We are an award winning, internationally recognised Living Museum with 50 historic buildings and gardens set in the beautiful South Downs National Park. With extraordinary buildings, fascinating artefacts, glorious surroundings and friendly, dedicated people, the Weald and Downland Living Museum is a unique and rewarding place to work.
Job Title: Learning Officer – Families & Communities
Reports to: Learning and Community Manager
Working pattern: Part time – 30 hours – Monday – Friday - 9.00 - 15.00
Location: Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, West Sussex
Contract type: Fixed term – 2 years
Salary: £23,550
About the role
This role focuses on creating and delivering engaging learning experiences for families and local communities, encouraging them to explore and connect with the museum’s buildings, collections and environment. It involves working with a wide range of audiences both on-site and in the wider community to support accessibility and broaden participation. The role also contributes to outreach through the “Museum on the Move” project, bringing activities to schools, care homes and community settings, and works collaboratively with the Learning Team to develop and expand the museum’s learning offer. As summer and school holidays are our busiest periods, candidates must be willing and available to work during these times.
Your responsibilities:
Family and Community Engagement
- In collaboration with the Learning and Community Manager, design and implement vibrant informal learning experiences for families and community groups
· Develop and deliver high- quality and innovative school holiday activities and family programmes to include learning activities, workshops, trails and seasonal programmes with the support of alongside the Learning & Community Manager
· Assist with the planning, development and delivery of our Dinky Dragons Toddler Group alongside the Learning & Community Manager
· Engage with diverse community audiences to widen and diversify museum participation
· Ensure activities are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to audience needs
- Build strategic partnerships with community organisations to grow audiences and strengthen engagement
- Grow, develop and deliver our ‘Museum on the Move’ outreach project
· Research and develop a Community Programme relating to the museum and relevant to local community groups alongside the Learning & Community Manager
· Ensure activities are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to audience needs
Learning Volunteer and Freelancer Management
- Coordinate, train, and develop volunteers and freelance workshop leaders
- Establish and maintain quality standards for educational delivery
- Provide ongoing support and feedback to volunteers and freelance educators
- Manage the recruitment and professional development of workshop leaders
Operational Management
- Help the team manage bookings, enquiries, and administrative tasks for all learning programs (both schools and community)
- Gather feedback, monitor participation, and contribute to evaluation and reporting
- Assist in producing marketing materials and contribute to museum marketing strategies
- Manage learning-related budgets and invoicing under the guidance of the Learning Manager
Collaborative Responsibilities
· Work closely alongside the Learning Officer and Learning Manager and support one another’s work to achieve collective and ambitious results
- Liaise with internal teams (Interpretation, Curatorial, Marketing, Volunteer, Commercial)
- Build relationships with external partners, schools, and community organisations
- Contribute to the museum's interpretive and learning development
- Advocate for and positively represent the Weald and Downland Living Museum within museum sector learning networks
- Promote safeguarding, health and safety, and excellent visitor experience standards in all activities
- Contribute to funding applications and partnership projects where appropriate
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and updated
What we are looking for:
Essential
· A genuine enthusiasm for working with audiences of all ages and backgrounds within a heritage setting
· Deep interest in history, buildings, and rural heritage
· Experience of working with people of a wide variety of ages, abilities and backgrounds
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to communicate with learners of different ages and abilities
· Creative thinking for developing engaging programs and inspiring ideas - Friendly, welcoming and adaptable nature
· Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and manage time effectively to meet deadlines
· Strong communication, interpersonal and teaching skills
· Proactive problem-solving approach
· A willingness to understand the needs of our varied audiences and measures that they may need to have put in place
· Ability to mentor and develop volunteer and freelance teams
· Good initiative and judgement skills with the ability to work using own initiative to problem solve and make appropriate decisions
· Good team player with a readiness to 'pitch in' when necessary and work closely with others in the Learning Team
· Current valid driving license
· As summer and school holidays are our busiest periods, candidates must be willing and available to work during these times
· Availability to work weekends and evenings when required
· A DBS check will be required
What we offer:
· Company pension scheme
· Free car parking
· Staff discount in the museum shop and café
· Free entry to the museum for friends and family
· Access to learning and development opportunities
· The opportunity to work in a unique heritage environment
· Supportive team within a charity dedicated to preserving historic buildings and rural life
Our heritage is richer when it includes all voices. We are working to make our organisation an open, inclusive, and accessible place for people from every background. If you share our passion for connecting people with history in meaningful and inclusive ways, we’d love to hear from you. We’re happy to discuss any support you might need during the application process.
All candidates must already hold the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
Please send a covering letter, CV and answer the following questions:
1. Why do you want to work at the Weald & Downland Museum?
2. What makes an inclusive and accessible learning experience?
3. Why do you think it important that museums go out into the community?
Closing date: 5th July 2026
Interviews will take place on: 14th July 2026
Pay: £23,550.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
