Head of STEM Networks, Winchester Science Centre

Deadline: 5th April 2018

Salary: £30,000 - £32,000 per annum

The Organisation

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is a self-funded, independent educational charity dedicated to sparking curiosity and building science capital for all. Boasting two floors of hands-on interactive exhibits, the UK’s largest standalone planetarium and a wide-ranging events programme, the Science Centre is an important regional hub for informal science learning and a popular visitor attraction for families, schools and the general public.

The charity extends its reach through its trademark organisation STEM NOW and through successful partnerships with universities and industry. STEM NOW runs the South Central STEM Ambassador Hub on behalf of STEM Learning UK, coordinating more than 4,000 volunteers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The team also manages the CREST Awards programme for 16 counties, industry and educational events, and continued professional development training and services.

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is situated on the outskirts of Winchester within the South Downs National Park. The centre enjoys a stunning rural location with excellent road links from London and across the South of England. This enviable location, the charity’s clear mission and its team of highly motivated staff and volunteers, makes Winchester Science Centre a great place to work. Visitor numbers are set to exceed 180k this year and with huge potential for further growth, this is an exciting time to join the team.

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is a Disability Confident employer.

The Role

Due to our continued growth, we are recruiting for the new role of Head of STEM Networks, based in Winchester. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to join an educational charity with a dedicated, friendly and supportive team. The role is to be the driving force to further establish STEM NOW as a key national partner within the STEM enrichment sector across the UK. The Head of STEM Networks will project manage existing contracts, seek out new opportunities to increase the national impact and business portfolio of STEM NOW/Winchester Science Centre, and line manage a small and successful team.

STEM NOW manage the Central South STEM Ambassador Hub, as contracted by STEM Learning Ltd. The project is managed in collaboration with other providers with STEM NOW as the lead organisation. The contract offers set targets for engagement between STEM Ambassadors (who volunteer their time) and state funded schools and colleges, within Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The team are required to source and train Ambassadors, seek engagement opportunities from schools and colleges, broker these relationships, monitor and work with partners to augment, log and report back the statistics. The Head of STEM Networks will build effective and lasting relationships with the STEM industry to enable young people access professional STEM role models to aspire to.

The Head of STEM Networks will have responsibility for the management of the Regional CREST Support Organisation (RCSO) contract, awarded to STEM NOW by the British Science Association. The CREST Awards enable young people to be awarded for their STEM project work, outside the usual formal examination boards. The Awards are aimed at young people aged 5 to 19. STEM NOW is contracted to cover the Midlands, Hertfordshire and Essex, and sub-contracted to deliver in Hampshire and Berkshire in collaboration with STEM Sussex. The Head of STEM Networks will managed the contract and work with other key stakeholders to promote and embed the awards within STEM engagement.

The Head of STEM Networks will also work closely with the Fundraising Manager, to ensure essential funding is sought and achieved to enable STEM NOW to deliver outstanding STEM events for teachers, Ambassadors, students and other STEM enrichment partners. STEM NOW plan, manage and evaluate engagement with young people to ensure maximum impact and plan for the future. Flexibility is essential as Winchester Science Centre relies on a small team of dedicated individuals working closely together to support and develop the charity, so occasional additional support duties will be required in other areas of its business. 

Job Description

• To be the driving force to increase the impact for STEM NOW in the UK, by seeking new opportunities for the organisation and maintaining key relationships.
• Join the management team at Winchester Science Centre, to deliver on our Core Principles and shape the future of the organisation.
• To be the line manager for the STEM NOW Team, inclusive of the STEM Liaison Officers, Senior STEM Engagement Coordinator and STEM Engagement Coordinators.
• To plan and manage the STEM NOW budget.
• To take overall responsibility for reporting and meeting project deadlines for STEM engagement activities implemented by Director of STEM Strategy, external partners and trustees.
• To analyse and evaluate STEM activity delivery data to ensure KPI’s/targets are met.
• To work with other members of the Centre to embed STEM NOW projects.
• To ensure high quality communications are delivered to all stakeholders.
• To work with colleagues and external stakeholders to develop and deliver new STEM enrichment events that best utilise the skills and knowledge of the Ambassador population.
• To coordinate the STEM NOW events.
• To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of local and national STEM providers, and work alongside them to deliver programmes in our region.
• To work with the Director of STEM Strategy to plan and review progress against targets and to agree actions.
• To manage and expand the Winchester Science Centre volunteer scheme.
• To undertake other tasks as reasonably arise within the remit of Head of STEM Networks, to include all levels of work within this team. The above should not be considered an exhaustive list.
• Other project support as required by Director of STEM Strategy.