Are you an experienced heritage professional looking for an exciting opportunity to manage and lead the operation of Shaw House, a Grade I listed building, owned by West Berkshire Council? We are seeking a dedicated and motivated individual to join our Culture and Libraries Service as the Shaw House Manager, reporting to the Culture and Libraries Manager.
About the Role
As the Shaw House Manager, you will be responsible for:
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Managing the day-to-day operation of Shaw House, ensuring its effective functioning as a heritage site, community resource, and venue for events and activities.
- Leading a small team of staff and volunteers, providing guidance and support to deliver high-quality services to visitors and users of Shaw House.
- Working closely with external contractors and specialists to ensure appropriate maintenance and restoration work is carried out where necessary.
- Implementing the business plan for Shaw House to shape the strategic direction with a focus on income generation
- Assisting with budget management of Shaw House, including securing new income generation opportunities through events, room hire, and other activities.
- Developing and implementing programming and activities that engage the local community, promote heritage education, and enhance visitor experience.
- Collaborating with other organisations and stakeholders to maximise opportunities for partnership working and funding applications.
- Ensuring building compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and best practices in heritage management.
About You
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:
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Significant proven experience in heritage management.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team.
- Excellent organisational and project management abilities, with the capacity to handle multiple priorities and deliver results within deadlines.
- Sound financial management skills, including budgeting and income generation.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- A passion for heritage, community engagement, and delivering high-quality visitor experiences.
Why Work for West Berkshire Council?
West Berkshire Council is a great place to work, offering a range of excellent employment benefits:
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Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
- Generous Local Government pension scheme
- Family friendly policies
- A range of local discounts
- Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
- You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 29 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a positive impact in our community while advancing your career. Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Felicity Harrison on 01635 503087 or email
[email protected]
Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
How to apply
Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.
This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.
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AI in Applications
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However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.
We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.
