Learning Operations Manager x2

Title: Learning Operations Manager

Contracts available:

1 x Permanent, full-time;

1 x Temporary up to 15 months, full time.

(36 hours per week, 5 in 7, with 1 weekend in 3)

Salary: £ 37,230

About us 

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.   

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. 

We employ 900 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world. 

Diversity and inclusion matter to us. 

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment. 

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected. 

Job Summary 

We have an ambitious new Learning Plan focussed on creating advocates for the planet.  For greatest impact, we will deliver a dynamic programme of galleries, activities, events, and resources, onsite, online, and, offsite centred around pivotal life moments for young people with their schools, teachers, families, and communities, serving a wider cross-section of young people.  

The Schools and Family team will create and deliver high quality learning experiences, resources, and content, inspired by the National Curriculum for a wide range of audiences that inspire and engage young people, their families and teachers with science and the broad range of STEM disciplines essential for understanding the natural world and the changes within it, building foundational and long-lasting relationships with nature, science, and the Museum. 

As a dynamic manager, the post holder will be responsible for 

Managing and developing a high performing team of NHM Learning Facilitators, underpinned by excellence in informal learning practice 

Working with colleagues across Learning to plan and operationally deliver the facilitated learning programme.  

Planning and managing daily operations to ensure the service runs smoothly, safely, efficiently and to a high standard.  

Working with the schools and family management team to develop innovative, audience focussed continuing professional development programmes and a culture of reflective practice amongst the team.

 
Main tasks and responsibilities 

Lead and oversee the day to-day operations for all face-to-face learning activity as part of a rolling three-week/weekend working rota.

Manage and develop a high performing, motivated and reflective Learning Facilitators delivery team, maximising the impact of visitor engagement at the Natural History Museum 

Oversee and monitor our learning programme, working closely with the Senior Learning Manager: Schools and Families to embed a programme of observation and reflective practice across the team 

Alongside the other Learning Operations Manager, manage the ongoing training requirements for the team, including induction programmes, CPD and workshop training.

Work with colleagues across the Learning team to strategically plan and coordinate activity and delivery resources for a sustainable and robust learning programme. 

Collaborate with key stakeholder teams (Visitor Experience, Contact Centre, Digital Content and Marketing teams) to coordinate programming and daily delivery.

Take responsibility for monitoring and regularly reviewing health and safety of learning spaces, overseeing risk management and safeguarding for daily activities.

Forecast and manage the Learning Operations annual operating expenses budget.

Oversee Learning Facilitator resource management, rosters and planners delivering seamless and excellent visitor experience.

Collate and monitor Key Performance Indicators from the work of the team.

Manage aspects of online scheduling and contracting external educators 

Be responsible for the management and maintenance of learning spaces and other related infrastructure  

Shared with the other Learning Operations Manager colleague, directly Line Manage the Learning Curator, ensuring that Learning teams are able to access high quality handling collections for activities and events and also the Learning Facilitator Team Co-ordinator responsible for planning and co-ordinating resource and daily operations 

Manage and oversee the running of the Spirit Collection Tour programme. including working closely with Science and Commercial colleagues 

Work with team colleagues to embed the new Urban Nature Project outputs into business-as-usual operations  

Represent NHM Learning internally and externally 

Ensuring Learning Facilitator team stay up to date with museum and cultural sector best practice.

Person Specification  

Demonstrable passion for and interest in nature, creating advocates for the planet and engaging the widest possible audience 

Significant, demonstrable experience of working in a similar management or operational role within a cultural setting 

Knowledge of learning theory and practice, preferably within a museum or other informal setting 

Significant experience of developing and delivering training, mentoring and professional development programmes 

Significant experience of building and managing educator teams, preferably in a museum or science centre 

Experience of working within a large and complex visitor facing organisation  

Excellent organisational skills with experience in planning, budget management and scheduling the work of others 

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work proactively and collaboratively across an organisation 

Thorough working knowledge of health and safety and safeguarding risk management 

Knowledge and experience of working with key HR processes such as performance appraisal, recruitment, selection and performance management approaches, and equality legislation 

In depth working knowledge of the Equality Duty and its application within a visitor-focused setting 

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work  
We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work. 

Find out more here 

What we offer 

27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)  

Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%) 

Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan 

Life insurance 

Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.  

Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes 

We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential. 

Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk 

Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi