Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Marketing & Communications Assistant for the River & Rowing Museum. The closing date for applications is Monday 7 January and initial interviews will take place in Henley on Thames on Thursday 17 January.

This letter is intended to help you complete the application form. Please read it carefully before completing your application form and if you have any difficulties, please contact us at recruitment@rrm.co.uk.

The application form is your opportunity to provide all the information we need to help us understand how you meet the requirements of the job, and plays a crucial part in the selection process helping us to shortlist candidates for interview, and as a basis for the interview itself. To ensure fairness to all applicants, short listing decisions are based solely on the information you supply on your application form. Even if we already know you as a current or previous employee, it is important that you complete the form in full.

All vacancies are accompanied by a job description and a person specification setting out the main duties and responsibilities of the post in the job description, and the knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for in the person specification.

Please read this information carefully as you will not be shortlisted for interview unless you meet the essential criteria described in the Person Specification.

Depending on the number of applications, it may not be possible to shortlist for interview all candidates who meet the Essential Criteria. However, as part of our commitment to the ‘Disability Confident’ scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the Essential Criteria.

We prefer to receive applications by e mail so if you wish to apply electronically, you will need to download the form onto your computer, complete it and return it via email to recruitment@rrm.co.uk

Please remember that email is not a secure form of communication. We are unable to accept CVs so please do not attach your CV, references, or copies of educational certificates to your form. If there is insufficient room on the form in a particular section, you can simply attach an extra page and mark it clearly with your name and the job title.

The ‘Supporting Statement’ section of the form is where you make your case for the job and is your opportunity to tell us specifically why you wish to apply and what makes you a suitable

1

applicant. You should include anything you feel would be useful in support of your application telling us as much as possible about yourself in relation to all the items listed in the job description. Please remember that those involved in the selection process cannot make assumptions about you - tell us everything relevant to your application and complete all the sections on the form.

Data ProtectionInformation provided by you as part of your application will be used in the recruitment process. Any data about you will be held securely with access restricted to those involved in dealing with your application and in the recruitment process. Once this process is completed the data relating to unsuccessful applicants will be stored for a maximum of 6 months and then destroyed. If you are the successful candidate, your application form will be retained and form the basis of your personnel record. By signing and submitting your completed application form you are giving your consent to your data being stored and processed for the purposes of the recruitment process, equal opportunities monitoring and your personnel record if you are the successful candidate.

Equal OpportunitiesInformation provided by you on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be used to monitor our equal opportunities policy and practices. This part of the form will be detached from the main body of the application form and will not form any part of the selection process. The River & Rowing Museum seeks to employ a workforce that reflects the diversity of backgrounds and cultures within which we operate and to provide a working environment free from any form of harassment, intimidation, bullying, victimisation or discrimination. We will treat individuals openly and fairly with dignity and respect, and value their contribution towards providing a quality service to our customers.

All members of the organisation will be expected to adhere to these principles and we will challenge behaviour which is unacceptable, in particular on the grounds of gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation or marital status.

Work PermitsUnder the Asylum and Immigration Act, we are required to check that anyone taking up employment with us has the legal right to work in the UK. Successful applicants will be asked to provide us with documentary evidence to support their entitlement to work in the UK prior to taking up employment.

In the event of an offer of employment being made, we will take up references and reserve the right to validate all information entered on this form.

For further information about the River & Rowing Museum, please visit us at rrm.co.uk

Good luck with your application!

Dr Sarah Posey

2

Director

Marketing & Communications Assistant

INTRODUCTIONThe River & Rowing Museum is an award-winning museum and gallery, idyllically located on the banks of the River Thames in Henley on Thames, South Oxfordshire, close to the M4, M40 and within easy reach of both Oxford and Reading by both road and rail. Put simply, our mission is to bring the r iver, rowing, history and the arts to l i fe, shar ing our passion with as many people as possible. An effective Marketing & Communications strategy is key to deliver this aim. The Museum is currently working on a major audience research project surveying current visitors and non-users, and the results of this work will help to shape our future marketing and communications activity.

Brief Description of the Role

You will support the Head of Marketing & Communications with the delivery of all marketing and communications activity at the Museum with a particular focus on digital communications including updating the Museum website and social media channels as well as writing press releases and liaising with local media. The post-holder will work closely with the Head of Marketing & Communications.

