We are recruiting for a Community Engagement Manager for our client, the Museum of East Dorset. As a Community Engagement Manager, you’ll play a key role in strengthening the Museum of East Dorset’s relationships with local communities across Dorset. You’ll lead and develop meaningful opportunities for people to connect with what we do, with a particular focus on older people, people living with dementia, those experiencing loneliness or isolation, and people who are new to our growing neighbourhoods.
This is a new role, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the 'Resilient Heritage: Securing East Dorset's Stories' project. You’ll build on the Museum of East Dorset’s existing community engagement work while developing and testing new approaches to reaching people who may be less likely to engage with traditional heritage and community activities. In doing so, you’ll help deliver the community engagement priorities set out in our 2026–29 Business Plan and ensure that local people have a genuine voice in shaping our future programmes and activities.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly value the different perspectives, experiences and connections that people can bring to this role.
Responsibilities
Community Needs & Insight:
- Map the needs of vulnerable and underserved groups across East Dorset through at least 10 interviews with community organisations and produce a practical needs report to shape our work.
- Work with new residents in areas of housing growth to help them feel connected and part of the community.
Partnerships & Outreach:
- Identify and build relationships with six to eight community and wellbeing partners (at least two new partnerships formed) and strengthen our existing partnerships.
- Establish the museum as a welcoming, regular destination for at least three care homes, day centres or community groups.
- Represent the museum at relevant local networks and forums.
Inclusive Programme Delivery:
- Deliver inclusive community engagement activity, drawing on existing programmes (Reminiscence Outreach, Times Gone By, HAF, Foodbank+ partnership) and piloting new approaches.
- Apply safeguarding, UK GDPR and inclusive practice consistently in all community-facing work.
Funding & Evaluation:
- Work with our Fundraising Consultant to build the evidence, case and applications needed to secure the work’s future through funding.
- Work with our Evaluation Consultant to capture outcomes, beneficiary numbers and stories for NLHF reporting and future bids.
- Tell the story of impact in ways that resonate with funders, trustees and partners.
Volunteer Management:
- Support the Volunteer Coordinator, who is also a volunteer, to recruit, induct and develop community engagement volunteers.
- Recruit volunteers from across East Dorset to keep travel mileage low and encourage broad participation.
Environmental Sustainability:
- Embed environmental good practice into community engagement delivery.
- Use public transport wherever practical and choose durable, reusable resources and equipment.
General:
- Travel across East Dorset and work regular evenings or weekends as necessary to best carry out the role.
- Comply with the museum’s Health & Safety processes and procedures in order to minimise the risk to the public, staff and volunteers.
- Act as a role model in encouraging a code of conduct that supports personal credibility, integrity and confidence in the future of the museum.
- You will be expected to carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in line with the scope of your role.
Person Specification
Experience:
- Experience of delivering community engagement, outreach or participation work – ideally in heritage, museums, health and wellbeing, social prescribing or the voluntary sector.
- Experience of building trusted relationships with communities who may experience barriers to participation, including older people, people living with dementia, those experiencing loneliness or isolation or those affected by poor mental health. Experience building partnerships across health, care, voluntary and community settings.
- Experience of capturing and communicating the impact of community engagement in ways that resonate with funders, trustees and partners.
- Experience of contributing to funding applications.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of, or enthusiasm for learning about the history and culture of East Dorset, and the ability to engage others with its stories.
- Understanding of safeguarding, UK GDPR and inclusive practice in community-facing work.
- Awareness of environmental sustainability in the planning and delivery of activities.
- An understanding of how heritage can contribute to social good and strengthen communities.
Skills and approach:
- Strong interpersonal, listening and communication skills, with a natural partnership-building style.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and access, with the ability to engage people from a wide range of backgrounds.
- A flexible and collaborative approach, with a willingness to support colleagues and contribute across a small team.
- The ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities effectively, while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
- Strong organisational, time management and written communication skills.
- Confident use of standard office and digital software.
Desirable
It would be a bonus – but is not essential – if you also bring:
- Existing networks across Dorset’s health, care or voluntary sectors.
- Experience of working in a small museum, heritage charity, or National Lottery Heritage Fund-funded project.
- Lived experience or strong personal connection to the communities we’re seeking to engage.
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, where required to reach community locations not easily accessible by public transport.
Salary: £28,000 – £32,000 per annum, depending on experience
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, including regular evenings and weekends, dependent on community activity/partner needs
Contract: Fixed-term, 12 months
How to apply
If you’re excited by the opportunity to connect people with East Dorset’s stories, heritage and communities, we’d love to hear from you.
Please don’t wait to apply! We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a strong response, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please send through your CV (maximum two sides of A4) and a short covering letter (maximum two sides of A4) via Indeed or send to Chezzie Hollow [email protected], telling us why you’re interested in the role and how you meet the person specification.
If you’d like an informal chat about the role before applying, please email ([email protected]) to arrange a call.
Closing date: 11 September '26 and interviews are due to take place w/c 21 September '26.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly from people currently under-represented in the heritage and culture sector. We will interview any disabled candidate who meets the essential criteria. Please let us know if you need any adjustments to take part in this recruitment process.
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
If you require our Job Description in an alternative format, such as large print, audio or a coloured background, you can contact: Chezzie Hollow, [email protected]
Pay: £28,000.00-£32,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Wimborne BH21 1HR: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- What is your current/most recent annual salary?
- What is your notice period/earliest available start date?
- Have you used any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, or similar tools) to support the preparation of your application?
- A cover letter is a requirement for your application to be considered. Please confirm it is attached.
- We plan for interviews to take place w/c 21 September. Are there particular days/times that work best for you to attend an interview should you be shortlisted?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Location:
- Wimborne BH21 1HR (preferred)
Work Location: In person
