Research and Interpretation Producer Hillsborough Castle

Research and Interpretation Producer

3 days per week, 2 years fixed term

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, NI

Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) is an independent, self-funded charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.

After an ambitious capital project, in 2019 we opened the doors of Hillsborough Castle to enable everyone to explore the stories of this extraordinary place, and take part in its inspiring new future. Central to realising this project is the development and delivery of an audience-focused Public Engagement programme designed to sensitively engage a diverse range of audiences with the castle and its gardens in ways previously unimagined. The Public Engagement team is responsible for the creative direction of the visitor experience for Historic Royal Palaces, helping to provide the motivation for people to visit and re-visit our sites, surprising and delighting them once they are here. We do this through public programming, interpretation and schools and community programmes.

With your expertise in historical research in the arts/heritage field, you will provide new research that furthers our knowledge and understanding of the history of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens and informs and inspires our interpretation and public engagement programmes.  You will work as part of a team to develop, deliver and manage interpretation projects in the castle and gardens. You will be responsible for producing the specialist tours and talks programmes for adult visitors and will support the Host team in the development of content for the public tours. You will  ensure that everything, be it on site, online or off site, is designed to be high quality, inclusive and to meet the needs and interests of specialist groups and day visitors including: families, schools, adults, youth and community groups.  In order to do this you will need to take an audience-focused approach to developing distinctive and high quality content that delights, surprises and engages participants.

To be successful in this role you’ll need to be degree educated or have equivalent research experience. You will be an experienced researcher with knowledge of the social, political and cultural history of Ireland and the UK.  You will have previous experience in managing interpretation projects and/or public engagement programmes including tours and talks in an arts/cultural or heritage setting. You must be able to put the needs of the visitor first and to think laterally and creatively about how best practice public engagement can create truly exciting experiences that enable all of our audiences to enjoy the stories of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. And above all, you must be able to work as part of a team, working collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and internal and external stakeholders.  If you think you have the enthusiasm, energy, skills and experience to join a team that delivers sector-leading, creative, audience-centred and spirit-stirring programmes and interpretation, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date Tuesday 2nd November 2021