Freelance Director

The Chelsea Heritage Quarter (CHQ) launched in July 2024 and is a collaboration that aims to advance the public’s understanding, participation and appreciation of history and heritage. Through the promotion of co-programmes, marketing initiatives and community outreach, the Quarter aims to drive audiences to the Royal Hospital Road, deepen engagement with history and heritage and play a role in enhancing the local community. The annual flagship programme for the Quarter is the Chelsea History Festival. For more information see www.chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk

You’ll be a brilliant advocate, a strategic leader and highly experienced at working across marketing, fundraising and governance on multiple stakeholder projects. You will represent CHQ at every level and you will gain the trust of the partners through your understanding of their work and your ability to work successfully with colleagues across the Quarter. The energy and enthusiasm to initiate and establish activity across the network is a key requirement of this role. In addition you will bring your network of cultural contacts to the Quarter, as well as an ability to form new partnerships - crucial in developing the Quarter.

As Director you will report to the Director of the Chelsea Physic Garden and the Trustees of the Charity as necessary. The position manages the work of a freelance Programming Co-ordinator plus volunteers and contract support as required.

About the Chelsea Heritage Quarter

The Chelsea Heritage Quarter is applying for charitable status, following its launch in July 2024.

Our current objectives are to:

• Actively encourage visitors to visit the Chelsea Heritage Quarter to learn about history and heritage through the collaboration of cultural venues that are part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter.
• Drive deeper engagement and appreciation of history and heritage by sharing the pioneering work of the cultural organisations that are part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter, thereby building knowledge and audiences to help preserve and make more accessible and relevant our cultural venues, collections and work for future generations.
• Benefit the people living, working and visiting Chelsea by collectively contributing to a community that is engaged, vibrant and creative.
• Work collaboratively across the Quarter, sharing knowledge and resources as openly and effectively as possible, to ensure that together we improve our ability to achieve our charitable aim of advancing the education of the public in history and heritage.

Core activity for the Chelsea Heritage Quarter:

• The annual Chelsea History Festival which will take place from 24 - 28 September in 2025.
• Regular guided walking tours of Chelsea and combined tours of the venues, self guided tours and family activity trails that highlight aspects of heritage in Chelsea and at the partner venues.
• Strategic moments of co-programming each year (eg for 2025 the key themes are: The Victorians, Art at the Chelsea Heritage Quarter and American history).
• Community engagement programmes for defined audience groups.
• Tourist and day-tripper marketing and communication.

Key areas of Responsibility

Governance, Strategy and Planning:

• Support the Board in meeting their obligations under the Charities’ Act, ensuring that activities contribute to the charitable purpose and that annual accounts are submitted on time to the Charities Commission.
• Support the Trustees of the Charity to run effective Board Meetings through the preparation of agendas and papers for Board Meetings and by developing new policies, frameworks and processes to ensure full compliance and good governance.
• Work with the CHQ Board and key personnel at the partner institutions to formulate and get agreement on the strategy and budgets that will ensure the Quarter meets objectives and is a success.
• Ensure there are regular meetings and clear communication between Trustees, steering groups and working groups and that collaboration and information flow is working effectively for the strategy to be delivered.
• Create and manage the annual budget, to be submitted each year to the Charity Commission, with support from the Finance team at the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Development, Fundraising and Partnerships:

• Identify new opportunities for income generation and financial support in line with charitable objectives and overall strategic direction.
• Take forward fundraising proposals and applications in order to fun agreed programmes and if successful deliver the requirements of any funding and ensure evaluation and reporting is completed as required.
• Identify, develop and manage potential new partnerships and networks which will support the objectives of the Quarter.
• Research and develop a strategy for premium visitor experiences across the Quarter as a means of generating income and providing deeper engagement for audiences.

Communications and Marketing:

• Working with colleagues at the partner organisations, create strategic communications and marketing plans to support activity and reach the Quarter’s objectives.
• Working with colleagues at the partner organisations, implement communications and marketing campaigns either directly or through the management of suppliers and contractors.
• Ensure the main marketing and communication platforms and channels for the Quarter are compliant and reflect the work of the Quarter. Information on the website needs to be updated in a timely way and building the newsletter database of subscribers is a key priority going forward.
• Act as the main spokesperson for the Quarter as required and represent the Quarter at community events and other networking opportunities.
• Be a visible and inspiring role-model for collaboration and the work of the Quarter.
• Create and implement a stakeholder engagement plan for the Quarter, building effective relationships and communication with key external stakeholders and managing any advocacy events that are part of that programme.
• Draft and manage corporate communications materials (eg impact reports or annual reports).

Management of resources:

• Oversee processes for the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of CHQ including staffing, implementation of strategies and evaluation of activities.
• Approve expenditure as appropriate and keep clear records of financial commitments.
• Line manage the CHQ Programming Co-ordinator. Make recommendations to the Board on staffing and resources required to deliver the CHQ plans and with the approval of the Board, recruit and manage contractors and suppliers to deliver activities.

For a full job description: Visit chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk/jobs

To apply: Please send your CV and covering letter via the button below by 6pm on 17th February. First round interviews are scheduled for 25th February.