Chelsea Physic Garden is London's oldest botanic garden and contains a unique living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful and medicinal plants that have changed the world.

First established as the Apothecaries' Garden in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants to be used as medicines. This four-acre physic garden, the term referring to the science of healing, is among the oldest botanical gardens in Britain, after Oxford founded in 1621 and Edinburgh in 1670.

Chelsea Physic Garden - Head of Learning and Public Engagement- £35,000 to £38,000

Chelsea Physic Garden has existed on the banks of the Thames since 1673, delivering its founding mission to demonstrate the importance of medicinal and herbal plants to the well-being of humankind. As London's oldest outdoor classroom, the Garden has a thriving learning programme of walks, talks and workshops.

Chelsea Physic Garden is entering a period of large scale project development, as they move toward a celebration of their 350th Anniversary in 2023. The project development and implementation are focused on the ambition to restore, refurbish and re-present the buildings and facilities associated with this Grade 1 listed garden, with a major fundraising appeal supporting this process.

They need a dynamic leader to take on the role of Head of Learning & Public Engagement to help integrate learning in everything we do across our organisation as we build towards, and look beyond, our 350th Anniversary. As a financially self-supporting charity, the Garden's challenge for the future is to reinforce its relevance and popularity whilst strengthening its diverse income streams.

The work of the Learning team is integral to help deliver their mission to demonstrate the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of plants to the survival and well-being of humankind.

Key Responsibilities:
-You will develop and implement a coordinated Learning and Public Engagement programme that delivers learning for a range of key stage areas, whilst also encouraging wider use and understanding of, interest in and enjoyment of Chelsea Physic Garden by students, visitors and educators.

-You will meet, or exceed, annual targets for the number of students and educators that experience the Garden or outreach participants that take part in a programme delivered by or on behalf of the Garden. Ensure that the department meets income budgets for learning and outreach participation.

-You will annually lead in the creation of a financially profitable, dynamic and engaging public engagement programme that broadens the Garden's reach and engages a wide range of audiences.

-The HLPE reports to the Deputy Director (Visitor Experience) who in turn reports to the Director. The HLPE line manages three reports, Schools & Family Officer, the Learning & Public Engagement Officer and the Learning & Public Engagement Co-ordinator.

Key Skills and Experience required:
-Classroom based teaching experience at either Primary or Secondary school level and Experience of working with teachers to implement the National Curriculum
-Experience in developing website and digital learning projects
-Experience of curating a Public Programme with considerable experience of and a wide network of contacts within the sector to bring to bear.
-Confident, accomplished and experienced manager of staff teams
-Ability to be pro-active and to initiate projects and create and drive curriculum linked projects.
-Ability to think strategically, write and present proposals and reports.
-PGCE or suitable equivalent teaching qualification in a relevant subject area (e.g. botany, medicine, ecology, conservation, art history, ICT).  (Desirable)
-Experience of teaching in a museum or similar institution (desirable)

Closing date: Friday 27th March
Interviews: Thursday 2nd April

If you are potentially interested and would welcome a confidential conversation, please contact our advising consultant, Harriet Mountain at Harris Hill on 020 7820 7328 or via email at harriet.mountain@harrishill.co.uk.