BackgroundConceived and founded by the Henley-based businessman and philanthropist Sir Martyn Arbib and his family and opened in 1998 by H.M. The Queen, the Museum has established itself as one of the leading independent museums in the country. It was selected by The Times (May 2013) as one of the ‘50 best Museums in the world’, and in 2016 has been identified as one of the top 10 Family Friendly Museums in the U.K. The Museum is recognised as crucial to the local tourist economy and attracts over 114,000 visitors a year.

The Museum’s award-winning building was the first major UK commission by Sir David Chipperfield and continues to be acclaimed for its minimalist design. It currently houses five permanent galleries including The Wind in the Willows, a gallery devoted to the work of artist John Piper and the International Rowing gallery. The temporary exhibition programme in 2019 includes a stunning exhibition of the work of artist and textile designer William Morris, - ‘An Earthly Paradise: William Morris and the Thames’ and a family friendly interactive exhibition in the summer ‘Bears!’ from Seven Stories, Newcastle.

Education is central to the Museum’s charitable objectives and its success in both formal school workshops and informal learning is a source of pride. Each year over 20,000 young people visit our purpose-built education centre that was doubled in size in 2006 with the support of a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant. In 2013 and again in 2018 the Museum was awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education.

The Museum is currently open 7 days a week, throughout the year and sits in Mill Meadows by the side of the River Thames. It has a high quality and popular café plus a number of event spaces suitable for parties, weddings, lectures or conferences.

3

Marketing & Communications - JOB PROFILE 2018

Job title: Marketing & Communications Assistant

Responsible to: Head of Marketing & Communications

Location: Henley on Thames

Salary package: £18,642, pro rata 2 days per week

Holidays 20 days (plus 8 bank/statutory holidays) rising to 25 days per annum after two years

Occasional evening and weekend work will be required to meet the demands of the position.

MAIN SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILTIES

The responsibilities of the Marketing & Communications will include:

– To assist in the co-ordination of our digital communication channels, including updating the Museum website regularly and posting appropriate content to social media channels including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TripAdvisor.

– To create and broadcast regular newsletter updates for various audiences using MailChimp.

– To write press releases for approval and liaise with local media on a regular basis in order to enhance coverage for the museum.

– To co-ordinate and administer the Museum’s CRM database for marketing activities.

– To ensure the electronic library of Museum images is regularly updated.

– To assist with day to day activities related to press, advertising, promotions, temporary exhibitions, and special events. This will include press releases, print and distribution, adverts and online communication in order to maximise coverage for the Museum.

– To undertake regular audience evaluation and analysis as required by the Head of Marketing & Communications.

Completed applications should be sent to: recruitment@rrm.co.uk by 5pm Monday 7 January or be received by post on the same date: Recruitment, River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxon, RG9 1BF. Initial interviews will be held in Henley on Thursday 17

4

January.

Marketing & Communications Assistant

Role: Marketing & Communications Assistant

Responsible to: Head of Marketing & Communications

Salary: £18,462 pro rata, 15 hours per week (0.4FTE)

1. Work Experience

a) Previous experience (paid or unpaid) in a marketing or communications roleb) Previous marketing or communications experience (paid or unpaid) in the heritage

or arts sectors

Essentialx

Desirable

x

2. Skills & Abilities

a) Excellent written and verbal communication skillsb) Experience editing websitesc) Proficient in the use of social media in a professional contextd) Ability to work independently with excellent time management skillse) Organised with an ability to work to deadlinesf) The confidence to communicate with groups from different communitiesg) Computer Literate: Proficient in the use of Word, Outlook and Excel and

willingness to learn other computer packages.h) Excellent attention to detaili) Experience of using database and CRM packagesj) Passionate about heritage and/or the artsk) Willingness to learn

xxxxxxxxx

xx

Behaviour & Characteristicsa) A good team playerb) Adaptable & self-motivated with energy, flair and enthusiasm.c) Excellent interpersonal skills and initiative.

xxx

Qualificationsa) Educated to degree level or with appropriate alternative relevant experience x

5

6