivalent volunteer posts

Existing numbers p/a 2000 0 2

By Completion p/a 8000 320 130