POSITION DETAILS

Barber Institute of Fine Art
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to June 2028
Closing date: 11th May 2025
UK and International travel may be required for this role.

BACKGROUND

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an internationally important art collection, gallery and concert hall housed in a Grade 1 listed Art Deco building, located at the heart of the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus.
Established in 1932 ‘for the study and encouragement of Art and Music’, our mission derives from the far-sighted vision of our founder, Lady Barber. The jewel in the cultural crown of the University, the Barber uses its world-class collections to create inspirational opportunities for learning and enjoyment for students, staff and the wider public.
The Barber Institute is one of the UK’s foremost university arts centres and enjoys an international reputation for its art collection, exhibitions and its concert programme. Often described as a mini-National Gallery for the Midlands, its collection includes masterpieces by many of the major names in the history of western art, including Botticelli, Degas, Kollwitz, Monet, Rubens, Turner, Vigée-Lebrun, Van Gogh and others. Its collection of Roman, Byzantine and mediaeval coins is one of the most important in the world.
The Barber team organise a popular and successful programme of exhibitions and displays, along with an innovative, critically engaged learning and engagement programme. At the University of Birmingham, the Barber is part of the College of Arts and Law; as such it enjoys close relationships with numerous departments such as History of Art, which is housed and taught within the building, and cross-disciplinary departments within the wider University. The Barber is seeking to consolidate and grow its existing and loyal visitor base, while developing new and underrepresented audiences.
The Barber is embarking on a transformation project in 2025. This is an exciting and critical project, which will encompass both physical and strategic change, transforming the museum. The Barber’s building will be closed from the 27 Jan 2025 until 2026, when we expect to re-open. During its closure to the public, the Barber will tour its collections nationally and develop new critical and core initiatives that will support its re-opening and ambitious future plans.
For further information please visit our website at www.barber.org.uk

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

• Evidence of performance gained within a results-orientated environment, preferably fundraising.
• Enthusiastic, target-driven and motivated to raise money.
• Evidence of writing motivational and persuasive written bids, reports or proposals, which express ideas accurately, coherently and persuasively.
• Passion for and knowledge of Museums and Higher Education Institutions, particularly research and the role of philanthropy.
• Ability to build strong relationships and engage with individuals and organisations, internally and externally.
• Personal confidence, independence and determination to succeed as an individual and as part of a team.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to establish relationships quickly and prepare information and reports for potential donors.
• Ability to manage own workload and prioritise strategically.
• Familiarity with funders within the arts sector. Good understanding of the museum sector and a passion for the visual arts.
• Demonstrable experience of working with high-level trusts/foundations and individual donors.
• Demonstrable evidence of successfully managing targets, budgets, and reporting to funders.
• The ability to work independently with initiative, to take decisions and think creatively and laterally.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to persuade and influence with diplomacy and sensitivity.
• The ability to represent the Barber with confidence, diplomacy, and authority.
• Attention to detail within written work, and reliable and timely communications with stakeholders.
• The desire to support colleagues in the achievement of their individual and the collective goals, and to celebrate others’ success as positively as your own.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and PowerPoint.
• Some flexibility to work unsociable hours (evenings and weekends) when occasionally required.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
• Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work.
• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.

CORE COMPETENCIES/TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

ROLE SUMMARY

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative team and reshape its development activities to support an ambitious exhibition and learning programme and to sustain our world leading art collection? Do you enjoy cultivating relationships with prospective donors, leading Trust and Foundation applications and thinking about what our offer should be to over 300 friends of the Barber – the ‘Barber Association’ and our Patron scheme? This is a new role within the Barber Institute and would suit a candidate who is excited to forge change within the organisation, with the support of the Directorial team. The candidate will be play an important role in development the wider strategy for the Barber as a valued member of the Senior Management team.
The Development Manager will work closely with colleagues in DARO (the fundraising arm of the University of Birmingham). They will be line managed by the Barber’s Director and benefit from regular meetings with senior managers within DARO’s team, to cultivate a close working relationship between the Barber and the University.
This is a wide-ranging role, which can also be shaped by the post holder. It will be offered in the first instance on a 3-year fixed-term basis and the post holder and Director will agree income generation targets at the beginning of each financial year.

MAIN DUTIES

As Development Manager for the Barber, you will have primary responsibility for a wide-ranging portfolio that includes philanthropic giving, charitable fundraising bids, the ‘Barber Association’ composed of 300 members, our Patrons, and other sources of income generation, including funding within UoB and the commercial sector. This is an exciting time to join the Barber as we rethink and review our fundraising activities. The post holder will have opportunity to develop a new strategy for fundraising activity across these areas in order to support our work across learning and engagement, exhibitions, collections and capital development; with the Director they will shape the weighting of time and focus that should be given to each area and working closely with other senior members of the team. Some administrative support for this role is provided through the 0.4FTE role – PA to the Director and Development assistant.

ROLE CONTEXT

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will either use specialist knowledge or have more of a planning/co-ordination/project role or a role which is supervisory in nature where you may manage a range of activity. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.