General Manager

Hampshire Cultural Trust; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

An established cultural organization is seeking a passionate General Manager to lead the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery in Basingstoke. This role involves overseeing operations, engaging with the community, and ensuring high-quality visitor experiences. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in operational leadership and team management, with a commitment to promoting arts and culture. Join a dynamic team dedicated to enriching lives through cultural experiences and making a positive impact in the community.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

7.5% Employer pension contribution

Generous maternity, adoption, and paternity pay

Life assurance scheme - 3x annual salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Interest-free season ticket loans

Access to 24/7 GP appointments

Free eye tests and vouchers

Cycle to work scheme

Free Flu vaccination vouchers

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operational leadership within public venues.
• Proven ability to develop high-performing teams and stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the operations of the museum and gallery.
• Engage with local communities to enhance cultural experiences.

Skills

Operational Leadership

Customer Engagement

Project Management

Team Development

Education

Degree in Management or Related Field

Job description

General Manager, Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

Do you want to lead our museum and flagship gallery in the heart of Basingstoke?

We usually respond within two weeks

Job Title: General Manager

Grade: 3A

Salary: £32,000 - £36,500 per annum dependent on skills and experience

Location: Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

Hours: 37 hours per week (Full-Time)

Type of Contract: Permanent

Referral Category: Category B

Do you want to lead our museum and flagship gallery in the heart of Basingstoke?

The opportunity has arisen to take on leadership of the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery, an established venue in central Basingstoke delivering high-quality exhibitions and an impactful community programme, alongside our commercial and venue hire offering. Working in partnership with local communities to develop strong ties and tell the diverse stories of the borough, while engaging our audiences with arts, culture and heritage and ensuring exemplary operations and customer experience in the venue.

A Bit About You

You will hold operational leadership experience across a customer focused public venue with significant experience of developing high performing teams. You will be able to demonstrate the development and management of extensive, effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders. Alongside operational management you will have experience of visitor / customer engagement and project / events management to bring to life an exciting, but commercially viable, community programme relevant for the venue and local audiences. Experience of working with volunteers would be beneficial but not essential.

What It's Like To Work For Us

At Hampshire Cultural Trust we have a vision to create inspirational culture experiences that enrich and transform lives. We manage and support 24 attractions across Hampshire and deliver county-wide outreach programmes that bring great culture to local communities. We also deliver a diverse range of wider social impact initiatives targeted at those who are most vulnerable or disadvantaged and who would not usually have access to arts and culture.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and a culture that actively values difference. We recognise people from different backgrounds and experiences bring valuable insights to the workplace and enhance the way we perform and work. Our levels of employee engagement are high and our organisational culture positive.

We will be running a dynamic recruitment process so we would encourage candidates to submit an application as soon as possible as we will be interviewing candidates before the closing date.

To apply please fill in the application form with an up-to-date CV. We do not require covering letters for this position however would be grateful to receive context to your application.

Closing date for applications: 25/05/2025

Proposed Interview date: W/C 02/06/2025

To find out more about us visit our website www.hampshireculture.org.uk and https://careers.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/

Department

Operations

Role

Venue Management

Locations

Willis Museum & Sainsbury Gallery

Remote status

Hybrid

Yearly salary

£32,000 - £36,500

Employment type

Full-time

Contact Jessica Reilly Area Operations Manager: Winchester, Basingstoke and Alton - Operations

Colleagues

Alex Walker

General Manager

Need to talk to us?

Use the live chat function to speak directly to the Hiring Manager or drop us a message at: .

Alternatively you can talk to us directly on: 01962 396678

Our Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro-rated for part time working)
• 7.5% Employer pension contribution
• Generous occupational maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• Generous occupational sick pay
• Life assurance scheme - 3x annual salary
• Industry-leading Employee Assistance Programme
• Interest-free season ticket loans and travel loans from first day of employment
• Access to 24/7 GP appointments for you and your immediate family
• Free eye tests and vouchers towards glasses
• Charity worker discounts scheme
  
  

(savings on retail, leisure, groceries, travel etc.)

• Health cash plan
  
  

(cashback on dental, optical, medical for monthly subscription cost)

• HCT Team Card
  
  

(free access to our admission charging venues and discounts across café and retail)

• Free Flu vaccination vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
  
  

Our recruitment - what to expect

Step 1 - Application

Check out who we are and find the role for you. Applying through our application form we'll find out about you and you an even add a fun flair to your application.

Step 2 - Catch-up

Once we've got your application one of our team may reach out to find out more about you, your interest and to tell you about life at HCT. This is an informal catch-up.

Step 3 - Interview and Assessment

Depending on the role you may have 1 or 2 stages of interviews. These will often include a task related to the role. We'll send a guidance pack prior to the interview to give you some hints, tips and to help prepare.

Step 4 - Offer and Onboarding

Congratulations! We really think you could make your mark at HCT, so you'll receive your verbal offer and we'll start formally welcoming you.

Life at HCT

Not your traditional museum or art gallery

HCT is all about changing lives through culture and it is only through our staff and volunteers that we make that happen. We are selective on those who join us as we expect all of our teams and colleagues to uphold HCT's values of being confident and creative in all circumstances. To strive for excellence with everything we do whilst taking responsibility and ownership for all aspects of our work as a trust in order to deliver amazing things through teamwork. All of this is underpinned by our keen strives to respect everyone's individuality and uniqueness.

Willis Museum & Sainsbury Gallery

Operations Willis Museum & Sainsbury Gallery Hybrid

General Manager, Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

Do you want to lead our museum and flagship gallery in the heart of Basingstoke?