Job Description

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.
Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.
That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.
We are looking for a Community Engagement Coordinator to join our team. The role is part time and for a fixed term until 31st December 2027. You'll be working 28.8 hours per week.
The Benefits
- Salary from 25,593 pro rata per annum, depending on skills, experience and location
- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years
- Matched pension contributions up to 10%
- Flexible hours
- The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Subscriptions to professional bodies
- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members
- 25% discount in our shops and cafes
- Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave
- Options to buy additional leave
- An inclusive working atmosphere everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs
- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
This is a great opportunity for an experienceed community engagement professional to help deliver this exciting project at Bolsover Castle. The Community Engagement Co-ordinator will develop and deliver a series of agreed events and activities for local people at Bolsover Castle inspired by the life and works of the 17th-century philosopher and author, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.
What you'll be doing as part of the team
1. Develop and execute an outreach plan to engage local residents, community groups and stakeholders with the life and works of Margaret Cavendish, the history of Bolsover Castle, and STEAM learning.
2. Identify and work with local organisations to encourage them to participate in Mind Lab events and activities with a view to them becoming more involved with project and the site on a longer-term basis through volunteering or other opportunities
3. Support the development and management of a project advisory panel and help feed learnings from this group into the wider project
4. Support delivery of a programme of engagement activities and events, including co-ordinating a Margaret Cavendish event in summer 2026 and supporting youth-focused workshops delivered by our project partners
5. Work with the learning and education team to support the delivery of themed learning days
6. Recruit and manage new community engagement and education and learning volunteers, and explore ways to re-invigorate an existing volunteer costumed storytelling role
7. Work with the management team at the property, curatorial, and project partners to support developed and delivery of training for volunteers on philosophy and Margaret Cavendish, embedding this within the existing explainer volunteer offer
8. Liaise with English Heritage departmental staff in Historic Properties, Curatorial, Education, Volunteering and Events to develop and implement coordinated projects and programmes
9. Monitor, document and evaluate all projects in line with English Heritage and National Lottery Heritage Fund KPI's and work with the Evaluation Consultant on the interim and final summative evaluation report
10. Co-ordinate and update information on the Margaret Cavendish's Mind Lab project for press, publicity and marketing purposes.
This is part of the wider Margaret Cavendish's Mind Lab project, supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
As Community Engagement Coordinator will work in partnership with key English Heritage staff, the project advisory committee, and project partners - Writing East Midlands, Junction Arts and the University of York - to oversee the delivery of a wide-ranging programme of community and youth-focused activities. Inspired by Margaret Cavendish, the project seeks to explore creative and innovative ways to engage the public with history and STEAM learning, to prompt new ways of thinking and create new connections. The overall purpose of this role is to actively engage new audiences in learning from, enjoying and valuing the heritage of Bolsover Castle, and to find resonance in the story of Margaret Cavendish.
To be considered as a Community Engagement Co-ordinator you'll need:
- Experience of managing volunteers and volunteer-led activities
- Experience of working with a range of people from the local community, including young people
- Experience of delivering events to reach new audiences, preferably gained within the heritage sector
- Experience of working with external partners and community stakeholders
- Experience of devising and delivering activities with volunteers, contractors and freelancers
- Experience of using a variety of methods to evaluate the success of community related-activities
Interviews will be held on Friday 14th November 2025 at Bolsover Castle.
If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Louise Fountain, Cluster Manager, louise.fountain@english-heritage.org.uk
No agencies please.
Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/
Everybody's welcome at English Heritage
Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.
We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.
Closing date: 05/11/2025 23:59:59
You will need to refer to the following documents when completing your application.

Skills Required