Job Description

Salary:

35,000.00 per annum pro rata plus 1,500 Duty Manager allowance

Working Hours:

Part-time (0.8 hours FTE) including some evenings and weekends

Annual Leave:

34 Days inclusive of public holidays and closures (Christmas and New Year) pro rata

Contract Length:

Until end May 2026. Contracts may be extended beyond this, subject to funding.

The Heritage & Learning Manager is the senior manager responsible for all heritage, collections, learning and engagement activities at HMS Unicorn, serving as the authoritative voice on the historic vessel and its collections during this transformative period for the organisation, as well as the public face of the Unicorn Preservation Society's museum and educational programmes.

The postholder will have ultimate responsibility for HMS Unicorn's heritage and learning activities, ensuring the delivery of excellent visitor experiences through high-quality exhibitions, collections management, education programmes, and community engagement. As a key member of the senior management team, this role is vital to maintaining Museum Accreditation standards and driving the heritage aspects of the organisation's transition from a traditional museum to an innovative visitor experience through Project Safe Haven.

The post holder will be the primary authority on the historic vessel, providing expert guidance on what can and cannot be altered during the conservation process, documenting changes to the ship, interpreting decay and damage to communicate the urgency of the conservation programme, and ensuring the rich 200-year history of HMS Unicorn is preserved and effectively communicated throughout Project Safe Haven.

The postholder will have direct management of learning, engagement and museum staff, and indirect responsibility for volunteers, interns and apprentices. They will represent the CEO, the Unicorn Preservation Society and Trustees at key meetings and events, carrying the requisite responsibility and authority to act as the organisation's heritage ambassador.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Heritage Leadership

Lead and develop HMS Unicorn's heritage and collections functions, positioning the ship's historical significance at the core of the organisation's transition to a visitor experience Provide authoritative guidance on the historic vessel during Project Safe Haven, advising the UPS team, contractors and volunteers on what elements can and cannot be altered, moved or conserved Document and interpret the 200-year history of HMS Unicorn, including changes to the vessel over time, modern damage and decay, to justify conservation efforts and communicate the significance of Project Safe Haven Develop and deliver heritage interpretation strategies that will form the foundation of the new visitor experience Work with the CEO, Chief Finance & Administration Manager and the Operations Manager to ensure that heritage considerations are central to planning and budgeting decisions
Collections Management and Heritage Conservation

Serve as the primary guardian of HMS Unicorn as a historic artefact, developing policies and procedures designed to safeguard the vessel, its collections, and its intangible and social histories Lead the acquisition of new items for the collection as Project Safe Haven develops, actively seeking out physical objects and intangible stories that enhance the historical narrative of HMS Unicorn Establish protocols for the movement and display of historic objects both within and outside the museum collection, ensuring compliance with insurance requirements and conservation best practices With the Museum Officer, document the archaeological and historical significance of HMS Unicorn, Victoria Dock, East Graving Dock, and the Project Safe Haven journey Ensure the museum maintains Museum Accreditation standards, implementing appropriate policies and procedures for collections management and documentation With the CEO and colleagues, contribute to the development and maintenance of emergency plans for the rescue and recovery of museum collections in the event of an incident such as fire, flood, and infestation
Transitional Interpretation and Exhibition Development

Design, develop and deliver engaging heritage interpretation that will transition effectively from the current museum setting to the new visitor experience Lead on the documentation and interpretation of the conservation process itself, creating compelling narratives around the preservation journey Create opportunities for temporary exhibitions that enhance the visitor experience while highlighting the historical significance of HMS Unicorn Engage with difficult histories concerning HMS Unicorn, her creation and collections Supervise, in conjunction with the Operations Manager, any changes to Unicorn's physical displays and artefacts within UPS and its various locations Serve as the authority on how and where historic objects can and should be moved, ensuring relevant procedures are followed
Learning and Community Engagement

Oversee and develop learning and engagement programmes that are firmly rooted in the rich heritage of HMS Unicorn Lead community engagement initiatives, including the award-nominated "WaveMakers" programme, ensuring heritage interpretation is accessible to diverse audiences Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with heritage organisations, educational institutions, community groups and other stakeholders Create and implement audience development strategies to broaden engagement and increase visitor numbers Regularly evaluate the heritage offer and its visitor profile to inform future planning and audience development
Project Safe Haven Advocacy

Serve as a vocal advocate for the heritage aspects of Project Safe Haven, ensuring the historical significance of HMS Unicorn remains at the forefront of all development work Educate and inform visitors about the present and future works, including Project Safe Haven and Unicorn's future home at the East Graving Dock, placing these narratives at the heart of our engagement Contribute expertise to conversations on how Project Safe Haven works will affect HMS Unicorn and what new facilities will look like With the Museum Officer, proactively research and document the historical and archaeological connections between HMS Unicorn, Victoria Dock, East Graving Dock, and the conservation journey Contribute to funding applications, project management, budget monitoring and reporting for heritage projects
External Representation and Communication

Serve as a key public representative for HMS Unicorn's heritage, delivering talks, tours and presentations to visitors, stakeholders and the media Represent the CEO and Unicorn Preservation Society at key meetings and events within the museum and heritage sector in Dundee, Scotland and beyond With the Marketing & Communications Officer, develop heritage-focused marketing, press, publicity, and social media campaigns to promote HMS Unicorn and its visitor offer Participate in the Duty Manager system, with responsibilities including acting as key holder and responding to emergencies

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria

Experience of managing and leading a team in a heritage, museum or cultural setting Significant experience in a museum, heritage or cultural setting, with a strong understanding of collections management and documentation processes Ability to work collaboratively within a small team while providing clear leadership Ability to make decisions regarding the operations and development of learning, engagement and volunteer programmes Ability to motivate and lead staff and volunteers Experience of developing and delivering successful exhibitions, interpretation and educational programmes Proven track record in engaging diverse audiences through innovative learning and outreach activities Experience of making collections accessible to a wide audience Experience in developing and running museum learning programmes based around collections Experience in developing and maintaining partnerships with a range of stakeholders Experience of working with community groups to co-produce exhibitions or activities Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organisation professionally Excellent project planning and management skills Understanding of audience development and visitor engagement techniques Self-starter and able to work independently Effective and efficient manager of own time and delegation Excellent time management skills and the ability to delegate tasks where appropriate Strong IT skills including knowledge of collections management databases, MS Office and till systems Able to relate well to all types of people Demonstrable experience in providing authoritative guidance on heritage conservation Experience in documenting historic assets and interpreting their significance to diverse audiences
Desirable Criteria

Knowledge of Museum Accreditation requirements and best practice in collections care Degree or postgraduate qualification in museum studies, heritage management, history, education or a related field Good understanding of fundraising, budget management and project evaluation Experience of working with maritime collections or in a maritime heritage context Experience of working in a small/independent museum environment Experience of working on capital development projects Experience of using digital media for interpretation and engagement Knowledge of the Scottish heritage and museum sector Knowledge of maritime history, particularly relating to wooden naval vessels Understanding of conservation issues relating to historic ships Understanding of the visitor attraction sector in Scotland Experience of documenting conservation processes for historic vessels or significant heritage assets
Full job description available at https://www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/about-us/careers/

This role represents an exciting opportunity to join our team at a pivotal moment in HMS Unicorn's 200-year history. We encourage applicants to apply by submitting:

A CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role
Please submit informal enquiries and applications to: recruitment@hmsunicorn.org.uk

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 35,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 28 per week

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Dundee, DD1 3BP

Application deadline: 14/05/2025