Public Programme Developer

National Museums; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Flexible policies

Health & Dental

Wellbeing programme

Colleague networks

Enhanced contributory pension

Interest-free loans

Discounts

Job summary

National Science and Media Museum in Bradford is seeking a Public Programme Developer to shape how visitors experience exhibitions and displays. You’ll translate ideas and research into engaging experiences across formats, from text to digital content and AV elements.

Working across a diverse range of projects, you’ll collaborate with curators, designers and researchers to create accessible, audience-focused visitor journeys and develop exhibition narratives, learning outcomes and creative

Qualifications

• Experience developing content, interpretation or visitor experiences within a museum, gallery, heritage or related setting.
• Strong communication skills with ability to write engaging content for diverse audiences and develop briefs, strategies or plans.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into clear, accessible experiences and work with both specialists and non-specialists.
• Experience collaborating with a range of stakeholders and building positive relationships across project teams.
• Commitment to inclusive and accessible design and ensuring experiences meet diverse audiences' needs.
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines from concept to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Develop interpretation and content that brings stories to life across formats including exhibition text, digital experiences, interactives and audiovisual content.
• Work with curators, designers, researchers and digital specialists to shape visitor journeys that are creative, accessible and audience-focused.
• Contribute to exhibition narratives, learning outcomes, interpretive approaches and creative briefs.
• Collaborate with subject experts, community participants and contractors to deliver high-quality visitor experiences.
• Help tell stories and communicate ideas to visitors from across the UK and beyond.

Job description

About us

At the National Science and Media Museum, part of the Science Museum Group, we explore the culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. Located in the heart of Bradford, we're home to internationally significant collections and ambitious exhibitions that inspire curiosity, creativity and learning.

As we continue to develop innovative exhibitions and experiences for our visitors, we're looking for a Public Programme Developer to join our team. This permanent role is based at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, with hybrid working available.

About the role

As a Public Programme Developer, you'll play a key role in shaping how visitors experience our exhibitions and displays. Working across a diverse range of projects, from smaller displays to major exhibitions, you'll help transform ideas, collections and research into engaging experiences that connect with audiences.

You'll develop interpretation and content that brings stories to life through a range of formats, including exhibition text, digital experiences, interactives and audiovisual content. Working closely with curators, designers, researchers and digital specialists, you'll help create visitor journeys that are creative, accessible and audience-focused.

You'll contribute to the development of exhibition narratives, learning outcomes, interpretive approaches and creative briefs, ensuring visitors remain at the heart of every decision. Alongside this, you'll collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including subject experts, community participants, creative contractors and collection specialists, to deliver high-quality experiences that inspire and engage.

Working within an ambitious and collaborative team, you'll have the opportunity to help shape how we tell stories, communicate ideas and create memorable experiences for visitors from across the UK and beyond.

About you

You'll bring experience of developing content, interpretation or visitor experiences within a museum, gallery, heritage, cultural or related setting. You'll have a strong understanding of how effective interpretation can enhance visitor engagement and help audiences connect with complex subjects in meaningful ways.

You'll be an excellent communicator, with experience of writing engaging content for different audiences and developing briefs, strategies or plans that help bring projects to life. Comfortable working with both specialists and non-specialists, you'll be skilled at translating complex ideas into clear, compelling and accessible experiences.

You'll have experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and be confident building positive relationships across project teams. You'll understand the importance of inclusive and accessible design and be passionate about ensuring experiences meet the needs of diverse audiences.

Organised and proactive, you'll be able to manage multiple priorities, work to deadlines and see projects through from concept to delivery. Above all, you'll bring creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm for creating engaging visitor experiences that inspire learning and discovery.

Don't feel you meet every requirement? We'd still love to hear from you. We recognise that people gain skills and experience in different ways and welcome applications from candidates with transferable skills and experiences.

What we offer

Working with a world-leading museum group that offers access to truly unique environments and collections, you'll benefit from the perks listed below, as well as full support for life events such as parental and adoption leave, sickness, and career breaks.

• Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
• Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
• Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
• Health & Dental. Support with treatment costs, from day one.
• Wellbeing. All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme and other wellbeing support.
• Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience.
• Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
• Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
• Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops, cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.

Open for All

Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable of continuing to Inspire Futures.

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN