Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is seeking an experienced consultant or small consultancy to design a three-year action-research and business-planning programme through which the museum will test a number of hypotheses aimed at developing a radically different operating model in order for a sustainable future for the museum. The Board are taking an ambitious and unconventional approach to developing the operating model and plan for the future so this work will include extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders at the outset to discuss, gather insight and develop buy-in for this approach. Following the consultation, the objective of this work is to create a structured programme to test a set of hypotheses, building on what the Board has created. The programme may include, but is not limited to research; practical experimentation; consultation; programme / activity design and development: income stream development: benchmarking: case study development; and testing programme / activity through operation. The structured programme should also detail the evaluation criteria and suggest exit strategies as well as building in time for the inevitable adaptations, as results emerge. The programme must be fully costed and accompanied by a programme timeline. The resulting programme will be used to raise and secure funding for its implementation over a period of three years and will lead to the development of the museum's new operating model. The consultant's role is to design the programme, not to manage its implementation. Applicants should demonstrate: - Significant experience of action research, experimental programme design or learning-led organisational change; To create a three-year action-research and business-planning framework that: - Challenges, develops, refines, combines, replaces or rejects the museum's current hypotheses, finalizing a set of hypotheses to be tested with the Board; Proposals should be no longer than 5 pages, excluding CVs, and should include: - The applicant’s understanding of the commission and proposed methodology; Closing date - 6th October, 5pmJob Summary
Job Description
Job Requirements
- Experience of turning broad hypotheses into practical, sequenced tests and decision points;
- Experience of supporting organisational learning through structured action;
- Experience of leading participatory consultation and co-design;
- Strong understanding of small museums or comparable cultural organisations, particularly independent organisations facing structural change; do they need this they are not managing a change
- Strong programme planning and business-planning skills and financial modelling skills
- Good understanding of fundraising proposals experience of evaluation, evidence gathering; deleted as duplication
- Confidence in challenging assumptions and working constructively with trustees and a diverse range of stakeholders;
- Clear and robust written communication.Job Responsibilities
- assesses the practical, financial and organisational viability of the hypotheses and how they could combine to create a new operating model;
- assesses the appetite of volunteers, makers, communities, audiences, partners and funders to participate;
- sets out a sequenced programme of research, experiments, evidence gathering and suggests Board decision points;
- details how the framework will be delivered and provides financial plans for three years;
- Identify the full resources, skills, experience, and funding required for all tests.How to Apply
- Their approach to consultation, action-research design and financial modelling;
- Indicative work programme and timetable;
- Two examples which demonstrate the skills and experience required
- The experience of the consultant and the team (if there is more than one consultant). In the latter case, please identify the roles and experience of each member of the team in achieving the brief.
- Two referees to demonstrate your experience;
- Total fee, allocation of days, day rates, expenses exclusive of VAT;
- Assumptions made in creating the proposal
- Proposals will be assessed primarily on the quality, experience and value for money.