Technical Manager

Overview

Job title: Technical Manager

Salary: SO2 £37,280 – £39,152

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds Art Gallery – will require working across all Leeds Museums and Galleries sites

As the Technical Manager for Leeds Museums and Galleries you will thrive on leading and managing the effective and efficient delivery of technical services across Leeds Museums and Galleries portfolio of sites contributing to the delivery of the service’s strategic plan.

The successful candidate will be a creative and practical problem solver, have a keen attention to detail and ensure high standards are implemented and maintained. They will have a wide range of technical and practical skills, have experience in managing and developing staff and have the ability to work effectively as part of multi-layer teams across different teams and sites.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About You

As the Technical Manager, you will bring to the role:

• Experience of planning and managing technical requests across multiple locations in a museum, gallery or heritage organisation
• Ability to manage, motivate and develop teams and individuals, maintaining effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups at all appropriate levels
• Ability to plan, schedule and carry out a wide range of technical tasks including the preparation and installation of exhibitions and displays, movement and handling of objects and loans
• Experience of identifying technical solutions and relevant briefs and advising on viability

About The Role

As our next Technical Manager, you will take responsibility for leading, planning, implementing and delivering technical support for exhibition development, collections work, events and site requirements ensuring the highest possible quality.

This role will liaise with managers across the service to establish technical priorities for all sites and operations, manage requests and develop, plan and monitor an effective work programme, as well as managing and developing a team of technical staff.

This is a key role within Leeds Museums and Galleries, which will work closely with wider colleagues within collections and programmes, operations and enterprise, learning and access and audience development. This role will also work closely with the Henry Moore Institute, a key partner within the city to also deliver technical support.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How To Apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Lisa Broadest, Head of Operations & Enterprise. Call 07891 273902 or email lisa.broadest@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Responsible for managing and leading the effective and efficient delivery of technical services across Leeds Museums and Galleries sites in line with the technical programme contributing to the delivery of the service’s strategic plan.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for leading, planning, implementing and delivering technical support for exhibition development, collections work, events and site requirements ensuring the highest possible quality.
• Liaise with managers across the service to establish technical priorities for all sites and operations, manage requests and develop, plan and monitor an effective work programme.
• Recruit, manage and develop a small team of technical staff aiming for the highest standards and ensure staff are properly trained and fully compliant in regard to relevant Health and Safety regulations and guidelines. Oversee any relevant work placements and volunteers.
• Agree the use of freelance technicians and contractors where required with managers across the service and oversee their management and supervision ensuring they are properly trained and fully compliant with our respective Health and Safety regulations and guidelines.
• Plan, supervise and undertake, where required technical work including the preparation and installation of exhibitions and displays, movement and handling of objects and loans.
• Liaise with collections colleagues and other relevant internal and external stakeholders including designers and artists to understand any specific requirements of collections items and items on loan and advise on and manage the necessary technical support for handling (including packing and unpacking), storage, installation, maintenance and display. Ensure information is disseminated to relevant technical staff.
• Identify technical solutions and relevant briefs and advise on viability.
• Work with the Registrar and Collections Manager to manage courier requests when required and as directed by the Head of Programmes and Collections.
• Establish and operate a system for transport of collections, furniture and goods in agreement with the Registrar and Collections Manager and wider curatorial and site teams.
• Oversee and ensure the management and safe operation of the technical workshops across all sites and working machinery in public areas.
• Ensure all technical work is undertaken in line with relevant Health and Safety regulations and guidelines. Ensure sufficient supplies of protective clothing, equipment and materials are monitored and managed by technical staff.
• Ensure appropriate technical support is provided at events and evening functions e.g. in the operation, demonstration or explanation of working exhibits, setting up, briefing users and with the operation of AV equipment.
• Develop and implement relevant procedures and guidelines for work of technical team including for the work of staff during open hours ensuring work is undertaken safely and ensure the provision of a high quality service.
• Advise/impart specialised technical skills as part of an ongoing technical training programme.
• Work with the Registrar and Collections Manager and adhere to all agreed collections management standards and procedures.
• Ensure programme of environmental monitoring on site and in store is agreed and carried out as required.
• Manage delegated budget, reporting where necessary.
• Be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Health and Safety Policy being responsible for your own health and safety whilst at work and that of your colleagues and our customers. Achieve recognised Health & Safety qualification specific to job need. Carry out risk assessments and implement safe systems of work as required.
• Promote and apply consistently the principles of Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policies both with colleagues and members of the public to ensure fair and equal access to services and opportunities. Be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Safeguarding policies (children and vulnerable adults).
• To undertake any other duties as commensurate with the grade.

Qualifications

Educated to degree level or professional vocational qualification within a relevant subject/area or equivalent experience

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload to meet agreed targets and deadlines.
• Ability to develop and monitor effective work programme.
• Ability to work effectively as part of multi-layer teams (across different teams and sites).
• Ability to manage, motivate and develop teams and individuals, maintaining effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups at all appropriate levels.
• Ability to handle objects carefully and safely in line with agreed standards.
• Ability to plan, schedule and carry out a wide range of technical tasks including the preparation and installation of exhibitions and displays, movement and handling of objects and loans.
• Ability to monitor and control resources including working with temporary staff/preparation of technical task specifications for contractors and within agreed budgets.
• Knowledge of a range of ICT applications including Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of the requirements of Health and Safety and Equalities legislation.
• Experience of planning and managing technical requests across multiple locations in a museum, gallery or heritage organisation.
• Experience of identifying technical solutions and relevant briefs and advising on viability.
• Experience in managing and developing staff.
• Experience in managing resources.
• Work experience of broad range of technical skills including all of the following: woodworking – construction of temporary structures and plinths, and the construction of glazing, mounts and frames for different media works.
• Experience in handling, packing and moving a range of fragile, complex, heavy, valuable and/or historic objects.
• Experience in conducting risk assessments and method statements in the workplace and monitoring safe systems of work.

Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required

• Self-motivated with the ability to use own initiative.
• Willingness to work flexibly with regards to working hours, where necessary.
• Desire and commitment to continuous professional development and a willingness to continue own training.
• Demonstrate an interest in the work of Leeds Museums and Galleries.
• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements

Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Ability and familiarity with using ICT in gallery installations.
• Working knowledge of policy and practice for technical work in a heritage environment.
• Experience of developing relevant technical procedures and guidelines.
• Work experience of installation and maintenance of ICT or audio-visual equipment.

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